Giant menorah made of Legos will mark Hanukkah's arrival

December 4, 2007 at 2:05AM

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins today and runs for eight days.

One of the more whimsical observances in the Twin Cities will include the creation of an 8-foot menorah made entirely of Lego pieces. It will be on display starting today at the Byerly's grocery store in St. Louis Park.

Children also are being invited to enter their creations in a Lego menorah competition.

The public can vote on the entries at the store or online. See www.livinglegacymn.com for details.

The Lego menorah events are sponsored by the Minneapolis Chabad Lubavitch worship house in Minnetonka.

Hanukkah celebrates the early Israelites' victory over their Syrian-Greek oppressors nearly 2,200 years ago. When the victors arrived in Jerusalem, only a smidgen of purified oil remained to light the Temple's menorah. Somehow, the story goes, the tiny flame burned for eight days, which is how long it took to process and prepare more oil. To commemorate the miracle, Jews light candles for eight days.

PAUL WALSH

about the writer

about the writer