Students to light candles at Hillel

By Jewels Phraner

Published Dec. 4, 2007

This year, Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, is the earliest it has been in five years.

The celebration begins tonight at 4:15 p.m., and for some students, this is the first Hanukkah they've been away from their families.

Shira Berkowitz, president of the Jewish Student Organization, coordinated an event for students starting

tonight.

She said the group will light the Hanukkah candles at 4:30 p.m. and then, again, at 6 p.m. right before other events start at Hillel.

Traditionally, on the first night, the shammus candle, which is usually placed in the middle of the

menorah and used to light the other candles, is lit, and three berakhot, or

blessings, are recited.

Then the first candle is lit and placed in the farthest right holder on the menorah.

JSO will then hold a poker tournament and a Hookah for Hanukkah event.

"It's a fun way to start Hanukkah," Berkowitz said.

The poker tournament has a $5 buy-in, and all proceeds will benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, she said.

JSO plans to light the candles sundown every night at Hillel.

Berkowitz said she expected about 16 people to come to tonight's festivities.

"It's right before finals and a lot of people are studying," she said. "But I hope people take study breaks to stop by."