Campus Life

      Penn State Hillel offers candle-lighting events throughout Chanukah

      Rabbi Rob Gleisser hosted a Hanukkah candle lighting just after sunset on Nov 28, 2021, the first-night of Hanukkah, at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. The Penn State Chapter of Hillel will be hosting evening candle-lighting events throughout the week at locations around the University Park campus. Visit Hillel at Penn State for more information. Credit: Patrick Mansell. All Rights Reserved.

      UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Hillel is hosting candle-lighting events in different locations on the University Park campus for each night of Chanukah this year.

      Also known as the Festival of Lights, Chanukah commemorates the liberation and rededication of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, said Aaron Kaufman, executive director of Penn State Hillel. In modern times, the holiday has come to focus on family and community.

      Chanukah will be celebrated this year from Sunday, Nov. 28, to Monday, Dec. 6. Each candle lighting will begin at 5 p.m., with gelt (chocolates) and sufganiyot (donuts) offered each night.

      • Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
      • Monday, Nov. 29, on the Old Main lawn
      • Tuesday, Nov. 30, in Room 107 HUB-Robeson Center
      • Wednesday, Dec. 1, in front of Pattee Library
      • Thursday, Dec. 2, in the Music Building courtyard
      • Friday, Dec. 3, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
      • Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Hintz Alumni Center duckpond
      • Sunday, Dec. 5, at Beaver Stadium, Gate B

      “The idea of bringing light into dark places is a poignant one, especially these days with the disconcerting rise in antisemitism nationally,” Kaufman said. “Penn State has one of the largest Jewish student communities in the country, and Hillel is here to help every Jewish student to find meaningful ways to connect to their Jewish identity.”

      For more information about Penn State Hillel, visit https://pennstatehillel.org.

      Last Updated December 2, 2021

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