JEWISH CONGREGATION PRESERVING FAITH IN HIGH DESERT.

Byline: Holly J. Andres Daily News Staff Writer

As the first Hanukkah candle is lit at sundown Sunday, the ``Congregation of the Desert,'' Beth Knesset Bamidbar, will reaffirm that Judaism still shines in the High Desert.

``Hanukkah is important to us. It was born out of a resistance to assimilation,'' said Rabbi Alan Henkin, leader of the 47-year-old Reform temple.

Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish victory over religious persecution in 164 B.C. It is also celebrated as a reminder that God created a miracle at that time in allowing a single small vessel of sanctified oil to burn for eight days in the temple.

The word ``Hanukkah'' means dedication. The holiday lasts for eight days, with blessings recited as colorful candles are lit in succession on the hanukkiah, the Hanukkah menorah, for each of the days.

Dreidel spinning is a favorite activity during this festival that is celebrated mostly at home. In the game, children spin a dreidel top that has Hebrew letters on four sides that stand for the words, ``A great miracle happened there.'' Traditionally, the dreidel game is a fun way to explain the Festival of Lights.

Naomi Farina, principal of the religious school at Beth Knesset Bamidbar, said that while she was teaching Hebrew in years past to the school's students, she would stress the religious aspect of the holiday. Teaching the correct blessings to say and the meaning of kindling the lights was emphasized.

``Hanukkah shows us that there is another way to remember God's presence in our lives. It provides us a good vehicle to teach that to our children.

``With my two children, we light the candles, we sing, we eat the latkes. This year, they will choose small presents out of a Hanukkah box for each day. We've decided to save the money that would have been spent on larger gifts, and give it to charitable causes this year,'' said Farina, a resident of Lancaster since 1983.

Farina admitted that some Jewish children might feel overwhelmed by all the Christmas festivities in the area. But she also believes that due to both parental and religious school training, her children and others at the Hebrew school have a strong sense of Jewish identity.

The Lancaster congregation is ``the Jewish address in the Antelope Valley,'' according to Henkin. ``BKB has about 150 families. We welcome the traditional, the `entry level' Jewish families and the interfaith families.

``Our challenge is reaching out to the Jews who have moved into the area. We want them to know that we can be a resource for them to continue to be a part of a Jewish community.

``Our strength is our feeling of community,'' Henkin said. ``But even though we are a small community, the members take on a very active role in temple activities.''

A Hanukkah Shabbat service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Beth Knesset Bamidbar, 1611 E. Avenue J, Lancaster. [phone].

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PHOTO Rabbi Alan Henkin lights a Hanukkah candle as as his Hebrew school students sing holiday songs.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News