Grissom wishes everyone happy Hanukkah Published Dec. 13, 2011 GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The men and women of the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom want to wish everyone a happy Hanukkah. Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of lights, which begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev. This year the celebration is Dec. 20-28. The holiday celebrates a Jewish victory over an occupying enemy more than 2,100 years ago. After their victory, Jewish leaders set about restoring many Jewish customs. When they went to light their temple's menorah for the first time, they only had enough olive oil for one day. As Jewish tradition goes, the one day oil supply lasted eight days, just long enough for new oil to be ceremonially purified, and Hanukkah celebrates that provision through the lighting of one menorah candle per night during eight nights. Hanukkah celebrants often eat foods fried in oil, play with dreidels, which are spinning tops, and give children gifts. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
