Houston, Texas. November 6, 2015. Genesis Steakhouse, 5427 Bissonnet Street, which proudly serves healthy, all natural, hormone and antibiotic free beef, is the first kosher steakhouse in Houston, and in the entire Southwestern United States, will be celebrating Hanukkah from sunset on Sunday, December 6, through Monday, December 14, with special desserts including Sufganiyot and Latkes. “Hanukkah is a special time for my family,” stated founder Jason Goldstein. “It’s a time to be together and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives.” Each evening at 7pm he will light the menorah.

“The Talmud describes Hanukkah as a holiday of “praise and thanksgiving” in commemoration of the miraculous overthrow of the Syrian Greeks, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the single cruse of oil that lasted eight days. Hanukkah’s festive atmosphere derives almost entirely from home ritual and customs and is dominated by light as a metaphor for spiritual freedom.

The defining act of Hanukkah is to kindle the lights of the hankkiyah, or menorah, the eight-branched candelabrum. These lights, which can either be candles or tiny oil cups with floating wicks, grow in strength during the eight days of Hanukkah, with the addition of one candle or lighted wick each night. One light is added each night to fulfill the concept of lo moridim ba-kodesh (one does not decrease in holiness). Because the purpose of these Hanukkah lights is the public proclamation of the Hanukkah miracle, the hanukkiyah is traditionally lit in a place where the candles can be seen from out of doors, near a window or a doorway.” http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-at-home/

“The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.” http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah