Menorah Lighting Tonight Marks Jewish Hanukkah Holiday

The lighting of the Madison Menorah marking the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah will take place today at 6 p.m., across the street from the on Kings Road at the . 

Refreshments will be served following the lighting, sponsored by Chabad of Southeast Morris County, at Hartley Dodge. All residents and businesspeople are invited to join Mayor Mary-Anna Holden and other borough officials in the lighting of the menorah.

Music and a special children’s raffle for New York Jets memorabilia will also accompany the lighting.

Hanukkah, which began the evening of Dec. 20, is the Festival of Lights and celebrates the victorious revolt in 165 B.C.E. of the Jews against the Syrian King Antiochus. More broadly, the holiday celebrates thre triumph of the few against the many, the weak against the mighty and the righteous against the wicked. The festival also commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, during which only one day’s supply of oil for the Temple Menorah miraculously lasted eight full days. 

Of the menorah's nine candles, eight are the same height while the ninth, or shamash, stands taller as the leader candle. The shamash is used to light the rest of the candles. The candles are lit progressively each night of Hanukkah until all eight candles are lit on the last night of the holiday. 

“The Menorah represents the light and strength that we need to overcome the challenges we encounter in our everyday lives. Every person is like a candle, we each have the ability to brighten the world”, said Rabbi Shalom Lubin, director of the Chabad Center.

Traditional foods of this holiday are potato pancakes called latkes, and sufganiot or jelly doughnuts. Both of these delicacies will be served at the menorah lighting.