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Public
Employee Press Union Scrapbook Chanukah
candles honor victory of freedom fighters 2,175 years ago
As DC 37 began its annual Chanukah celebration
Dec. 15, Executive Director Lillian Roberts thanked Jewish Heritage Committee
Chair Dr. Leonard Davidman for coming forth every year and telling the story
of this great holiday, which honors religious freedom.
Davidman,
the president of Psychologists Local 1189, officiated at the celebration and Rabbi
Dr. Alvin Kass, Chief Chaplain of the New York Police Dept. and a member of Local
299, recited the Hebrew blessing as he lit the candles in the traditional menorah.
About 200 participants joined in singing Maoz Tzur (Rock
of Ages).
Participants enjoyed the traditional fried foods, such
as jelly donuts and potato pancakes, known as latkes in Yiddish. Tiny colored
dreidels, the four-sided spinning tops that children play with on Chanukah, dotted
the tables.
As Rabbi Kass described, Chanukah is also called the Festival
of Lights. It marks the victory 2,175 years ago of a small band of Jewish resistance
fighters led by Judah Maccabee (the hammer) over a large Syrian/Greek
occupation force that captured Jerusalem and banned the Jewish religion. A woman
named Judith played an instrumental role in the military triumph.
The holiday
celebrates resistance to tyranny, historys first revolt for religious freedom
and the important role of women in the miraculous victory.
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