Area Jews Prepare For Annual Hanukah Celebration

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Jewish celebration known as the "Festival of Lights" begins Wednesday at sundown.

Rabbi Albert Gabbai of Congregation Mikveh Israel (above) says the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukah is about religious freedom.

"The Greeks wanted to impose their culture on the other nations," he said, "so they insisted that the Jews should not learn their own heritage, the Torah; they should not practice circumcision, observe the Sabbath, and declare the holidays."

He says to keep their culture, the Jews rebelled.  And Gabbai says a symbol of this is the eight-armed candelabra:

"The menorah, of course, is the one that represents the miracle of the famous cruse of oil that was supposed to last one day but lasted eight days.  But really, the symbol behind it is the light that our spiritual message gives to the whole world: that we have to be tolerant of each other."

Hear the entire interview in this CBS Philly podcast...

Each night of the holiday, Jews light an additional candle on the menorah.

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060.