Hanukkah this year has an ever great significance for many New Yorkers  because of a rise in anti- semitic violence.

The rainy weather did not stop the annual lighting of a giant menorah outside the Staten Island Mall Sunday night.

Chabad Lubavitch of Staten Island organized the lighting to kick off one of the most joyous holidays for Jews.

Because of the recent massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and the recent rise of anti-Semitism, Rabbi Moshe Katzman is reminding Jews, Hanukkah is a time for Jewish pride.

The festival lasts for eight nights because when the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah after their victory over a larger Greek army in 165 BC. They only found a small amount of oil, which would have only lasted one night; instead, it lasted for eight.