Hanukkah festivities commence in Durham

Sunday, December 14, 2014
menorah hanukkah generic
WTVD

DURHAM (WTVD) -- People of all ages filled the Levin Jewish Community Center in Durham for the Hanukkah Festival Sunday.



Among them, Zalman Bluming, who was eager to share "our devotion and love for the richness of Jewish study and Jewish learning."



Hanukkah's the Jewish Festival of Lights, and lasts for eight days. It commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after fierce fighting back in 165 B.C.



"The city was burned down in Israel, and we were afraid we weren't going to have enough oil to be able to light the candles. And we found a tiny bit of oil and that oil, in the Hanukkah miracle, lasted eight nights. Which meant that we could burn candles and have enough light and warmth to keep going," explained Avivah Fuhrman of the Levin JCC. "It's a happy holiday; it's not a somber one. You eat lots of fun fried foods, which is always great!"



The people at the community center belong to a devout community, united in their faith, eager to affirm their beliefs and teach youngsters the importance of tradition.



"The guarantors of the Jewish people are not the sages, are not the rabbis, but it's really young Jewish children who love it, live it and cherish it," said Bluming.



Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 16 and ends at sundown, Dec. 24.



Report a Typo

Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.