MID-HUDSON – The eight-day festival of lights Jewish holiday of Hanukkah began at sundown Thursday with the lighting of the first candle on the menorah.
The holiday is overshadowed by the war Israel is waging Hamas following the October 7 attack by the terrorist group.
Rabbi Mendel Kremer, the spiritual leader of the new Chabad Center of Columbia County in the City of Hudson, is praying for peace.
“I personally feel bad for every civilian killed; one civilian is too much and I really hope that this comes to a quick end and that Hamas is eliminated without injuring anybody else,” he said. “At the same time I think it is important to remember that this is a war that Israel was dragged into, not something they initiated on their own and it is really Hamas that began this war.”
The Hanukkah holiday commemorates when, over 2,100 years ago, enough lamp oil was found to burn for one day, however, it lasted for eight.
A public Hanukkah celebration will be held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Hudson Town Square in Hudson.
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