I photographed the lighting of a 10 foot menorah in celebration of the first night of Chanukah at the Norcross Community Center for the Norcross Patch newspaper on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Chanukah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which this year was Tuesday. These are some of my favorite images.
Close to 200 people wait for the lighting of the menorah on the first day of Chanukah at the Norcross Community Center on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Allan Katzef prepares the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center for the lighting of the first candle during the celebration of the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Zalman Lerman, left, and Alex Gentin decorate the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center before the lighting of the first candle on the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Rabbi Yossi Lerman addresses close to 200 people before lighting the first candle on the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center on the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Lee Aaroni decorates the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center with ballons and paper dreidels during the celebration for the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Ally Balkan sits on her father Erik's lap as they sing Chanukah songs at the Norcross Community Center during the celebration of the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Rabbi Yossi Lerman lights the first candle on the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center on the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Rabbi Yossi Lerman lights the first candle on the 10 foot menorah at the Norcross Community Center on the first day of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Karen Greene takes a fork full of potato latkas after the lighting of the menorah at the Norcross Community Center on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Debbie England, left, Phyllis Erman and Emily Horowitz dance after the lighting of the menorah at the Norcross Community Center on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.