The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is broader than its 165 B.C.E. roots involving a miraculous lamp that had enough oil to burn for only one night but instead illuminated the holy temple in Jerusalem for eight days, as Maccabee soldiers claimed victory over the Syrian Greek army.

The liberation and rededication of the temple is marked at every year during Hanukkah, which is also known as The Festival of Lights.

But that doesn’t just mean oil, candles, lightbulbs and electricity, said Rabbi Jay Sherwood of Temple Shalom, the largest Jewish congregation in Colorado Springs.

“We also think about spiritual light and the light of justice and peace and goodness in the world,” he said.

“When we light the candles of the Hanukkah menorah, we’re not only kindling a light to have the peace of the celebration of the holiday but as a reminder for ourselves and others that there’s other light we need to bring in the world.”

Hanukkah begins this year at sundown Thursday and lasts for eight days, ending at sundown on Dec. 15.

Around the world, Jewish people will light menorahs, which means “lamp” in Hebrew and refers to a candelabra used in worship and to commemorate the ancient miracle. Jewish communities will gather for prayer, services and parties featuring traditional dishes and customs.

But this year’s joy is tempered by the atrocities and horrors of the current war between Israel and Hamas, said Jeff Ader, co-president of Temple Beit Torah in Colorado Springs.

“Our celebration is going to be impacted by the sadness we feel over the deaths of so many innocent people and the suffering of so many families both in Israel and in Gaza,” he said.

The war, which began Oct. 7 when Hamas, the ruling party of Gaza, brutally attacked Israel, and Israel responded with military force, touches not only Jewish people, local leaders say.

“To publicize in modern times the miracle that happened with the Maccabees, we can emphasize bringing light in people’s lives,” Sherwood said. “In hopes of bringing every single hostage home, we need to bring light into the world.”

Under a temporary truce between the two factions that occurred Nov. 24 until Dec. 1, Hamas released 105 Israeli hostages that guerrillas had taken after the group’s incursion in early October.

And the Israel Prime Minister’s Office recommended the release of 256 Palestinians from Gaza that had been detained or imprisoned.

But more captives remain — 136 from Israel are still in Gaza, Israel officials have said. And thousands of Palestinians are detained in Israel for security issues, according to the Israel Prison Service.

“Every single hostage is a person who’s being held in darkness; every hostage that’s bought home is a beacon of light,” Sherwood said. “We have wars going on in multiple countries, and we have people who suffer every day from hunger and homelessness and disdain from others. We hope every one of those people will have light brought into the world as well.”

Hanukkah also denotes the freedom the Maccabees’ success gave the Jewish people, Ader said.

“We are not free when people have been slaughtered and families are torn asunder and there are hostages that have not or may not see freedom,” he said.

Many Jewish communities observing the holiday will light an extra candle in honor of the hostages, Ader said.

“I think we all pray for a peaceful resolution to all the horrible things that are going on and hopefully an end to the pain and suffering,” he said.

The holiday’s universal message of light overcoming darkness has particular relevance this year, said Rabbi Moshe Liberow, who for 22 years has led the Chabad Lubavitch of Southern Colorado and its Center for Jewish Life of Southern Colorado.

“Chanukah’s message of freedom of the human spirit, freedom from tyranny and oppression and of the ultimate victory of good over evil has become a part of American culture,” Liberow said.

A key observance today is to publicly acknowledge the miracle of Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, he said.

To fulfill that aspect, Liberow will lead his annual Car Menorah Chanakah Parade on Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. from the synagogue at 6616-A Delmonico Drive.

“When confronted with hatred, the public menorah is more important than ever,” Liberow said. “We can have no better response to negativity we encounter than to proudly gather together, in even greater numbers than before, and celebrate the light of the menorah in public.”

Temple Shalom will hold a community lighting ceremony Thursday at 6 p.m. on the first night, filling the synagogue with Hanukkah songs, lighting the menorah’s candles, and saying the blessings together.

“Despite the darkness in the world, we still celebrate the beauty and the light that’s in the world,” Sherwood said.

And despite the sharp rise of antisemitism nationwide and attacks on Jews on college campuses and elsewhere since the war began, rabbis say they have not heard of any incidents happening in Colorado Springs.

However, “Individuals have heard verbal comments in the community,” Sherwood said. Students at some Colorado Springs schools who asked not to be identified agree that they have been the target of antisemitic slurs.

Ader also said he does not know of anyone in his congregation who has experienced a hate crime in the past two months.

“But I know it’s out there, and people in the congregation are anxious and concerned about the possibility,” he said.

Colorado Springs police confirmed detectives were investigating a recent report of swastikas being painted on a west-side building, according to spokeswoman Caitlin Ford. But she said she was unaware of any recent uptick in antisemitic crime. 

Local observations include an annual menorah parade through northern Colorado Springs. Presented by the Chabad Lubavitch of Southern Colorado, the event takes place on Sunday starting at 3 p.m. at the temple, 6616-A Delmonico Drive.

Cars with menorahs, including a giant one, will parade around northern Colorado Springs.

The parade will stop at the menorah display outside the Shops at Briargate, where a representative of the mayor’s office will address the crowd.

The synagogue also will host a public menorah lighting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 14, with El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal as guest speaker.

Temple Shalom will hold a community lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday at the synagogue, 1523 E. Monument St., led by Rabbi Jay Sherwood. The event will include singing Hanukkah songs, lighting the menorah candles and saying the blessings together. Attendees are asked to bring their own menorahs to light.

Temple Beit Torah, led by Rabbi Iah Pillsbury, will host a consecration and Hanukkah celebration on the second night of the holiday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the synagogue, 522 E Madison St., followed by a special Oneg Shabbat.

Chabad Colorado Springs Jewish Community will host a Grand Menorah Lighting and community party at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the synagogue, 6062 Hollow Tree Court. Featuring Hanukkah foods such as doughnuts and latkes, and kids crafts and dreidels. Call 719-749-1770 for more information.

Chabad Lubavitch of Southern Colorado holds a Car Menorah Chanukah Parade every year to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which this year begins Thursday evening. This year’s parade will be on Sunday

JERILEE BENNETT, GAZETTE file