mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636
DURHAM -- Legos-laden Menorahs big and small covered a table at Duke University's Freeman Center for Jewish Life on Sunday, brightening the atmosphere indoors as a cold drizzle came down outdoors.
Triangle Family Shule, a Jewish Sunday school cooperative that meets once a month, held its annual Hanukkah celebration Sunday, and alongside that, its annual display of menorahs made by students.
Menorahs are the nine-candle holders that commemorate the eight nights of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
More than two thousand years ago, after the Jews reclaimed their temple in a fight against the Greco-Syrians, they wanted to rekindle the eternal lights of the temple but had only enough oil for one day. In what is regarded as a great miracle by many Jews, the oil burned for eight days.
Jennifer Sherwin, director of Triangle Family Shule, said Hanukkah is not the most religious holiday of the year in the Jewish faith, but that it has gained in popularity because it coinicides with Christmas.
The annual menorah decoration is meant to teach students about the meaning of the holiday. The center candle of the menorah is lit first and from that flame, the other candles are lit in succession.
Many students brought menorahs made from Legos, and others brought semi-edible menorahs atop a gingerbread house, artistic menorahs fit for an art gallery and menorahs made from bakugan balls. Each entrant was recognized for his or her creativity.
"We try to instill our Jewish culture and a sense of social justice," Sherwin said.
Eli Rissberger, 8, had built his menorah out of three clementine boxes and nine bakugans, which are toy balls that pop into action figures. ("He really likes clementines," said his mother, Connie Blumenthal.) Rissberger's menorah won the "Scariest Menorah" award.
Emma Fadden, 8, had built hers out of a tree branch and tinfoil.
Fadden spraypainted silver paint on the tree branch the day before, and then, with her parents' help, hot-glued washers and tinfoils on the branch as various candle-holders on Sunday morning.
Fadden had won the "MoMA/Most Creative Award."
Fadden couldn't say much about what Hanukkah meant to her, but said gleefully about the menorah, "It looks so cool when it's all lit up!"
