AS CHRISTIANS across Oxfordshire count down the days to Christmas, a special event in the Jewish calendar is coming to a close.
Tomorrow night, the final candle on a 12ft menorah in Oxford’s Broad Street will be lit to mark the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.
Rabbi Eli Brackman, who is director of the Oxford Chabad Society, said it was an important festival for Jews in the city.
The eight-day holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century, and is marked by lighting a candle on the menorah each night of the holiday.
The first was lit on Sunday by Sheriff of Oxford Elise Benjamin.
She said: “I have been to the ceremony every year and it is always quite an emotional moment for me.
“To be able to go up on the cherrypicker and light it was quite an honour.
“Hanukkah has become quite important because it tends to be very near Christmas so it has become a time when families get together.”
More than 200 people attended this year’s first lighting ceremony.
AS CHRISTIANS across Oxfordshire count down the days to Christmas, a special event in the Jewish calendar is coming to a close.
Tomorrow night, the final candle on a 12ft menorah in Oxford’s Broad Street will be lit to mark the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.
Rabbi Eli Brackman, who is director of the Oxford Chabad Society, said it was an important festival for Jews in the city.
The eight-day holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century, and is marked by lighting a candle on the menorah each night of the holiday.
The first was lit on Sunday by Sheriff of Oxford Elise Benjamin.
She said: “I have been to the ceremony every year and it is always quite an emotional moment for me.
“To be able to go up on the cherrypicker and light it was quite an honour.
“Hanukkah has become quite important because it tends to be very near Christmas so it has become a time when families get together.”
More than 200 people attended this year’s first lighting ceremony.