The Jewish holiday will be celebrated by many students beginning Dec. 8

The setting of the sun Dec. 8 will arise numerous celebrations from Jewish students at Park.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple, which is commemorated every year by those who practice the Jewish faith.

Rabbi Cohen, leader of the Jewish studies club at Park for over nine years explained that the holiday of Hanukkah is more of a celebration of the Jewish faith rather than religiously practicing it.

“Hanukkah is unique in the fact that most of the holidays are mentioned in the bible, but since this one is not, it’s not as religious,” Cohen said.

Junior Noah Kupritz also said Hanukkah is much different compared to all of the other Jewish holidays.

“Unlike other Jewish holidays, you don’t have to change your lifestyle and can still do things like going to school and using electricity,” Kupritz said.

Kupritz also says Hanukkah isn’t celebrated for the religious aspects in his family, but rather used as a way for him and his family to get together with other Jewish families and have fun.

“Hanukkah nowadays is mostly a holiday for people to get together and share presents,” Kupritz said. “This year my family is getting together with other jewish families, and all of kids are going to be giving presents to each other.”

Senior Joey Burke said that most Jews, including himself, celebrate Hanukkah similarly by practicing traditional rituals.

Burke said these rituals include lighting the menorah (nine-pronged candle) each night during the 8-day period with his family, recite prayers that specifically relate to Hanukkah, and share gifts. Burke also explains that many Jewish families and his own eat potato latkes, a traditional food to the Jewish faith.

“I think that the ways most people celebrate Hanukkah are pretty similar in that there is typically the lighting of the menorah and presents,” Burke said. “But each family may change things up slightly in their own traditions. It’s like a jewish version of Christmas.”