CEDAR FALLS — Candles shined their way through the fog during a celebration of Hanukkah in Cedar Falls Thursday.
A 10-foot menorah sat at the River Place Plaza in a lighting ceremony marking the second night of the Jewish holiday. The celebration was led by Rabbi Aron Schimmel from the Chabad of Northeast Iowa in Postville.
He recited the more than 2,000-year-old story of Hanukkah, when Jews rededicated the Holy Temple after reclaiming it from the Greeks. When they went to light the menorah, only a small jar of oil was found and was expected to last a night. Instead, it lasted for eight. This year, the eight-day long holiday goes from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.
“Although (this) happened more than 2,000 years ago, it has an eternal, an everlasting message for all mankind,” Schimmel said. “Whenever we can, if we face challenges or face dark energies, we should not be afraid. We should, you know, not run away. On the contrary, we should go out and light and do our part.”
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Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick also spoke at the event. Although not Jewish, he said the message of the holiday can be applied to anyone, especially in a world with “everything happening.”…