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Stories Fill Festival Of Lights

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

CITRUS PARK - The Tampa Jewish Community Center kicked off the holidays by welcoming the community for an activity-filled day.

The second annual Hands-on Chanukah Family Celebration took place Dec. 2 at the Tampa JCC's main campus, 13009 Community Campus Drive, off Gunn Highway

The event featured food, crafts, storytelling and singing. Native Israeli Ravit Glogau told stories of the Festival of Lights and led families in songs.

"The children really love to hear the stories from the Talmud told to them in person," Glogau said.

Later in the afternoon, Jana Broder hosted a drum circle inviting visitors to participate.

"We try to get folks involved in the fact that this is a celebration," Broder said.

Rabbi Mendel Rubashkin, representing Chabad of Brandon, concluded the day's festivities, teaching onlookers how to press olives for oil to light their menorahs.

The eight-day Festival of Lights began Dec. 4. The holiday marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabee rebellion.

According to the Talmud, after the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, priests miraculously used one day's worth of consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the temple for eight days.

The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of menorah lights on each night of the holiday.

"We've noticed a lot more community involvement in our holiday activities this year," Wilson said.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, the Tampa JCC was planning to host an intergenerational drum circle.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or shammill@tampatrib.com.

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