University College freshman Jonathan Wille and International Security Studies junior Shayna Daitch gather around a menorah Thursday evening in the Reflection Room of the Union. Jeremy Dickie/The Daily

When the sun descends Friday evening, Jewish students at OU will take a break from studying to begin lighting the menorah in celebration of Hanukkah, and for many of them this will be their first year away from home during this holiday.

“When I go home, my family is having another celebration of Hanukkah so I can be there,” said Isaac Freeman, international security studies senior. “We’re going to have latkes.”

He said the first night of Hanukkah happens to fall on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, and he said they are having a big dinner at the Hillel Jewish Student Center in honor of Hanukkah and Shabbat.

Freeman said the Hillel Jewish Student Center will have a candle lighting ceremony every night of Hanukkah that is open to anyone in the community.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to all of the candle lightings at Hillel because of finals,” Freeman said. “I have my own menorah that I can light though.”

Freeman said it is traditional to say a prayer over the candle lighting each night and give presents to each other.

“[This is the] celebration of a great miracle that happened in Israel,” Freeman explained.

He said the story of the miracle was a king oppressed the Jewish people and desecrated the temple. Judah Maccabee, a Jew, led his family against him and they were able to expel the army away from the land and restore the temple.

Freeman explains the lamp in the temple was supposed to remain eternally lit, but the Jewish people only had enough oil to last one day and it would take them several days to get more oil.

“Miraculously, it kept burning for eight days,” Freeman said. “This is the miracle celebrated by Hanukkah.”

By definition, Hanukkah means the rededication of the temple.

Freeman said Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. He said he understands not being released from classes for Hanukkah.

“It would be hard to adjust to the schedule of Hanukkah,” Freeman said. “OU recognized the holiday at the lighting last week and I think the fact that OU recognizes religious diversity on this campus is really great.”

Jonathan Wille, University College freshman, said he was raised Jewish, but he will be especially observant this year.

“I really got into the Jewish faith this year,” Wille said. “I will attend the first night at Hillel and I’ll be celebrating with friends throughout most of the week.”

Wille said he lives in the dorms this year. Dorm rules prohibit candle lighting in the resident halls.

“I bought an electric menorah so it works,” Wille said.

He said his mother’s side of the family celebrates Hanukkah and his dad’s side celebrates Christmas.

“It is just more celebration for me I guess.” Wille said. “I’m really looking forward to it [Hanukkah]. It will be a nice break from studying.”

Misheala Giddings, international and area studies junior, said Hanukkah is one of those really good underdog stories.

“While it’s not a major holiday, it’s one of my favorite stories,” Giddings said. “It was one of the last times that you see Jewish uprising for a while.”

Giddings said her whole family celebrates this holiday.

“I just brought a menorah to my house in Norman,” Giddings said. “Finals are in the early afternoon for me. So I’ll be at home at sunset to light the candles, say prayers and remember the stories.”

Sam Scharff, zoology junior, said he celebrates Hanukkah because he sees it as an opportunity to sit at a table with family and friends and enjoy their company.

“The best part about Hanukkah this year is that my dad has been serving in Afghanistan and he gets back Dec. 17, just before the last day of Hanukkah,” Scharff said.

Scharff said his family has spent six months not getting to interact with his father personally.

“It’s really special that he’ll be back and it’s an interesting coincidence that it falls on Hanukkah so we’ll get to celebrate this holiday with him,” Scharff said.