Oxford Mayor Joins Lighting

Over 150 people celebrated the beginning of the Jewish Festival of Chanukah with the lighting of the giant menorah candelabra on Broad Street, Oxford, this past Tuesday, 20 Dec, with the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Elise Benjamin, organised by Chabad of Oxford.

Oxford Rabbi Eli Brackman, director of Chabad of Oxford, addressed the theme of the festival that dates back to 2nd century BCE when the Jews in the Holy Land were under threat of Helenization by the Seleucid Greeks and were successful in maintaining their heritage and traditions against all odds. Rabbi Brackman said that the holiday is relevant to today’s time promoting the values of freedom of expression and religion and the triumph of light over darkness.

The lighting of the candelabra recounts the miracle of the lights when the Jews reclaimed the Jerusalem Temple from the Greeks, they only discovered a single cruise of oil for the kindling of the Temple Menorah but miraculously burned for eight consecutive days, thus establishing the festival of Lights – Chanukah.

The lighting in Oxford is performed each year in Oxford in memory of late Jewish City Councillor, Dr. Mike Woodin, who was instrumental in helping establish this tradition in Oxford together with Chabad of Oxford in 2001.

The Menorah will be kindled each evening, 20-27 Dec, at 5pm, outside Balliol College on Broad Street.