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Milledgeville's Hannukkah menorah will turn 3 years old this weekend, as Milledgeville MainStreet is hosting a "lighting ceremony" on Sunday at 6 p.m.
The menorah is the 9-foot-tall, branch-shaped structure that first made its debut on Hancock Street in December 2020. The menorah ceremony always coincides with the first day of Hannukkah. According to the Jewish National Fund’s website, Hanukkah “is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime ‘festival of lights,’ celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried foods.” Hanukkah celebrates the defeat of the Greeks in Jerusalem during the second century BC."
The first menorah lighting in 2020 was scaled down due to the pandemic, but last year's ceremony was attended by roughly 100 people, and incorporated "Jewish food items such as latkes and sufganiyot (fried donuts), and also provided dreidels, menorahs, coloring pages, and stickers for the children in attendance," according to MainStreet.
Rabbi Aaron Rubinstein from Congregation Sha’arey Israel and Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar from Temple Beth Israel in Macon will lead the group in prayer and song.
Added Maintreet: "Allison Bloodworth spearheaded the fundraising effort in 2020 to purchase and place the nine-foot Menorah downtown on the Hancock Plaza. In an effort to move toward tolerance and diversity, this placement is extremely meaningful for the Jewish Community and our community as a whole. This is not a common occurrence in our state nor country. Supporting this new tradition is an amazing opportunity to strengthen our community and show acceptance of all people."
