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Colorful Torchlight Parades Mark Chanukah Celebrations in Israel

December 18, 1957
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Young people in this city and other cities and large towns of Israel staged colorful Chanukah eve torchlight parades tonight as Jews throughout the world ushered in the eight-day festival marking the victory of the tiny Maccabeau force against the Graeco-Syrian occupation of Palestine, 2,000 years ago.

The main feature of Jerusalem’s parade was a torch lit at Modiin, site of the original uprising of the Maccabeans. The flame was carried by relay teams of Boy Scours to this city.

Another feature of Jerusalem’s celebration tonight was the lighting of 50 candelabra broug from various parts of the world to Mt. Zion here where their kindling signified the beginning of the festival. The guards on Mt. Scopus, so recently beleaguered under a Jordan blockade of their supply convoy, lit a huge menorah to remind the inhabitants of this city that they were still en duty. A huge electric candelabra was hung over the front of the festooned Knesset building.

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