Photos: Festival of lights

At sundown this evening (Dec. 20), Jews at Tulane University will join others of their faith all over the world in lighting a menorah to commemorate Hanukkah, a joyous festival marking the rededication of the second temple that had been destroyed in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E.

A traditional menorah made of brass bears the star of David, a symbol of Jewish identity. Each night during the eight-day festival of lights, a new candle is added to the menorah until all are lit. The tallest candle, called the “shamash,” is the “helper” candle that is used to light the others.


At the Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life, home of Tulane Hillel, sophomores Clare Burke, left, and Becca Ames get out menorahs, candles and a dreidel — a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters that children play with — in anticipation of the first night of Hanukkah.