Fort Belvoir community members of all generations attended the Garrison Chaplains Office Hanukkah lighting outside Belvoir Chapel Nov. 27.

Rabbi Randy Brown, a contract rabbi who visits Fort Belvoir about three times a week, helped a child light the bulbs for two candles on a plastic version of a Hanukiah on the chapel's porch. The event commemorated the first evening of Hanukkah, an eight-day holiday for people of Jewish faith. The first day of Hanukkah fell on Thanksgiving this year. At least 20 people attended the event.

"I was actually pleasantly surprised because, with the weather and people being away for Thanksgiving, we had a really good turnout," Brown said.

Hanukkah is observed in remembrance of the Jewish people's struggle for freedom. It commemorates their rebellion from the Greeks in the Maccabean War in the second century BCE (Before the Common Era). The holy temple was desecrated during the war. When the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, there was only enough oil for the eternal light in the sanctuary to last one day. However it miraculously lasted eight days (the time it took to make and bless new pure oil), according to Jewish tradition.

Many people confuse the Hanukiah with the Menorah, but there is a significant different between the two.

The Hanukiah has nine candle holders, with eight of them in a line and a ninth lead candle that is out of place, known as the "Shamash." On the first night of Hanukkah, the "Shamash" is lit as well as one other candle. On the subsequent days of the holiday, the previous night's candles are lit as well as one additional candle the final day when all nine candles are lit.

The Menorah is a more symbolic object that dates back to the time of the first temple in Jerusalem. It consists of seven branches, without a 'Shamash,' and is not lit during Hanukkah.

Brown taught some young children how to play with a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, on a table in the basement of the chapel as other people fellowshipped before the Hanukiah lighting. During the rule of Antiochus starting in the second century BCE, the Jewish people were not allowed to openly study the Torah. Therefore, when Greek Soldiers appeared, they would quickly hide what they were studying and pretend to be gambling with the dreidel.

After that, everyone gathered outside of the chapel to sing traditional songs and blessings. They sang "I Have A Little Dreidel," among other selections.

Brown talked to the children about the meaning of Hanukkah on the porch, before challenging the adults with some questions about the religious holiday. He also asked some in attendance to share what they are thankful for before a child lit the first two candles on the plastic Hanukiah, which stands several feet high and will be displayed on the porch throughout the holiday.

The fellowship continued in the basement of the chapel after the ceremony. Attendees' enjoyed potato pancakes, known as latkes, among other food items.

Lt. Col. JonRobert Johnson, a team chief with the National Guard Bureau, said that it was great to sing songs outside the chapel and participate in the event. He said that Judaism is a very community-oriented religion.

"It is overwhelming because this is something that every Jewish Family has done for a millennium," Johnson said. "So it has been a part of the community."

Erin Stahl, a military spouse, attended the event with her husband along with their daughter, Rachael, 10, and 4-year-old son, Samuel.

"It is fun," she said. ""It is a festive night. It is a night to be with everybody."