International relations sophomore Jess Goldblatt prepares to light a menorah with his brothers in Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity on Dec. 3, 2013. This was the seventh night of Hanukkah represented by the seven candles in the menorah. Brian Palmer/The State News
As the eight nights of Hanukkah continue throughout the week, MSU students and faculty join together each night to participate in the holiday tradition of lighting the Hanukkah menorah.
Historically, Hanukkah is meant to celebrate two miracles, Rabbi Hendel Weingarten of MSU’s Chabad said. The first is the victory Jewish people had over the Syrian-Greek persecutors, and the second is the ability of a small flask of oil to remain lit in the menorah in the Temple for eight days.
“Often times, people associate the menorah with the Jewish religion, but the menorah instead represents freedom,” Weingarten said. “The menorah represents the ability to be able to practice the religion in a free world and not on any kind of dictatorship.”
This year, Hanukkah started fairly early — on the eve of Thanksgiving — which gave Jewish students the ability to start celebrations with family members. Students are celebrating the holiday in many different ways, ranging from standing around the large menorah located by the Rock on Farm Lane to simply lighting a personal menorah in their homes.
Every night, international relations sophomore Jess Goldblatt, the president of Alpha Epsilon Pi at MSU, said about 30 fraternity brothers gather around at their house to light the menorah together. As ?the candles are lit, Goldblatt said the brothers join together in traditional songs and prayers.
“It really shows the brotherhood and really brings us closer together,” he said. “We’re all Jewish and we get to share the experience with each other.”
The actual lighting usually only takes about five to 10 minutes, but the celebrations afterward can go on for hours.
Accounting senior Calli Stencel said even though she’s not at home with her family, she tries to continue the holiday tradition despite her busy school schedule.
“I’ll occasionally light the menorah with my roommate, but if I were at home we would be making time for Hanukkah every night,” she said. “It makes me feel blessed mostly because it brings the family together and is just a happy time.”
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