Topeka – Nearly 100 Kansans joined Governor Sam Brownback and First Lady Mary Brownback Monday afternoon as they lit the first candle on the Menorah for a Chanukah celebration at Cedar Crest.
“The celebration of Chanukah is a special time in the Jewish tradition. The miracle of the oil that lasted eight nights instead of one is the commemoration we mark, but the ideals that were fought for then still resonate to this day. They fought for their right to worship freely and they fought for their humanity, in the face of overwhelming odds,” said Governor Brownback. “I’m proud to be able to stand with the Jewish people of Kansas in celebrating this occasion.”
Chanukah is the eight-day Jewish "Festival of Lights." This year, the holiday begins on the evening of December 20th. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a Menorah. One additional light is lit on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The Chanukah celebration commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BC.
Those attending the celebration included House Speaker Pro Tem Gene Vickrey, State Reps. Mike Burgess, Lana Gordon, Joe Patton, Annie Tietze, as well as Rabbi Sholon Wineberg, Rabbi Mendy Wineberg, Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, and Rabbie Debbie Stiel. Approximately 25,000 Jewish people reside in Kansas, and approximately 5 million Jewish people reside in the United States.