Hanukkah 2012: Waukesha Lights a Menorah Candle

With a small crowd gathered Monday night outside the Waukesha County Courthouse, the Jewish faith community publicly celebrated Hanukkah with a public menorah lighting.

Hanukkah is from Dec. 8 through Dec. 16 this year to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The story of Hanukkah celebrates a miracle – the temple menorah only had enough oil to burn for one day during a time of war. But instead, that menorah burned for eight continuous days.

“One of the most beautiful, beautiful things happened after the war,” said Rabbi Levi Brook of the Chabad Lubavitch of Waukesha. “They came into the holy temple and they couldn’t find oil their menorah in the temple. All the oil that they found was impure. They found one small jug of oil – a little bit. And that little bit that was only supposed to last an hour lasted eight full days.

“The message of Hanukkah is very clear: every single person standing here – and not standing here – everybody, Jew, non-Jew alike, has in him even during his dark days, he has a small jug of pure oil. And with that small jug of oil, you can turn your day from a gloomy day and a dark day to a beautiful day and a light one.”

Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas was in attendance at the lighting ceremony where he talked about the community entering into the holiday season.

“Thank you for giving us an opportunity to make sure all of Waukesha County recognizes how important of a holiday season we are entering – it is for all people,” Vrakas said.