Jews Celebrate The "Festival Of Lights" At Sundown

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December 15, 2006

Jews all over the world begin the celebration of Hanukkah Friday night at sundown. At the Jewish Children's Museum in Crown Heights, the story of the holiday is being told in a new interactive musical show. NY1's Stephane Simon filed the following report.

The Macabee Show tells the story of Judah Macabee and the small Jewish army that defeated the mighty Syrian Greek forces 2,000 years ago in a fight for religious freedom. Visitors travel back in time, and even hide in the caves, before finding their way to the destroyed temple.

"The little miracle of Hanukkah was that there was a cruise of oil that was found, that was only enough for one day but lasted all the eight days of Hanukkah," explained Devorah Halberstam of the Jewish Children's Museum. "And there you have story of Hanukkah."

"God made a miracle for eight day, and that's why we celebrate Hanukkah," added a child who participated in the show.

The show is interactive, so the kids feel like they're part of the story. But for the museum's matriarch, Devorah Halberstam, the story of Hanukkah is her story.

On the fifth night of Hanukkah on December 1, 1994, the man who shot and killed her son, Ari, on the Brooklyn Bridge in March of that year, was found guilty.

"And it was on that night that we saw where good rose over bad, and darkness turned into light for us, on a certain level," said Halberstam.

The museum opened in 2004, and is dedicated to Ari's memory, and to teaching tolerance in a fun playful setting.

The museum was founded by a Lubavitch sect of Hasidic Jews. But since it opened in 2004, approximately 300,000 people of all backgrounds have come through the doors.

Exhibits include a kosher supermarket, kitchen and, and the World of Good, which encourages good deeds.

Now there are so many interactive activities here; kids can even climb through challah, which smells like fresh baked bread.

Speaking of fresh baked goods, after the Hanukkah show kids are given the chance to decorate donuts. Fried foods are traditional on Hanukkah food because of the oil, but of course they also help make for a sweet holiday.

Visitors to the museum can see the Macabee Show now through January 7.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Chabad
• Museum
• Devorah
• Halberstam
• Crown
• HEights
• Lubavitch
• Chanukah

[Frogogog]

You do know that the religion of Islam stems from Judaism, right?

[Swamy456]

I pray for peace for everyone of every religion and race.

[Winstonchurchilli]

@UTAOUB ur totally not Jewish dude, that was a funny comment. based on what u wrote u would ignore the fact that ur Jewish not even discuss it especially on faceless forums such as comments on Youtube. the fact that ur mentioning it means that u just can't get enough of it or simply u just dumb (i.e. one who has a low IQ)(simular to the content of the comment you wrote). be well.

[normatosca]

I AM A GREEK :D

[UTAOUB]

@alalalinas Israel is cruel 2 the Palestinians bcaus Israel wants room N Israel 4 AL t diaspora Jews 2 com N - efn if they don't want 2! This is a crime 2 both Palestinians & diaspora Jews. They efn say superZionists wer glad the Nazis mad things uncomfortabl 4 pre-WWII Jews..bcaus the SZs wanted al Jews 2 mov 2 Palestine & build Israel! I don't think t SZs nu HOW horribl t Nazis wer -but stil, it was wrong. And it IS wrong, what theyre doing now! I feel for u! "2 states is great!"

[UTAOUB]

NOT all Jews "celebrate" Chanuka -- or even being Jewish. Religious freedom OF CHOICE is great--- but NO ONE shud force others 2 do anything! I hop non-Jews are aware that NOT efry Jew loves being Jewish! I want Christianity, because, being an Indigo person, I naturally want to marry royalty-- & there is no extant Jewish royalty. More & more Indigo kids r being born....so, when they grow up...watch out for the revolt --especially amongst Jewish Indigo kids!

[MAD4MALAGATANI]

@alalalinas

You mean the Fakistinians who want to kill all the Jews if only they could...would you have mercy on the one who wants to put a bullet in you face? Think about it.

[unbelvbl]

and thats why we have nukes on our own toady, becasuse of motherf*&^ers like you.

[unbelvbl]

alalalinas

and how exactly should this mercy be shown? Should all of Israel be dunked into the Mediterranean sea..?? as this is what is taught in all Muslim schools.

[alalalinas]

Have mercy on the Palestinians if you folks a message and compassion

[dpapaioannow]

fuck off jewlander ISRAEL IS GREEK SOIL

[dpapaioannow]

this a racist celebration promoting hatred and violence against the greek people...know this you fucking jews,here in greece you are not allowed to celebrate your filthy festivals,we go at your parties and put all 8 candles up your asses,you are getting your faces turned into mousse and your bitches fucked up the ass..AND ISRAEL IS GREEK SOIL MOTHERFUCKERS HAHAHAHA