LOCAL EVENTS

Hanukkah is an eightday festival celebrated by Jewish people that commemorates the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival, according to the Britannica website. The Chabad of San Marcos and Texas State University hosted a Menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 29 on the Hays County Historic Courthouse grounds that involved jewish hymns, candle lighting and traditional foods.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said, al- though he is not Jewish, it is important to take part in religious activities across the county in order to strengthen community bonds.

“If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. So I thank you for the constant reminder that we are all one people,” Becerra said. “We are all one Hays County, and we are all most grateful for still having beating hearts.”

San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson said she was excited to take part in a longstanding tradition among her community members.

“Today as the Hannukah candles are lit, I look forward to the shared sense of community and universal enlightenment among those here tonight and across the world,” Hughson said.

Chabad of San Marcos Rabbi Ari Weingarten told the story of Hannukah, which took place 2,100 years ago when the Jewish people living in Jerusalem were stripped of their religious freedom by Syrian Greek rule.

“There was a small group known as the Maccabees… that decided to fight the great army of the world at the time, the Syrian Greeks. They band together — a small group [that was] outnumbered — but they were determined that ‘we want our liberty.’ And they pushed back the Syrian Greek army out of Jerusalem and liberated the temple, the most sacred space of the Jewish people. After liberating the temple, they went in to rededicate the temple,” Weingarten said, adding that they only found enough oil to burn the Menorah for one day. “They decided, ‘We’re going to do our part. We’re going to kindle the menorah, and God will do his part. We don’t always understand how things are going to work out, but we have to do our part.’ So they took the oil, they filled the candelabra, they lit the menorah and God reciprocated with a miracle that it burned for eight days, showing His love for His people.”

Weingarten pointed out that the fifth day of Hannukah, in which the ceremony occurred, was special.

“When fighting darkness, it happens one step at a time. When we light in the Menorah, it symbolizes light over darkness,” Weingarten said. “The fifth night is special because it’s finally tipping the scales of more light than dark.”