The kids at the Hebrew Academy of Huntington Beach could barely contain their excitement Tuesday as a sword- and shield-wielding Judah Maccabee — the hero in the story of Hanukkah — stepped from the Los Angeles Police Department helicopter that had just landed on their playground.

"They have to feel proud of who they are," he said. "And when we have a situation like this in the holiday season where there so many other exciting things going on, they have to know their own holiday is important."

(READ the story, w/ photo, in the HB Independent)