By Yakir Benzion, United With Israel
The world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his winter hibernation Tuesday on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and predicted another six weeks of winter.
But few people are aware that the annual ceremony every Feb. 2 was not that big a deal until a local Jewish coal mine operator added pizzazz to the festivities,
The Forward reported.
According to the website jewishfamilieshistory.org, Punxsutawney was incorporated in 1849 and the first synagogue was founded in 1889. In the mid-20th century, the Light family was well known in town with the patriarch Abraham Light, who owned several coal companies and was director of the Punxsutawney National Bank. Light’s son Sam was also in the coal business but made his name as president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club from 1952 to 1976.