Chanukkah celebrated in Queenstown

Date:

Dec 24, 2014

Chanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, was officially marked in Queenstown today.

Auckland Rabbi Mendel Goldstein was joined by Mayor Vanessa van Uden and Anglican Vicar Christopher Tweddell to light the menorah on Earnslaw Park this morning.

Rabbi Goldstein said that the eight lights on the candelabra represented the miracle of one day’s portion of kosher oil providing light for eight days in the Temple, after the Israelites won their revolt against the Hellenists in Jerusalem and re-established religious tolerance.

“Today, Chanukkah represents goodness, kindness and social justice. “Just as we light one candle each day to mark the increase of light, so we should strive for more of those values every day,” Rabbi Goldstein said.