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All the Latkes And Jelly Donuts You Can Eat For Hanukkah

By — Erica Sherman

The borough’s Russian-American Jewish community converged en masse at Jewish Center Nachlath Zion for a fun-filled party commemorating the annual Festival of Lights. As revelers of all ages celebrated the miracle of Hanukkah, which recalls the triumph of a small band of Jewish military heroes, the Maccabees, against Greek pagans who desecrated the Jewish Holy Temple in ancient Israel, a spirited bi-lingual program was delivered by Rabbis Asher Altshul and Gil Frieman, who kindled the menorah and pronounced the benedictions. Children and adults sang songs, danced and played games, including Jewish Blackjack, while violinist Dovid Podles performed rousing Jewish favorites such as “Bei Mir Bis Du Shein” and “Hava Nagila.” Participants snacked on delicious oil-fried potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganyot (jelly donuts), symbolic of the one day supply of oil discovered in the Temple on the day of its rededication, which lasted for eight days. Jewish Center Nachlath Zion is located at 2201 East 23rd Street and Avenue V.