Hanukkah More Than Jewish Holiday - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports

Hanukkah More Than Jewish Holiday

The pomp and circumstance of Christmas grabs most of the attention during the holiday season, but it's Hanukkah that took center stage at the State Capitol Building Tuesday.

Hanukkah is also known as "The Festival of Lights". It's a Jewish holiday, but it's not just for the Jewish people.

"Hanukkah is a universal holiday which represents freedom of all kinds of people from oppression," said Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn.

Members of the community, state and local government, and holocaust survivors were at the State Capitol Building to help light the menorah.

"The lighting of the menorah is a true sign, I think, of the spirit of our community coming together and not being separated by religion," said Max Maxfield, Wyoming Secretary of State.

In the state of Wyoming there are 1,500 Jewish people, with only about 100 of them living in Cheyenne.

"I think it's vitally important that we recognize our Jewish community right along with the others, with the Christmas tree," Maxfield said.

As Catholic school children sang traditional Jewish songs, it showed that Hanukkah is more than just an eight day celebration.

"Hanukkah truly is a holiday that brings together people from all backgrounds and faiths. The holiday of Hanukkah is a holiday of love, of friendship, of unity," Rabbi Mendelsohn said.

To light a menorah in the State Capitol Building, Rabbi Mendelsohn believes that says a lot about Wyoming.

"An expression of Wyoming's overall tolerance and love for people of all backgrounds and faiths," Rabbi Mendelsohn said. 

This was the fifth year the ceremony has been held. Secretary of State Max Maxfield says it makes him hopeful for the future.

"If I can take joy in celebrating their holidays and they do the same with ours. Is there a greater way to have peace on Earth?," Maxfield said.