Last night marked the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. This Sunday, the Benicia-Solano Jewish Women’s Network will once again be welcoming people of all faiths to celebrate the tradition at the Benicia Public Library this Sunday for the Meghan Campbell Memorial Menorah Lighting.

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the first event celebrated in Benicia in 1989. Organizer Heather Campbell said that since the city’s events in December placed a heavy emphasis on Christmas, a group of local women figured an event celebrating Hanukkah should be included. It began in a small room at the Veterans Memorial Hall, but as the event grew larger, it migrated into a larger room. One year, the Veterans Hall was unable to host the event, so it was moved to the library’s Dona Benicia Room, which Campbell said worked out very well.

“We found it a much more homey atmosphere that fit more with the warmth and homeyness of the holiday itself,” she said. “We have done it at the library every year except, of course, when it fell on Christmas and everything was closed.”

Campbell said the group of attendees has been mostly the same every year. However, the tradition was paused for a few years after her daughter Meghan died in January 2008 from complications of pneumonia at the age of 26. After a two year hiatus, Heather’s friend, Shoshanna Nurik, brought the event back, which has been celebrated ever since. The event is now named after Meghan Campbell, who participated in the event every year with her friends. A menorah is lit in her honor.

As always, the format of the event will feature a variety of activities. A menorah, designed by Meghan’s father John for the original event, will be lit. Printed sheets, featuring prayers in English and Hebrew, will be distributed for children to read aloud. Sheets containing the lyrics to Hanukkah songs will also be handed out for all to sing aloud as they enjoy each other’s company. A dreidel, along with instructions on how to play the game, will also be given to attendees.

“If we have time, we might spin a few,” Heather Campbell said.

Campbell said the event will be a good opportunity for the community to learn about Hanukkah, which commemorates the restoration and rededication of Jerusalem’s Holy Temple by the Maccabees after they defeated the Greco-Syrian king, Antiochus and the Seleucid Empire. Due to the defiled state of the temple, it needed to be rededicated in line with Jewish protocols that required consecrated olive oil. However, they found just enough for a single day. A rider was sent out to find more oil but would only be able to return in eight days. While he was gone, the lamp miraculously remained lit for eight days.

In addition to learning the history and practices of the sacred holiday, Campbell said the event was a good opportunity for the community to come together.

“If they don’t have a family to celebrate with, we give them a little bit of a community family celebration,” she said. “We get to see each other. It’s a chance to be together.”

The Hanukkah celebration will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 at the library, located at 150 East L St. Donations to continue the event are accepted.

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