Lorca, The candles of Hannukah burn again after 520 years

This is the first time a candle of Hannukah has been lit in the synagogue for 520 years

Tonight Lorca castle hosted an important event in the Jewish calendar, the lighting of the first candles in celebration of the Festival of light, Hannukah, to take place within the former Jewish synagogue in the City for more than 520 years.

During the construction works to build the Parador in Lorca, the remains of the only known mediaeval Jewish synagogue within the Region of Murcia was discovered, as part of the Jewish quarter which used to exist at the side of the mediaeval castle.

This whole area was abandoned when the Catholic Monarchs , Isabella and Ferdinand, succeeded in completing the Reconquist of Spain, having united the 2 powerful, rival Kingdoms of Castile and Aragón through their marriage, creating a combined force powerful enough to defeat the last remaining Muslim monarchs in Spain and take the Moorish kingdom of Granada in 1492.

This whole area had once been occupied by Moorish Muslim rulers, and the forces of Castile had reoccupied what is now Murcia in 1243, when Prince Alfonso of Castile took this area, making Lorca a border city, and therefore, a place of strategic importance, but also a dangerous place to live.

He strengthened and re-enforced this castle, the Alfonsine tower within the castle complex named in his honour.

The Jewish quarter was huddled within the protective shadow of the castle itself, although was abandoned in 1492 when the Monarchs ordered a mass expulsion of non-Catholics from Spanish soil.

The synagogue is now protected within a covered building and can be visited as part of a visit to Lorca castle, with guided tours arranged for groups.

However, tonight it hosted an act to celebrate the beginning of the Festival of Light, or Jánuca as it is known here in Spain.
This is the fourth year that Lorca has hosted an official ceremony to light the first candle of Jánuca, but is the first time this act has actually taken place within the synagogue itself.

The act was attended by the Mayor of Lorca, and the Councillor for tourism and culture, with the support of the Federation of Jewish communities in Spain and the Federation of San Clemente, who organise the Moors and Christians Fiestas which have recently concluded in Lorca. Representatives from the federation were present in the costumes worn during the fiestas.

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and dates back to two centuries before the birth of Christianity.

The word Hanukkah means rededication and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history, 2500 years ago when Antiochus, a Syrian king, tried to make the Jewish people worship Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.

A small group of Jews called Maccabees rebelled, and after a three year war they recaptured Jerusalem from the Syrians. But the temple was all but destroyed.

The Jews had to clean and repair the Temple, and when they were finished they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah) - which was a symbol of Gods presence. Only one small jar of oil was found, enough for one day, but miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.

Today this is celebrated by lighting one candle on the Hanukiah (an eight-stemmed candelabrum) each day throughout the celebration.
The Hanukiah symbolises how God looked after the Jewish people at this difficult time.

The Mayor of Lorca lit the first candle, in the atmospheric setting of the synagogue, and attendees listened to a short blessing and the story told above, of the significance of the festival and the act taking place on this night.

For a little more information about the role played by the Jewish population in Mediaeval Murcia, Click Jewish synagogue in Lorca
For more info about visiting Lorca castle and visiting the synagogue excavations, Click Lorca castle.