JAMESBURG — The afternoon sun shone brightly on the large white menorah that stood in Veterans Memorial Park.
"The menorah is ultimately a symbol of freedom, of light over darkness, of joy over sadness and of freedom over oppression," Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, of the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe Township, said to a crowd that had gathered in the park.
Residents, war veterans and elected officials attended the borough's annual public menorah lighting Wednesday in celebration of Hanukkah.
The holiday commemorates the triumph of the Jews over the religious persecution by Greco-Syrians and the miracle thereafter by which one day's worth of oil burned for eight days.
The ceremony was led by Rabbi Zaklikovsky, who said the message of Hanukkah is that of freedom of religion.
Rabbi Zaklikovsky spoke first about the victory of the Maccabees over their religious oppressors.
"Although they were weak and there were few, they nevertheless were courageous and victorious and ultimately freedom of religion became a reality," Rabbi Zaklikovsky said.
He noted how public menorah lightings such as this honor everything that the Maccabees fought for and won.
"How wonderful it is here in this country that we're able to celebrate freedom of religion," he said. "By taking the menorah and not just lighting it in our homes, but also lighting it in public places where people can see it, people can be inspired by it, people can take in the message that's behind the menorah."
Six veterans — Stan Hoffman, Seymour Roth, Frank Slavin, Dan Mann, Moe Ellish and Manuel Fleit — each turned on an electric candle.
"I feel pretty proud," said Mr. Slavin, vice commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 609.
Perhaps it was those veterans who attended the event who best understood what it means to fight against persecution.
Mr. Hoffman, who is the chaplain of the Jewish War Veterans Post 609, American Legion Post 127 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 262, said the Maccabees and veterans both fought for religious tolerance and freedom.
"It's a good feeling to be part of this," he said. "This is quite important for Jewish veterans.
"The menorah is ultimately a symbol of freedom, of light over darkness, of joy over sadness and of freedom over oppression," Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, of the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe Township, said to a crowd that had gathered in the park.
Residents, war veterans and elected officials attended the borough's annual public menorah lighting Wednesday in celebration of Hanukkah.
The holiday commemorates the triumph of the Jews over the religious persecution by Greco-Syrians and the miracle thereafter by which one day's worth of oil burned for eight days.
The ceremony was led by Rabbi Zaklikovsky, who said the message of Hanukkah is that of freedom of religion.
Rabbi Zaklikovsky spoke first about the victory of the Maccabees over their religious oppressors.
"Although they were weak and there were few, they nevertheless were courageous and victorious and ultimately freedom of religion became a reality," Rabbi Zaklikovsky said.
He noted how public menorah lightings such as this honor everything that the Maccabees fought for and won.
"How wonderful it is here in this country that we're able to celebrate freedom of religion," he said. "By taking the menorah and not just lighting it in our homes, but also lighting it in public places where people can see it, people can be inspired by it, people can take in the message that's behind the menorah."
Six veterans — Stan Hoffman, Seymour Roth, Frank Slavin, Dan Mann, Moe Ellish and Manuel Fleit — each turned on an electric candle.
"I feel pretty proud," said Mr. Slavin, vice commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 609.
Perhaps it was those veterans who attended the event who best understood what it means to fight against persecution.
Mr. Hoffman, who is the chaplain of the Jewish War Veterans Post 609, American Legion Post 127 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 262, said the Maccabees and veterans both fought for religious tolerance and freedom.
"It's a good feeling to be part of this," he said. "This is quite important for Jewish veterans.
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