LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - The first night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is underway. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit from the eight candle menorah and there is a story behind this. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the victory over the Syrian Greeks and the light of the menorah that burned for eight days with just a little bit of oil. Each night adds light to homes across the globe. Rabbi Noah Kosofsky with Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy told 22News, "That's a message to every single person, we should keep growing in the things that we do and doing good in the world." Wednesday night, the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy hosted a dinner for the community to kick off the celebration. And Thursday evening, a menorah lighting will take place in Court Square at 6:30 pm. Local News Headlines Students and Staff at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy host community Hanukkah fest Open Pantry Community Services offers hundreds of free meals on Christmas Toy safety warnings highlight holiday gift hazards Mega Millions jackpot tops $1 billion for Friday draw WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.