Jewish holidays don’t make much appearance in my life however I didn’t miss the start of Chanukah (the festival of lights) on Sunday.

We had been visiting the Musée du Cinquantenaire, when we heard music from a distant – coming closer we realized it was the Jewish community in Brussels hosted a party and concerts.

The background of Hanukkah is the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem that had been overtaken by Syrian Greeks around 165 BC. After the temple once again was dedicated to the Abrahamic God a celebration was held for 8 days – which now is the celebration of Chanukah.

One of the central pieces of celebration is the lighting of the hanukkiah (the well-known eight branched candelaber). The Chanukah is, unlike many other jewish holidays, not of biblical origin and therefore there are less mandatory practices.

On a side note, I have been (again) hooked on Matisyahu for the last few days.

It’s great music, however the question of Jerusalem will have to wait for another day.