B.C. Premier John Horgan shared a blessing and lit a candle on an eight-foot menorah at the legislature on Tuesday night, on the first night of Hanukkah.
The celebration of light over darkness and freedom from religious persecution is observed by Jewish people around the world for eight days beginning Dec. 12. Hanukkah, the wintertime festival of lights, is celebrated with nightly menorah lightings, special prayers and fried foods.
Horgan lit the shamash candle in the middle of the nine-branch menorah, said Rabbi Meir Kaplan.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. When the Jewish people sought to light the menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
Singer Anders Nerman from Jerusalem performed at the annual event.
Every participant received glow in the dark Hanukkah glasses, and were offered doughnuts, hot cocoa, chocolate coins and small spinning tops called driedels.
