A group of Jewish residents will hold a Menorah Lighting and Chanukah celebration on the Star Market property at 45 Morrissey Blvd. on Sunday, Dec. 21, 5 p.m.
Rabbi Levi Krinsky, who said the event is not associated with any particular synagogue or temple, is organizing the celebration and said the lighting will be held in solidarity with “our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia.”
A gun attack last weekend on a group of Jewish residents celebrating Chanukah on Bondi Beach left 15 people dead and many more wounded in what authorities have called an act of anti-semitic terror.
The Dorchester event will include the lighting, plus crafts for kids, donuts, latkes, and more.
“It’s more important than ever to come together as a community during these difficult times, especially on the holiday of Chanukah, which celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness,” said Rabbi Levi. “In times like these, we need to celebrate with joy and pride.”
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, began this year on the evening of Sunday Dec. 14 and concludes the evening of Monday, Dec. 22. It recalls the victory of a militarily weak Jewish people who defeated the Syrian-Greeks who had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life and prohibit religious freedom. They also desecrated and defiled the Temple, and the oil prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service.
Upon recapturing the Temple only one jar of undefiled oil was found, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight. In commemoration Jews celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah.
