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TheClassicalStation.org Honors Jewish Festival of Lights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

programming at sundown, 6 p.m. ET on December 21 honoring the Jewish Festival of Lights, Chanukah.

WCPE will celebrate the lighting of the first candle of the seven candle menorah. The program will feature traditional tunes, sacred songs and commentary by Hoover. Rabbi Jenny Solomon selected the music and prepared the script in conjunction with WCPE staff Greysolynne Hyman, Jenni Elion, Dick Storck and Hoover.

TheClassicalStation.org has a long history of observing the Jewish High Holy Days, going back to the late Andrea Rosnick who shared her faith and love of Jewish tradition with listeners for many years. Listener response around the world has been positive and enthusiastic.

“Chanukah is a holiday of lights, dreidels, latkes, dancing and singing,” says Hoover. “Behind it all is a great story of heroism and faithfulness to God.”

Contrary to popular belief, Chanukah is not the Jewish version of Christmas, though because of its proximity some customs, such as elaborate gift giving and decorations have been adopted.

Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah), known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees, is an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may fall anytime from late November to late December.

From the Hebrew word for dedication or consecration, Chanukah marks the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the forces of Antiochus IV and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil." According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each night of the holiday: One on the first night, two on the second, and so on.

The Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day offered by WCPE transcends belief systems, being crafted by artists from all traditions and listened to by a global audience reflective of the world’s diversity. Found throughout WCPE’s programming, are the traditions of people from all walks of life.

WCPE’s live broadcast of Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day can be accessed around the globe in several ways; on-line streaming in multiple formats, including IPv6, local cable television systems and traditional radio broadcasting. A complete list of the ways WCPE is available with instructions for cable and satellite reception can be found at theclassicalstation.org/listen.shtml.

In central North Carolina and southern Virginia, WCPE is found on the radio at 89.7 FM.

About WCPE:

With a 30-year history, WCPE is a non-commercial, 100 percent listener-supported, independent station dedicated to excellence in Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day. Community-minded business underwriters and foundations are among the 150,000 listeners in the North Carolina broadcast area. General Manager Deborah S. Proctor’s leadership has enabled the WCPE community to include national and worldwide listeners. Other radio stations and cable television systems can rebroadcast Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day. WCPE is one of the first public broadcasters to stream on the Internet. WCPE is heard worldwide on the Internet in multiple formats, including the next generation IPv6. Because WCPE receives no tax-derived support, the station conducts two on-air fundraising campaigns and two major mail-out campaigns per year to raise needed operating funds. Quarter Notes, the WCPE Program Guide, is published four times a year as a means to enhance appreciation and understanding of classical music. It is distributed to station supporters and is also available online at TheClassicalStation.org/guide. For more information, visit TheClassicalStation.Org or call 1-800-556-5178.

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