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Menorah on Display at State Capitol
In the Jewish faith, the menorah symbolizes the plight of the Maccabees, who had only enough oil to light a candle in the holy temple for one day, but it lasted for eight. That story is partially why Rabbi Eli Langsam and State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) unveiled a large, electric Menorah in the Capitol rotunda Monday.

Langsam says Hannukah is more relevant today because of what he calls the continued fight for religious freedom. He cited the Jews who died earlier this month in attacks on the Chabad center in Mumbai. He says they died in cold blood for expressing their religious freedom.

Langsam says the Menorah on display in the Capitol represents a light that has been brought into "this dark world," and in a sense, all who view it become like Maccabees in that the fight for religious freedom continues today.

The Menorah stands nine feet tall and now stands alongside a Christmas tree, a nativity scene, a message from and atheist group and a new addition as of Monday afternoon -- a Festivus Pole.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 22 08 by Newsroom
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