Jews in Waco and around the world are celebrating Hanukkah, a festive holiday that features exchanging gifts, lighting candles and consuming foods such as potato pancakes fried in oil.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (right) and Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff flash the “Gig 'em, Aggies” thumbs-up signal following a symbolic menorah lighting ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin on Thursday. Perry is a Texas A&M University alumnus and Lazaroff is the director of the school’s Jewish Center.
Jack Plunkett / Associated Press

Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” began its eight-day run on Dec. 1. It will end Thursday.

The term is used to describe the Jews’ rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Mordecai Rotem, of Waco’s Temple Rodef Sholom, said a candle on a menorah is lit each night until all eight candles are burning. A ninth candle is used to light the others.

The candles symbolize light, joy and hope. Their number has historical significance.

“Jews who were fighting the Greeks before the common era managed to overtake Jerusalem and purify the Holy Temple,” Rotem said. “One urn of oil that had not been desecrated was found in the temple, but it only contained enough oil to light the wicks of candles for one day.

“Miraculously, according to myth, the oil lasted eight days. That’s why we celebrate for eight days and have festive foods related to oil, such as potato pancakes and special doughnuts.

“I don’t know how healthy these foods are, but they are very tasty,” Rotem added.

Rotem planned a special service Friday evening during which youngsters brought their own menorahs and lit the third candle as part of the Hanukkah celebration. A menorah near the pulpit also was lit.

Friday’s celebration included a festive dinner for the entire congregation, Rotem said.

Rabbi Gordon Fuller, of Congregation Agudath Jacob, said Hanukkah is more of an historical holiday than a biblical holiday, though special blessings are said as the candles are lit.

He said those celebrating Hanukkah in the United States often exchange gifts. But the traditional time for gift-giving among Jews comes closer to the springtime celebration of Passover — a time when Jews celebrate the story of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage that is chronicled in the book of Exodus.

Rabbi Mordecai Rotem of Waco’s Temple Rodef Sholom
Duane A. Laverty / Tribune-Herald, file

“Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday that has become more important, especially in the United States, because it dovetails with Christmas. Its importance is highlighted because of Jewish/Christian relationships,” said Marc Ellis, who directs Baylor University’s Center for Jewish Studies.

Ellis also described it as a festive time when Jews gather to light candles and exchange presents. He said it has come to symbolize survival through difficult times of the Jewish people.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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