Dozens of SUNY Oneonta students attended a menorah lighting ceremony inside Hunt Union to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah Thursday, Dec. 7.
Rabbi Meir Rubashkin, of the Chabad of Oneonta and Rohr Jewish Student Center, introduced SUNY Oneonta University Police Chief Dirk R. Budd, who was selected to light the shammash, which is the middle candle on the menorah. Rubashkin said he chose Budd because he has been instrumental in protecting Jewish students on campus since the terror attacks in Israel Oct. 7.
Budd said he was honored to be chosen to light the shammash. “I promised all of your parents and family members I was dedicated to your safety,” he said. “I want this to be a happy occasion, but I want to give you some advice.” He asked how many students lived in New York City. About a dozen hands were raised. He told the students to be aware of their surroundings when they go home at the end of the semester, because they wouldn’t be in their “Oneonta bubble” where nothing has happened. He cautioned students to if they did go out, to go out in pairs.
Budd said he was proud of the student body when Yeshiva University played SUNY Oneonta recently. Yeshiva University’s basketball team has their own security detail and the basketball players will leave the game if they see anything anti-Semitic in the stands. Nothing happened during the game.
Rubashkin said it was important to celebrate the menorah lighting in public this year, because of what happened exactly 60 days ago in Israel. He didn’t think it was a coincidence that Hamas attacked Israel that day. It’s also important to show the world the light. Hanukkah is a celebration of two miracles. The first miracle was a military victory. The small band of Maccabees were able to push the Greeks out of Israel. The second miracle was the miracle of lights.
The Maccabees rededicated the temple in Jerusalem, he said. They searched for enough pure oil to light the temple, but only found one jug that hadn’t been damaged. It was enough oil to light the menorah in the temple for one night. However, it lasted eight days instead.
“What can one person do?” he asked. “Just look at what one jug could do.”
He encouraged students to let their light shine now and not bottle it away for the future. “Use that jug within you to show the world what you’re capable of,” he said.
Steven Zampaglione, vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, said he was honored to say the prayers during the ceremony and said he was chosen because he’s one of the few fraternity brothers who can read Hebrew. Hanukkah means more to him this year because of what is happening in the world. “Hanukkah celebrates a miracle of survival after insurrection,” he said. “Israel being attacked by Hamas is similar to the Greeks.” He hopes to be able to celebrate peace in Israel soon. Even though there hasn’t been any anti-Semitism on campus, he has taken to wearing his Star of David under his shirt after his parents asked him to.
Jordan Fox, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, said the celebration allows students on campus to celebrate with each other since they can’t celebrate with their families. “Hanukkah is an expression of religion and faith,” he said. “It’s a celebration with friends and family. It brings people together.”
After the menorah lighting, students ate donuts, latkas, applesauce, cookies and gelt and played with dreidels, while they visited with each other.
There will be another menorah lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, in Muller Plaza for the community. Rubashkin said a community leader will light the shammash and he will give a message.