Celebrating The Festival of Lights

Joined with Ocean County residents and local officials, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners celebrated the first night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the menorah outside of the Ocean County Administration Building located on the corner of Washington Street and Hooper Avenue in Toms River. Rabbi Moshe Gouraire of Chabad of Toms River led the ceremony and lit one candle for the first night of the holiday. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. It is celebrated over eight days with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts. This year, Hanukkah began on the evening of Dec. 7 and ends on the evening of Dec. 15.