Several Activities During Hanukkah for Ohio State University Students

Jewish students at Ohio State University may be stuck at school for finals, but they can still participate in several activities during Hanukkah. OSU's Hillel and Chabad have planned events throughout the Festival of Lights beginning Dec. 1.

The annual winter holiday for those of the Jewish faith, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration commemorating Israel's defeat of the Greeks at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. At the end of the battle, only enough oil remained to burn the lamp for one day yet, miraculously, the light burned for eight days.

The lighting of the Menorah is a part of the festivities. The Schottenstein Chabad House at OSU will provide menorahs to 1,000 students as part of the "1,000 Points of Light" campaign. Beginning with one candle, each evening at sunset, an additional candle is lit until the final night, when all eight are burning in the menorah.

On Dec. 1, the first day of Hanukkah, Hillel OSU will sponsor "Chanukah for All" at the Ohio Union from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.. Dreidels, latkes and cookies will be provided.

There are other traditions associated with Hanukkah. The dreidel, or spinning top, is imprinted with the four Hebrew letters representing the phrase "a great miracle happened there". Because the Festival of Light surrounds the miracle of the oil, fried foods are a part of the meals, including sufganiot (doughnuts) and latkes (potato pancakes).

Hillel will sponsor a party outside the Ohio Union on Thursday, Dec. 2, at sundown featuring the lighting of a 12-foot menorah. A fire juggler and live music will entertain guests.

Chabad House will also sponsor two additional menorah lightings in other Columbus locations.

In Bexley, the lighting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the intersection of East Broad Street and Drexel Avenue. On Saturday, Dec. 4, a celebration of the Festival of Lights will be held at Easton Town Center. The menorah lighting at 8 p.m. on the Easton Town Square will kick off a two-hour celebration featuring music, dancing, dreidels, sufganiot and warm apple cider. A raffle drawing will also be held.

These Ohio State University Hanukkah events are open to students of all faiths.

Sources: Hillel ; Chabad House ; Columbus Dispatch ; Chabad.org