The modern Israeli city of Modiin, partially built atop the town the Maccabees called home, is marking the Chanukah festival with a children's march through the streets, lectures on the ancient city, and other community events. A participatory battlefield
A public candle-lighting for the first night of Chanukah will be broadcast live from Modi'in.
reenactment is planned in the area for next week.
Chanukah, an eight-day holiday, begins Tuesday night.
The Chanukah celebrations in Modiin begin Tuesday afternoon with a torch-light procession by the city's schoolchildren and youth groups through the streets to the city hall. A public candle-lighting for the first night of Chanukah will then be broadcast live from Modiin on the Israel Broadcasting Authority's Channel 3. A performance artist using flames, reminiscent of the city's emblem and of the candles lit during the holiday, will provide the centerpiece for the evening's entertainment.
On Wednesday, the Fourth Annual Yair Pereg Modiin Heritage Conference will take place in the city's multidisciplinary center. The conference is named in memory of the well-known geneticist who in later years devoted himself to developing the city of Modiin.
"The conference will give the wider public the opportunity to hear from the leading lecturers on the subjects of Chanukah and Modiin of the past, present and future," said Alex Weinreb, Modiin's Deputy Mayor and an organizer of the conference. Weinreb noted with pride that most of the lecturers are themselves residents of Modiin.
The day-long conference will include lectures on Modiin-area archeology, nature and history, as well as on Chanukah as seen through modern historiography, art and food.
Another historical study, using a far more active teaching method, will take place on Sunday in nearby Canada Park. The Nature Preservation Society is organizing a reenactment of a major battle that took place in the Modiin area between the Greek army and the forces of the Maccabees around 165 BCE. The public will not be sitting on the sidelines, however. Visitors to the park will be divided into two groups - one led by "Judah the Maccabee" and one led by "Georgias," a Greek army general who commanded the troops at the fateful Battle of Emmaus.
In honor of soldiers of the modern state of Israel, Karnit Goldwasser, wife of abducted IDF soldier Ehud Goldwasser, will be lighting a 23-meter-tall Chanukah candelabra on Wednesday at the Merkavot Latrun Park, south of Modiin. Tzvi Regev, father of abducted soldier Eldad Regev, will recite the blessings over the candles.
83% Plan to Light Candles
According to a joint Ynet and Gesher Institute poll, 83% of Hebrew-speaking Jews in
...a reenactment of a major battle that took place in... 165 BCE.
Israel say they will kindle Chanukah lights nightly over the course of the holiday, with only 2% saying they would not celebrate Chanukah at all. Among those describing themselves as secular, a full 68% will light the candles nightly.
The primary symbolism of the holiday for 40% of the public is the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks, and 35% say the celebration is about family.
Hellenism Today
41% of the public felt that excessive hours spent in front of the computer, on the Internet or watching television are symbols of a latter-day Hellenism. "Americanization" is the new Hellenism, according to 18% of those polled. Modern justice and democratic systems are symbols of Hellenism to 10%, consumerism to 9%, and obsession with body image to 8%.