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Join the Tigard community for the 5th annual Downtown Tigard Menorah Lighting, a joyous celebration in honor of Chanukah, Monday, Dec 11th at 5:00 PM at Universal Plaza, 9100 SW Burnham St, Tigard, OR 97223.
Come and experience the Festival of Lights in a fun and festive atmosphere, complete with live Klezmer music, the lighting of a grand 9-foot menorah, and plenty of Chanukah treats and merchandise. You'll also find menorah kits, dreidels, and gelt, as well as hot drinks to keep you warm. This event is free and open to all, so come and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah with us!
What is Chanukah?
Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.
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In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d.
Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G‑d.
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When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
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To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah.
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