Hanukkah begins Sunday night; Central NY menorah lighting schedule - syracuse.com

Hanukkah begins Sunday night; Central NY menorah lighting schedule

Menorah, Clinton Square, Syracuse

Syracuse Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport prepares to light a menorah in Clinton Square in Syracuse. (File photo, 2015 | Syracuse.com)

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Jewish people in Central New York and around the world will begin celebrating Hanukkah this weekend. This year Hanukkah begins Sunday night and lasts through Monday, Dec. 30.

On the first night of Hanukkah special prayers are recited, and one candle is lit on the menorah. Each night another candle is lit. The eight-day commemoration of Hannukkah is based on the lunar calendar and therefore can fall anytime from late November to late December.

The Chabad Lubavitch of Central New York sets up public menorahs in downtown Syracuse, Hancock International Airport, Destiny, DeWitt and Fayetteville. This is the 38th year the group has set up the public menorahs.

Organizers are encouraging people of all faiths to join them this year as an expression of unity and as response to the increase of anti-semitic acts in the United States and worldwide.

Here is the schedule for the lighting of downtown menorah:

  • Sunday (Dec. 22), 5 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walch will join Rabbi Yaakov T. Rapoport in the lighting of the menorah. Hot cider and chanukah gelt (chocolate coins) will be available.
  • Monday (Dec. 23), 4:30 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon will join Rabbi Yaakov T. Rapoport in the lighting of the menorah. Hot cider and chanukah gelt (chocolate coins) will be available.
  • Tuesday (Dec. 24), 4:30 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse.
  • Wednesday (Dec. 25), 4:30 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse.
  • Thursday (Dec. 26), 4:30 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse
  • Friday (Dec. 27) 3:44 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse
  • Saturday (Dec. 28), 6:30 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse. Hot cider, donuts and chanukah gelt (chocolate coins) will be available.
  • Sunday (Dec. 29), 5 p.m.: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse.

There also will be special lightings with real candles at these locations:

  • Menorah on Highbridge Road, Limestone Plaza, 5:30 p.m.. Dec. 23: Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson will be joining Rabbi Rapoport for the lighting.
  • Hancock International Airport, 5 p.m., Dec. 26

Historically, Hanukkah marks the victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against the Syrian persecution and religious oppression more than 2,000 years ago. When the Maccabees came to rededicate their temple, they found only a small amount of oil - enough for only one day - to light the menorah. But the oil is said to have lasted eight days.

For more Information, call the Chabad Lubavitch of Central New York at 315-424-0363 or go to the website.

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