NEWS
Chanukah to be celebrated across Southern Arizona Chabad centers in Southern Arizona will hold dozens of Chanukah events and community celebrations which will include igniting large menorahs at public locations throughout the eight-day holiday. In preparation for the Festival of Lights, Chabad is distributing free Menorah kits that include a shiny tin Menorah, colorful candles, a dreidel and text of the blessings. Classes on the meaning of Chanukah are presented by both rabbis and rebbetzins. Chabad rabbis and volunteers will be visiting and leading celebrations at the retirement and assisted living communities of Handmaker, Atria Campana del Rio, Amber Lights, Atria Valley Manor, Villa Hermosa, Fairwinds Desert Point, Sonora at Splendido, Mountain View Retirement Village, The Country Club of La Cholla and others. The following events will be open to the wider public and free of charge: Sunday, Nov. 28 5:00 PM - Chanukah at Downtown Tucson by Chabad Tucson with the lighting of Tucson’s tallest Menorah, music, glow-themed crafts, Chanukah treats and more. Held at El Presidio Park, outside Tucson City Hall, 165 W
Alameda St. 4:30 PM - Oro Valley Grand Chanukah Celebration by Chabad of Oro Valley with a Menorah lighting, acrobatic performance and music. Held at Gaslight Music Hall - Rancho Vistoso Center, 13005 N Oracle Rd #165. 5:00 PM - Chanukah party by Chabad on River with Menorah lighting, words of inspiration and refreshments. Held at the rabbi’s residence (Details: rabbitucson@gmail.com) 4:30 PM - Vail Chanukah celebration by Chabad of Vail with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts, music and kids crafts. Held at Purple Heart Park, 9800 E Rita Rd. 4:30 PM - Sierra Vista Chanukah celebration by Chabad of Sierra Vista with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts, music and more. Held Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 E. Fry Blvd. Monday, Nov. 29 4:30 PM - Benson Chanukah celebration by Chabad of Sierra Vista with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts, music and more. Held at the Visitor Center, 249 E 4th St.\ Wednesday, Dec. 1
A Chanukah celebration in Sahuarita, Arizona
4:30 PM - Ft. Huachuca Chanukah celebration by Chabad of Sierra Vista with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts, music and more. Held at the Post Exchange Building 52030. 5:00 PM - Community Chanukah Party by Chabad of Vail with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts and music. Held at Voyager Resort - Santa Rita Room, 8701 S. Kolb Rd. Thursday, Dec. 2 4:30 PM - Bisbee Chanukah celebration by Chabad of Sierra Vista with Menorah lighting, latkes, donuts, music and more. Held at the Grassy Park by the Cooper Queen.\
7:00 PM - Student Chanukah celebration by Chabad at the University of Arizona with Menorah lighting and treats. Held at the UA Mall. Shabbos, Dec. 4 9:30 AM - Shabbos Chanukah & Rosh Chodesh - a special service with 3 Torah scrolls and a guest sermon followed by a holiday-themed kiddush meal. Held at Chabad Tucson - Young Israel, 2443 E 4th St. Sunday, Dec. 5 5:00 PM - Oro Valley Chanukah event by Chabad of Oro Valley with a Menorah lighting ceremony. Held at Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W Naranja Dr.
Archaeologists unearth fortress from Chanukah battle Excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Lachish Forest in the Judean Shephelah uncovered a Hellenistic fortress that was destroyed and burned by the Hasmoneans (Maccabees). Weapons, charred wooden beams, and dozens of coins currently being unearthed at the fortress provide tangible evidence of a battle between the Hasmoneans and the Seleucids 2,100 years ago. “The excavation provides tangible evidence of the Hanukkah story,” said Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits, and Ahinoam
Montagu, who led the excavation. “It appears that we have discovered a fortress, part of a fortified line erected by the Hellenistic army commanders, built to protect the large Hellenistic city of Maresha from Hasmonean offensives. However, the finds from the site show that the Seleucid defenses were unsuccessful, and the building was badly burnt by the Hasmonean forces.” During the excavation, thousands of collapsed stones were removed, revealing a massive half a meter thick destruction layer. Within the destruction layer, hundreds of finds dated to the late second century BCE were found,
including pottery, slingshots, iron weapons, burnt wooden beams, and dozens of coins. The Hasmonean rebellion against Hellenistic rule and the Seleucid dynasty was initiated after the anti-Jewish decrees of Antiochus IV and led to the Hasmonean state’s southward expansion as described in the Books of the Maccabees and writings of the historian Josephus. After the excavations, the fortress will undergo conservation and will be opened to the public as part of the Jewish National Fund’s Kings of Judah Road project currently under development.
Vladik Lifshits and Dr. Yael Abadi-Reiss, Israel Antiquities Authority
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