Lighting of the Menorah

By Noah Baldwin (9th grade)

Every year, my family and I celebrate a Jewish holiday called Hanukkah. It always brings us closer to our Jewish identities, which can accidentally get hidden away over time. While it is something we are encouraged to do, it is very fun and symbolizes happy moments for me and my family. The light of the candles is always so pure in my eyes, and it almost unlocks a whole other part of my mind. My family holds traditions very close to us because we feel it's important to express the entirety of yourself. Each candle represents one night, each night we light one extra candle until we get to the eighth night. The way my family and many others have adapted it is that we get a small present each night. Now that is the fun part because the gifts progressively get larger as the nights pass. The meaning of the candles goes back to an old story. Where just a day's supply of oil allowed the menorah in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem to stay lit for 8 days straight. This was seen as something monumental in the Jewish community and will forever be celebrated.