Happy Chanukah

Written by Suzanne Marino Wednesday, December 12, 2012 05:36 pm

Matt Strabuk/Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, director of Chabad at the Shore in Atlantic City, lights one of the menorah candles.

Chanukah began at sunset Saturday, Dec. 8 and runs for eight days, ending at sunset Sunday, Dec. 16. Each night families will gather together for dinner and to light the menorah. Children receive gifts and play games such as dreidel, which is similar to a top.

On Sunday, Dec. 9 Jews from around Atlantic County converged on the Shore Mall to light a community menorah at a family event sponsored by Chabad at the Shore.

Attendees could do crafts, get their faces painted, play games and enjoy a magic show by John Carlson.

Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport of Ventnor lit the giant menorah, much to the delight of the crowd of families gathered at the mall.

Chanukah commemorates a miracle that took place more than 2,000 years ago. It celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over their Syrian oppressor, Antochus IV.

When the Maccabees were ultimately victorious and able to reclaim their temple in Jerusalem, they had enough oil for just one night, but it lasted eight nights until they could acquire more. That is why Jews celebrate Chanukah with eight candles in the menorah.

Rapoport said Chanukah is a family celebration, and everyone coming together and lighting the candles is representative of bringing them from darkness into light.

Matt Strabuk/Alan Reinheimer of Ventnor helps Yaakov Goranson of Jacksonville, Fla., get into his traditional costume.

Matt Strabuk/Charlie Litow, 6, of Linwood and Bella Shobe, 7, of Egg Harbor Township play the role of assistants for magician John Carlson.

Matt Strabuk/Charlie Litow, 6, of Linwood and Bella Shobe, 7, of Egg Harbor Township play the role of assistants for magician John Carlson.

Matt Strabuk/Zachary Stiles, 7, of Little Egg Harbor has some fun with magician John Carlson.

Jaxson Jaffe, 9, and Peter Kazantzoglou, 7, of Ventnor sit for a video projection of themselves at one of the games at the Chanukah celebration.

Matt Strabuk/Sarah Caplan of Egg Harbor Township watches her daughter Shailee, 2, work on her menorah craft.

Matt Strabuk/Elijah Gayda-Chelder, 4, of Smithville gets help with his craft from his father, Mark.

Matt Strabuk/Esti Rapoport of Atlantic City paints the face of Chava Ella, 4, of Ventnor during a Chanukah event at the Shore Mall by the Chabad group of Atlantic City.