HANUKKAH EVENTS

Beginning at sundown, practicing Jews will begin the celebration of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, which is a historical holiday celebrating the Jewish victory over the Greeks about 165 BC, said Rabbi Marc Rubenstein, who presides over Temple Isaiah in Newport Beach.

The holiday is considered minor compared with Yom Kippur and Passover.

For the next eight nights, candles will be lighted on a menorah, with one lighted tonight and one more each night thereafter. The widely accepted reason for lighting the candles — to remind people of the miracle of oil lasting the Jews eight days — is a legend, Rubenstein said.

“The legend didn’t come alive until 500 years after, somewhere during the time of Constantine, when Christianity became more popular,” Rubenstein said.

But the other version of the story, according to the Talmud, celebrates the rededication of a temple when enough oil for one day burned for eight.

During Hanukkah, the lights are blessed, and many sing the hymn “Maoz Tzur.”

The celebration includes spinning a dreidel and eating latkes, potato pancakes.

Here are a few Hanukkah happenings in Newport-Mesa.

FASHION ISLAND

TEMPLE ISAIAH

TEMPLE BAT YAHM

ALSO AT TEMPLE BAT YAHM