Dear Members of the University Community,

We wish our Jewish faculty, staff, and students in the Santa Clara community a Happy Hanukkah! The eight nights of Hanukkah begins this year at sundown on Sunday, December 18. They will continue through Monday, December 26, as Jewish communities gather nightly to light the candles of a gracefully branched menorah.

The Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean victory over Syria over two thousand years ago. According to tradition, a scant supply of purified oil miraculously fueled the Temple lamps for eight days until new oil arrived. Today, families and friends celebrate Hanukkah with festive dinners and by exchanging gifts and offering special prayers of blessing and gratitude. Similar to the autumn holy days in other faith traditions, Hanukkah signifies the triumph of hope over despair and the strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression. 

We wish all those who observe the miracle of Hanukkah this week many blessings and great joy.  With our Jewish sisters and brothers, we join our hearts in grateful celebration of light and freedom during the Festival of Lights. Please gather with the community on the Benson Plaza on Monday, December 19, at 6:30 p.m. to light the menorah and enjoy soup and jelly donuts. May the lighted candles of Hanukkah be a sign of hope for all people of goodwill. 

Happy Hanukkah to all!

Colleen Dunne, Director, Campus Ministry
Raymond Plaza, Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Susan Popoko, Associate Provost for International Programs