The Festival of Lights

Tonight we light the first candle on our Chanukiah, the nine-branched candelabra which is used during the festival of Chanukah, and the eight-day holiday, the Festival of Lights, will begin. This last weekend I photographed these delightful street lights in Jerusalem and think that they are a perfect way to illustrate this popular holiday. The sun setting in the background reminds me of the burning candles on the Chanukiah.
Chanukah commemorates two miracles which occurred on behalf of the people of Israel. The first miracle was the military victory of a handful of Jewish warriors against the mighty armed forces of the Syrian-Greek army. The second miracle was that while going through the ruins of the destroyed holy temple only sufficient oil to light the menorah for one day was found, yet the oil miraculously burned for eight continuous days. That is why Chanukah lasts eight nights.

We are currently enjoying a very mild winter, though Israel really could do with some much needed rain. Taking advantage of the good weather we decided to meet some friends at the beautiful Wohl Rose Garden in Jerusalem and enjoy a relaxing outdoor picnic with them. Apparently the garden boasts of over 400 varieties of roses grown there. I certainly saw far fewer than that number, though I am sure that at this time of the year there are less flowers in bloom. In addition to the rose bushes, the park features an ornamental pond with waterfall, rockeries and sculptures. It was wonderful afternoon. What can beat lounging on a rug in the sunshine at this time of the year? It's almost hard to believe that Chanukah is upon us!

To those of you celebrating this fun festival, I wish you a very happy candle-lighting, dreidel-spinning, latke-eating Chanukah!