The Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, began Sunday evening and continues through Dec. 30. Greensburg’s Congregation Emanu-El Israel, which is a center for Jewish activities in central Westmoreland County, observed a festival tradition by lighting two electric candles on a menorah at sunset Monday at its North Main Street synagogue.
An additional candle will be lit each evening of the festival.
The festival commemorates the Jewish rebellion against Syrian-Greek rulers in ancient times, re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of its menorah, or lamp. Tradition holds that there was just enough oil available to light the lamp for one day, but the oil miraculously lasted for eight days.
