Everett celebrates arrival of Hanukkah

  On the second night of Hanukkah, residents joined city officials in front of City Hall to celebrate Everett’s fifth annual Menorah lighting. During the November 29 ceremony, Rabbi Sruli Baron of Tobin Bridge Chabad spoke about the history of the eight-day Festival of Lights, which dates back more than 3,300 years.

  At that time, Baron said, Israel was occupied by the Syrian-Greek Army, led by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. “The Syrian-Greeks wanted to Hellenize the land of Israel – essentially obliterate the Jewish religion from the land,” said Baron.

  Shortly thereafter, a series of Decrees went into effect, making it illegal to practice the Jewish religion. Baron said the Jewish people continued to practice their religion despite being forced into hiding. However, that did not last for very long. “A brave group of people called the Maccabees banded together and rose up against the mighty Greek Army,” said Baron. “After a series of miraculous military victories, they succeeded in driving the Greeks from the land.”

  Once they declared victory, the Maccabees wanted to light the Menorah in the Temple courtyard. “The problem was you needed a special, ritually pure oil to light the Menorah,” said Baron, adding that the Greeks had destroyed the oil flasks. “They calculated that it would take eight days to make new oil.”

  However, one of the Maccabees discovered a lone oil flask which had somehow gone untouched. The oil was lit and it burned for the following eight nights.

  “When kindness prevails over darkness, that’s when miracles happen and that’s the message of Hanukkah,” said Baron.

  Deanna Deveney, the city’s communications director, spoke on behalf of Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “Hanukkah is a time to find light in the darkness,” she said. “May each light represent that our future is bright and our community will persevere through darkness.”