Pasco News
Chabad Jewish Center shines for holiday
By Daylina Miller | Suncoast News
Published: December 12, 2012
TRINITY - Children spun dreidels and colored menorah-shaped cookies as members of the Chabad Jewish Center of West Pasco and the surrounding community gathered to eat potato latkes and doughnuts while waiting for Pasco's largest menorah to be lit on the second night of Hanukkah.Published: December 12, 2012
The 2012 Grand Chanukah Celebration, in its sixth year, was held on the lawn of Trinity Oaks Plaza, off Trinity Boulevard, where the Hasidic Judaism center is located.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Jews the world over in remembrance of a menorah that stayed lit for eight days on one day's worth of oil. This year it began Saturday and will end Sunday.
"Hanukkah is the message of light over dark, of good over evil," said Dina Eber, the wife of Rabbi Yossi Eber. "It's a reminder to do more good deeds."
Hanukkah is celebrated by eating oily food to remember the miracle of the oil, Dina said. There are also eight days of gifts.
The Ebers give each of their six children money each night. When Hanukkah ends, they choose a charity to give some of the money to and get to spend the rest on a gift for themselves.
Dina Eber said the message of charity is important, and everyone is reminded of it during Hanukkah. Each child keeps a charity box in their room year-round and is encouraged to put at least a penny in it every day.
"You start the day by doing a good deed," she said.
When the time came to light the menorah, Yossi Eber called for everyone's attention.
"Today we are perhaps of the luckiest Jewish generations of all time," Yossi Eber said. "We have Hebrew schools, we have synagogues, we have kosher food almost everywhere."
The rabbi called upon Lew Friedland, president of Trinity Communities developer Adam Smith Enterprises, to light the menorah at dusk in a solemn celebration of the holiday. Three candles were lit, including the service candle and the first two of eight candles representing the eight days of Hanukkah.
"It's an important holiday for the Jews and for peace, and that's what we all hope for," Friedland said.
After the ceremony, the menorah was placed off State Road 54 and Community Drive in Trinity so passers-by could see it.