Jews of West Virginia Proudly Celebrate Chanukah

The Mountaineer Jewish community came together Tuesday evening to celebrate Chanukah, the festival of lights.

Outside the Mountainlair building of West Virginia University, they celebrated the holiday by lighting a 10-foot-tall menorah, singing songs and eating latkes and different kinds of doughnuts.

On Chanukah, the menorah is lit to commemorate a Jewish miracle when an insufficient amount of oil was left in the community menorah, but it stayed aflame for eight days longer than was expected.

The flame left in the menorah signifies the resilience of the Jewish people in the face oppression.

“It’s great to see how Jewish students are confident enough in their Judaism that they’re willing to come out and show it,” said Rabbi Zalman Gurevitz, director of the Chabad Jewish Center. “It’s heartwarming how these students are proud to be Jewish.”

Gurevitz said Hannukah is the only Jewish holiday celebrated outdoors.

“We feel that by doing such events at public areas in WVU, it helps Jewish students feel at home here and makes their stay at WVU more at home,” Gurevitz said.

The Rabbi led the attendants in a description of why the menorah is lit. Following prayers, chocolate, personal menorahs and dreidels were handed out as well.

More than 25 people attended the event, including students, non-students and members of the Jewish community.

David Leviev, a sophomore political science student, said the group is growing.

“I feel like we have a very strong and great group of people and that we are growing and getting stronger every single year through the numerous events we do like this year’s Hanukkah celebration,” Leviev said. “Chabad is like my home away from home.”

Chabad president Tayla Harris said she feels the event forges a stronger bond between Jewish people in the Morgantown community.

“These events bring Jewish students and community members together because the holiday is important, everyone enjoys good food and it’s a really good time since we always have a really big turn out,” Harris said. “All the events that Chabad holds at school make me feel like I’m a part of something and that I have a big Jewish family at WVU. It’s (a) really nice feeling, like I’m a part of something greater than myself.”