Longmeadow students celebrate Chanukah

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - Jewish families here in Western Massachusetts and across the globe are observing the eight days of Chanukah, the festival of light, which began at Sundown Saturday night.

Staff and students at the Lubavicher Yeshiva in Longmeadow celebrated Sunday.

Chanukah is a 2 thousand year old observance.

The holiday celebrates the Maccabees victory over the ancient Persians. The Menorah denotes the small amount of oil that miraculously burned for eight days.

Rabbi Chain Kosofsky says, “Frying donuts in oil, this miracle of Chanukah happened in oil, we celebrate by having oil activities.”

The Rabbi and the Mayor traditionally light the Menorah such as this one at Springfield's Court Square Park during the eight days of Chanukah.