JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County – Wednesday marks the final night of Hanukkah – the eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the restoration of Jewish law.
Rabbi Yerachmiel Altman in Jacksonville said the lighting of the eight-branched menorah began indoors as a safety measure, but he said it's time to bring the tradition back outside, as was originally intended.
“We bring light to the outside world. A little light dispels a lot of darkness,” he said.
The lighting of each candle symbolizes the rededication of Jerusalem's Second Temple in the second century B.C. BC after victories over the opposition forces that oppressed him.
“We should be able to live in a place where we can be ourselves and not have to worry if someone attacks me for who I am,” Rabbi Altman said.
The introduction of the eight-day festival came after a small jar of immaculate oil, which was only enough for one day, was miraculously burned for eight days in the temple.
For generations, those who observed the festival lit one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and another for each night of the festival.
Hanukkah means “education” in Hebrew. Rabbi Altman said that is his goal every year. “We want to teach, we want to help people connect with God,” he said.
While the menorah is the most important part of the holiday, other traditions include gift-giving, holiday decorations and traditional Hanukkah games like dreidel – a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters.
Rabbi Altman said his favorite part of the holiday is seeing the joy on the children's faces as the traditions are passed down to them.