Students and staff were delighted to be able to celebrate Hanukkah last night with St Hugh’s Tutor in Law; Vice Principal, Professor Joshua Getzler, who sang traditional blessings while lighting the menorah, also known as a hanukkiah. Latkes and doughnuts – traditional Hanukkah food – were served as part of the evening’s dinner.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, lasts for eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in December), and commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees. The centrepiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the menorah, a candelabra that holds nine candles. Eight of the candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed, and the ninth candle, the shamash, is used to light the others.
If you would like to view Professor Getzler singing the blessings please click on the video link below:
