Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights.

The Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem was celebrated Thursday with the sundown ceremony held inside the Manteca City Hall’s Council Chamber.

City Attorney David Nefouse had the honors of lighting the candles in the menorah, symbolic of each night of the eighth days of Hanukkah, which, for the first time in 20 years, coincided with Christmas Day.

A moment of silence prior to the ceremony was held in memory of the victims of the tragic New Year’s Day incident in New Orleans.

Nefouse, who praised the Manteca City Council for “perfect attendance” at the special Menorah Lighting celebration, added that the Jewish holiday may have technically ended the previous day (Wednesday, New Year’s Day, was a day off for most people) but Hanukkah was also about getting together with friends and family.

Nefouse along with Judy Blumhorst, Richard Silverman, and Councilman Mike Morowit took part in the lighting of the menorah.

Blumhorst shared that Hanukkah has grown over the years. “It became a much larger holiday in America,” she said.

She noted that the gift-giving custom of Hanukkah took shape after U.S. prospered as a country following World War II.

“We received gifts every day every night during the eight days,” recalled Silverman of his younger days.

His friends appeared envious. “They all wanted to be Jewish,” Silverman said.