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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Hanukkah is right around the corner, but some students on U of I’s campus will be home during the holiday. That’s why the Chabad Center for Jewish Life gave students a head start on the celebration.
Residents held a Hanukkah celebration Wednesday night at the center. Students played dreidel, ate dinner, and celebrated with friends and neighbors.
One rabbi said it’s a community-driven gathering.
“Hanukkah being the holiday of light,” said Junior Assistant Rabbi Yossi Sherman. “It’s really just adding light, a little bit of light disperses a lot of darkness. But when you come together as a community, you really get a lot of light and really disperse a lot of darkness. So that’s kind of the important part of bringing the community together to celebrate this holiday.”
He also said the event offers a small break for Jewish students during finals.