Public Employee Press

Union lights Chanukah menorah

As DC 37 celebrated Chanukah Dec. 1, Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Dr. Leonard Davidman found a lesson for public employees under attack in the story of the Maccabees, the band of Jewish fighters who won freedom of religion in 165 B.C. when they drove an invading Syrian-Greek army from Jerusalem.

"Because they stuck together and because they believed, they overcame odds that were against them," said Davidman, who is the president of Psychologists Local 1189.

"We all need each other," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. "Chanukah grants us an opportunity to come together and celebrate and remember this."

Local 299 member Rabbi Alvin Kass, the chief chaplain of the Police Dept., lit the first candle on the first night of the eight-day holiday.

"As we celebrate our religious holidays, we share our humanity. DC 37's heritage celebrations affirm the diversity of our city and our union and the work we do to make freedom a reality in all of our lives," said Kass as he intoned the traditional Hebrew blessing over the candles.

According to the Chanukah story, lighting the candles for eight nights commemorates a miracle that happened after the Maccabees won. Although they had only one day's supply of holy oil for the temple, it continued to burn for eight days.