Light of Hanukkah Kindles as Huge Menorah Lit

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — The crowd gave a small cheer when Doug Raphael lit the first lamp on the giant menorah in downtown Halifax.

The Halifax architect used a cherry picker to get up to the top of the six-metre-tall Jewish ceremonial candelabra and a blowtorch to light it in front of a crowd of about 100 people at the Grand Parade.

“When you’re up there and you actually get the bird’s-eye view of the community . . . you really feel a sense of unity,” Mr. Raphael said Monday night.

“It’s a different perspective up there. You just see everyone more united. It feels wonderful.”

Monday marked the fourth night of Hanukkah, but it was the official lighting ceremony. The eight-day festival, which ends Saturday, celebrates the Jewish victory over Syrian invaders more than 2,000 years ago. Jews consider it a miracle that, after the fighting, a jug containing one day’s supply of oil for their temple’s menorah lasted eight days.

“Hanukkah is a wonderful holiday because it’s really geared around children,” Mr. Raphael said.

Lots of small, excited kids and their parents lit candles of their own during the menorah ceremony.

The lights “contain some obvious lessons, simple and yet profound,” said Rabbi Mendel Feldman of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Jewish outreach group.

“We find ourselves surrounded in darkness and confusion. Acts of terrorism and murder are being reported every day and one wonders how can we go on? Where can we draw the strength from?” Mr. Feldman said. “Let these Hanukkah lights remind us not to despair and lose hope.”

He encouraged people in the crowd to share their knowledge, enthusiasm and resources with others, just as the menorah shares its light, energy and warmth.

“As the Hanukkah candles teach us, nothing is lost in the process,” Mr. Feldman said.

His group has been lighting the giant menorah in downtown Halifax for a dozen years as a way to give Jewish people a sense of belonging during the holidays.

“It’s injected a tremendous life into the Hanukkah and the whole season for the Jewish community,” he said.