on Saturday, December 12th, 2015 at 6:30 PM
MAYOR KRAUSS TO ADDRESS MENORAH LIGHTING DOWNTOWN AS PART OF WORLD’S LARGEST CHANUKAH OBSERVANCE
Chabad Lubavitch of Montana to Light Up One of 10,000 Public Menorahs Worldwide, Symbolizing Universal Message of Religious Freedom
WHAT:
Chabad Lubavitch of Montana will ignite a public nine-foot Menorah erected at First Security Bank (Main Street and Bozeman Ave), followed by a community-wide celebration on the seventh night of Chanukah, which falls out on Saturday, December 12th, 2015 at 6:30 PM. The ceremony will include the honored attendance of Mayor Krauss, who will address the crowd. Following the Menorah lighting ceremony, the gathered will sing and eat the traditional Chanukah foods of doughnuts and chocolate Gelt.
The public Menorah lighting was organized by Chabad Lubavitch Rabbi Chaim Bruk, who remarked, “This year’s Chanukah celebrations bring added significance as Jewish communities worldwide celebrate the year of Hakhel, a once-every-seven-years opportunity to celebrate Jewish unity and learning. Throughout the year, Jewish synagogues and organizations are hosting communal gatherings for men, women and children dedicated to encouraging Jewish observance.”
Bozeman’s Menorah is one of thousands of large public Menorahs sponsored by Chabad throughout the world, including in Livingston, Billings, and at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.
For more information on the holiday of Chanukah visit www.JewishMontana.com/Chanukah
WHY:
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated a ruthless enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion. During the occupation of Jerusalem and the Temple, the Syrian Greeks desecrated and defiled the oil prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service in the temple. Upon recapturing the Temple from the Syrian Greeks, the Jewish people found only one jar of undefiled oil, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight days until new, pure olive oil was produced. In commemoration of this event, the Jewish people celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah. The Menorah is placed in a highly-visible place to publicize the miracle, with its message of hope and religious freedom, to all. Today, people of all faiths consider the Chanukah holiday as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.
EVENT RECAP:
What: Grand Menorah Lighting
Where: First Security Bank, Main Street and Bozeman Ave
When: Saturday, December 12th, 6:30 PM
Cost: Free and Open to All
ABOUT THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION
Chabad Lubavitch of Montana offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, contact Rabbi Chaim Bruk, Chabad Lubavitch of Montana, at (406) 585-8770 and rabbi@jewishmontana.com or visit JewishMontana.com.
