First Night of Hanukkah
By: Newsroom Solutions
Updated: December 1, 2010
Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight.
Jews around the world will gather around the Menorah to light the first candle for the Festival of Lights.
The holiday is an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the victory by the Maccabees over enemy forces in the 2nd Century B.C.
At the ceremony, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to keep the eternal flame in the Temple lit for one day.
Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.
Jewish teens and a Muslim youth group in Austin, Texas will celebrate Hanukkah together.
The "American-Statesman" newspaper says Austin Temple Teens and the Muslim youth group will celebrate together Friday evening.
Along with the sharing of traditional food, Temple rabbis will show the Torah to Muslim young people.
The holiday will also involve visits by young people to houses of worship in the Austin area to "help foster peace, understanding and mutual respect" among Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Jews around the world will gather around the Menorah to light the first candle for the Festival of Lights.
The holiday is an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the victory by the Maccabees over enemy forces in the 2nd Century B.C.
At the ceremony, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to keep the eternal flame in the Temple lit for one day.
Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.
Jewish teens and a Muslim youth group in Austin, Texas will celebrate Hanukkah together.
The "American-Statesman" newspaper says Austin Temple Teens and the Muslim youth group will celebrate together Friday evening.
Along with the sharing of traditional food, Temple rabbis will show the Torah to Muslim young people.
The holiday will also involve visits by young people to houses of worship in the Austin area to "help foster peace, understanding and mutual respect" among Jews, Christians and Muslims.
