The triumph of good over evil, and the reenactment of a miraculous event where a small amount of oil was able to keep candles lit for eight days, was celebrated at Kukui Grove Center last night. The second night of
The triumph of good over evil, and the reenactment of a miraculous event where a small amount of oil was able to keep candles lit for eight days, was celebrated at Kukui Grove Center last night.
The second night of Chanukah was celebrated by leaders of Chabad of Hawaii, with a special “tiki-menorah” created only hours before the public celebration by Ed Green and Denis Richardson of Kapa’a.
About 20 people attended.
For his part in putting together the celebratory candelabra, Green was given the distinction of lighting first the shamas, or middle candle used to light all the other candles, then two candles to signify the first two days of Chanukah, or the Festival of Light.
With solemn Hebrew music playing on the center’s loudspeakers, all were invited to partake of latkes flown in from Honolulu for the ceremony, presided over by junior Rabbis Yossel Groner and Dovid Tilson.
They are from the Jewish Peace Corps, Communal Outreach, in Honolulu.
Smaller, boxed versions of menorah were available for those who did not yet have their own.
Before the formal ceremony began, Michael Arfa, a native of Israel now living in Kapa’a who said he is just getting to know his religion, lit candles of around 15 others celebrating Chanukah.
A third candle on the “tiki-menorah” will be lit today, Tuesday, Dec. 27, during a special gathering at 5 p.m. at the Blossoming Lotus restaurant on Kukui Street in Kapa’a.
There, latkes and a kosher feast will be offered, as well as music and celebration.
This Friday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m., leaders of the Jewish Community of Kauai host a Chanukah gathering at St. Michael & All Angels’ Episcopal Church at the corner of ‘Umi and Hardy streets in Lihu’e.
There will be latkes, a potluck, the reading of the story of Chanukah, fellowship, and more, said Dale Rosenfeld, vice president of the Jewish Community of Kauai.
Offerings of non-perishable food items, which will be donated to leaders at the Kauai Food Bank, are encouraged at the Friday function, organizers said.
For more information on today’s events, please call Groner, 428-8426, or Tilson, 917-692-1699. For more information on the Friday function, call Marty Kahn, 652-7297.
