In the midst of nights that bring much darkness, a warm glow is breaking through the solemn chill of winter.

Last night the first candle was lit. The festival of lights is here.

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah — known as the Festival of Lights or the Festival of Rededication — this year officially began at sundown Friday, Dec. 15 and continues for seven more nights.

For Whidbey Island’s Jewish community the festival brings an occasion to gather in faith and fellowship. The next seven nights are an opportunity for Jewish families here on the island, and around the world, to appreciate the light together.

“It’s all about bringing the light into our homes and admiring the light for what it represents and brings,” said Rabbi Harry Zeitlin.

Hanukkah combines candle light, traditional blessings, community, and lots of traditional Hanukkah dishes.

“The spiritual side isn’t necessarily the most important part — the eating part and enjoying of each other’s company is a big part of this holiday,” Zeitlin said.

As is the custom at Hanukkah time, much of the food is fried, cooked in oil to honor the miracle of the oil that occurred centuries ago.

“Yes, Judaism is a religion, but the cultural part of our lives is just as important,” Jerome Rosen said. “As a people, historically we’ve had to struggle to survive. We feel it is important to keep our traditions alive — otherwise we’d lose it or it becomes watered down.”

Traditionally, during Hanukkah, the candelabrum menorah is often placed in the window.

“It is so others can see because for years many Jews couldn’t display their faith,” Rosen said.

Building up to Hanukkah, the Whidbey Jewish community has held Shabbat gatherings each Saturday.

“They’ve been pretty successful with at least 20 people at each one,” Rosen said.

Although you will find much celebration this Hanukkah, the holiday isn’t what the mainstream hype would make you believe.

In many ways, Hanukkah has become an inflated holiday — along with others around this time of the year.

“The mainstream logic is that it is parallel with Christmas in importance, but really they have both been stripped of their true meaning,” Rabbi Zeitlin said. “The biggest misconception is that Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas and is centered around giving presents but it’s nothing like that at all.”

In fact, traditionally the only “gifts” — if any — passed during Hanukkah are geld, or coins. What was once true gold coins passed in ancient times are now foil-covered chocolate coins given to children.

Jerome Rosen, along with his wife Katlaina Rayne, has lived on Whidbey for six years. During that time he began attending Jewish gatherings here on the island and working to help build the community.

While religion is in focus with the group, what is of utmost importance is building a strong Jewish community here on the island. You won’t find a synogogue, nor a rush to build one. While members of the Whidbey Jewish community have traveled off island to attend temple elsewhere and rabbis are known to visit — for this group of believers there is no need for one building or one leader to contain their faith.

“A number of us have made an effort to build the community first,” Rosen said. “What we have is more of a Havurah — a lay community.”

Havurahs are known to be communities dedicated to Jewish living and learning and community building.

This means plenty of gatherings — especially in the spring around Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

“Each holiday brings its won history that is important to remember,” Rosen said.

Rabbi Zeitlin teaches at a synogogue in Seattle and has been working with the island Jewish community for around a year. He is just one of the rabbis that come to Whidbey to help island Jews with their religion.

Zeitlin has spent 17 years in Seattle. In the city, he said, it is easier for people to access their spiritual roots.

“In the city you can immediately plug into it,” he said.

That’s why island Jews have formed the official religious nonprofit known as the Whidbey Island Jewish Community so they can keep in touch and informed with events and each other.

Zeitlin speaks of reintegration and bringing strength back into a community of people who need each other to survive.

“Community is vital in practicing Judaism,” he said. “You can’t practice the commandments alone. Certain ones can only be enabled when Jewish people are together.”

The rabbi’s voice drifts into a peaceful calm as he describes Hanukkah beginning just before a new moon in the darkest part of winter.

“Each day, as you count one through eight, is special in and of itself and each contributes its own special light,” Zeitlin said. “It’s just like a community — they are a part of a whole but in and of themselves they are important, different and special.”