Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
Locals celebrated the last night of the Jewish Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah, on New Years Day, January 1. The celebration was in Kern Valley at the Ha’Bait Ha’Yehudi Jewish Home, a local fellowship for Jews wanting to grow in their understanding of the religion.
“Hanukkah mainly is a celebration of the miracle of lights; The miracle of a single jar of olive oil lasting eight days, when it was only supposed to light the menorah for one day,” leader Avraham Baruch Goldshtein said.
“The actual menorah that was lit at the temple in Jerusalem is something like this but it’s huge. It was probably ten times as big as this. So one jar at best would have been enough oil for about one day.”
Avraham told the group congregated at his home, that when the Maccabean warriors revolted against the Seleucid Empire conquering an army, they were excited and in a rush of happiness and lit the menorah, even if it was to use it for one day. The oil they needed for this purpose had to be purified as holy to use in G-d’s temple. And there wasn’t enough time to make it worthy of the temple eight days worth. However the limited amount of purified oil lasted for eight days while the new oil was purified as holy. So Jews celebrate this occasion, they considered a miracle from G-d, every year, by lighting the lights of the menorah.
“On the first day of Hanukkah we light one candle with the Shamash, the helper.
The second day we light two. The third day we light three, and so on. Today marks the last day, the eighth day, of the Festival of Lights, the festival of Hanukkah. So today we will light all of the candles.”
The candles are always lit after sunset rather than during daylight. Avraham said that the reason his family wanted to share this particular lighting, with those who came on the eighth day, was because they wanted to shed and share the most light with this gathering. “The reason being, we’re living through very dark times. We’re living through very dangerous times. We all know very well that the world is a little bit crazy right now,” he said, reflecting on the recent uptick in persecution against the Jewish people.
The point of the light of the menorah is not just candles and light. It’s sharing and spreading light and positivety, hope and love, and everything that is good that light means. He said, “In doing that we’re trying to have you partake of something that is holy since ancient times. We’re trying to counter everything that is bad today.” He also talked about countering hatred with love and everything that is bad with goodness. “A little light dispels a lot of darkness,” he said.
Avraham provided several menorahs and invited the guests to each light a menorah. All the children, from very young toddlers up to teenagers, joined in on lighting these menorahs.
The Goldshtein family translated the Hebrew prayers of Hanukkah into English for everyone. The first prayer of the festival involves thanking G-d, who commanded His chosen people to light the lights of Hanukkah. The second blessing of the festival is thanking G-d who made miracles for their forefathers at this time of year.
Anneta Goldhstein, Avraham’s wife invited guests to drink a toast for celebrating the miracle of life. She also served guests a traditional Israeli dinner of potato latkes.
Anneta’s and Avraham’s son, Shlomo Goldshtein is training to be a rabbi. He lit the large menorah, that night, showing guests how it is done and saying the Hebrew prayer and blessing.
Shlomo later told the guests that the festival was based on the fact that the Jews were under Greek suppression and not allowed to learn the Torah, and not allowed to follow G-d’s commands. “At one point the Greeks took over the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which was the most important physical location in all of Jewish culture, in all Jewish history,” he said.
Therefore the Jews fought with a very small army, an unattainable battle to break the shackles of this oppression and regain use of the Jewish temple. The first miracle was that the Jews won the war and could openly serve G-d again. The second miracle was that they were able to find the oil. The third miracle was that the purified holy oil lasted the eight days rather than just one day.
“The most important thing is to be a light and stay positive.” Avraham told the Kern Valley Sun that being the light is a universal Jewish concept, just as believing the concept that, “this too will pass, this too will be over, and there will be light again.”
Shlomo said working with one’s hands and feet, being involved in the world, in order to uplift it, is the theme; and becoming involved, rather than being alone, on a higher plane, and lofty.
Student Shlomo Goldshtein lights menorah 
Leader Avraham Goldshtein explained the meaning of the Festival of Lights 
Avraham and his son Shlomo explain the meaning of the Festival of Lights 
Children were invited to light their own menorahs 
Teenager Anibel Goldshtein lights menorah 
