80 Years of the GWB, 8 Days of Chanukah

Bris Avrohom, an organization headquartered in Hillside, NJ, lights up the hearts and souls of the Russian Jewish community. For Russian Jews, lighting a menorah in public is a great source of pride and victory. In the former Soviet Union, Jews were unable to observe the primary mitzvah of Chanukah. In the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, lighting a menorah that was visible from the street would land a Jew in jail, or worse. Jews from the former Soviet Union could not even imagine seeing a menorah lit in the office of a political dignitary.

Through the efforts of Bris Avrohom, menorahs are now put, not only in private homes, but in every public place imaginable. Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Administrator of Bris Avrohom, was instrumental in placing menorahs in local supermarkets and the large Jersey Gardens Mall. Bris Avrohom also placed menorahs in shopping centers, on major roads, in mayors’ offices and, this year for the first time, at the George Washington Bridge, a major river crossing between New York and New Jersey and a symbol to residents of both states.

People have been joining Bris Avrohom at all of their public menorah lightings throughout New Jersey, where the rabbis and officials have lit the lights together. Additionally, Bris Avrohom has distributed packages with a menorah, candles, a Chanukah brochure and a dreidel to thousands of people. They have hosted parties for seniors with live entertainment and traditional Chanukah doughnuts. Children have been given gifts and real Chanukah gelt. This has been a very busy holiday for Bris Avrohom!

The first public menorah of the year was held at Phil Rizzuto Park, centrally located in Union County. The Union County Freeholders lit the menorah as a group, to show the unity of the Hillside, Elizabeth and Union Jewish communities.

Bris Avrohom then traveled to Westfield, to the office of Congressman Leonard Lance. A menorah was lit in his office and then a beautiful menorah was given to the Congressman as a special gift from Bris Avrohom.

Bergen County Executive, Kathleen Donovan, invited Bris Avrohom to join all of the county employees for a celebratory, lunchtime, menorah lighting in her Hackensack office. Rabbi Cantor Berele Zaltzman, of Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn, lit the menorah, after which the County Executive presented Bris Avrohom with a proclamation to mark the occasion. Everyone enjoyed traditional doughnuts afterwards.

In Jersey City, seniors joined members of the Russian-Jewish and Jewish communities of Hudson County for a menorah lighting with Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Program Director of Bris Avrohom, introduced the Mayor who then gave a proclamation to Bris Avrohom in honor of this event. This was the 30th consecutive year that Bris Avrohom lit a menorah in the Jersey City Mayor’s office. After enjoying some doughnuts, the staff of Bris Avrohom then traveled to their Jersey City center on Cottage Street, businesses in Jersey City and Lincoln Park, where they lit other public menorahs.

The rabbis of Bris Avrohom also hold private parties in the homes of Russian Jews. These parties bring the joy of Chanukah to families, even if they are unable to join in the fun at the public menorah lightings.

For the 22nd consecutive year, Bris Avrohom and Cong. Shomrei Torah Ohel Yosef Yitzchak visited Elizabeth City Hall. Mayor Bollwage and Chairman of the Bris Avrohom Board, Mr. Danny Kahane, lit the menorah together. After the lighting, the children of Cheder Yaldei Menachem, a preschool under the auspices of Bris Avrohom, under the direction of Principal, Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, performed songs and dances for parents, community members and Elizabeth City Hall employees. Mayor Bollwage presented Bris Avrohom with a proclamation. The children of Cheder Yaldei Menachem presented the Mayor with a birthday cake, as well. Over 100 people attended this annual event.

Morre-Tec Industries, located on Route 22 in Union, was the next stop for the busy Rabbis of Bris Avrohom. The Owner invited them to come to his office and light a menorah for all to see.

Union Mayor Joseph Florio invited Bris Avrohom to City Hall for a public menorah lighting. He presented Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, executive Director of Bris Avrohom, with a proclamation. Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Torah Education Director of Bris Avrohom, met a 91 year old Jewish man at this public menorah lighting. The Rabbi put tefillin on him for the first time in his life, marking the elderly gentleman’s Bar Mitzvah!

Bris Avrohom then traveled to the offices of Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino. A menorah was lit there, kindled by Mark Rekhtman, a Jew from the former Soviet Union and this year’s Guest of Honor at Bris Avrohom’s Annual Dinner.

For the first time in its 80 year history, a menorah was lit at the George Washington Bridge, through the efforts of Bris Avrohom. A 12 foot menorah was lit and, as Bill Baroni, Port Authority Deputy Executive Director, once said, “Throughout the eight days of the holiday, over 10 million people will see this menorah and be reminded of the miracle of Chanukah”. There were three speakers at this historic event. The first was Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, who explained the significance of the 80th birthday of the GWB and the eight days of Chanukah. Bob Durando, General Manager of the GWB, said he was privileged to have worked with Bris Avrohom to set up such a visible menorah and to work towards such a historic event. Bergen County Executive, Kathleen Donovan, presented Bris Avrohom with a proclamation declaring the week of Chanukah to be Education Week, based on the fact that the word “Chanukah” comes from the same root as “education”. The menorah itself was lit by Mr. Alan Pines, Executive VP of the Board of Directors and by Mr. Yuri Libson, from the FSU and now a Board member of Bris Avrohom. Following the lighting, a Mincha minyan was held on the bridge. Rabbi Meir Konikov of Chabad of Fort Lee, led the davening.

Bris Avrohom lit a public menorah at Fair Lawn Town Hall, where Mayor Lisa Swain lit the shammash and Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, Youth Director of Bris Avrohom, lit the candles. Rabbi Berele Zaltzman, Community Development Director of Bris Avrohom, sang Chanukah songs. Gelt and traditional jelly doughnuts were distributed to those in attendance after the lighting.

The final public menorah of the first two days of Chanukah was held in Bergen County Chambers, at a meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Freeholder David Ganz, a former mayor of Fair Lawn and a personal friend of Bris Avrohom’s, and Assemblyman Gary Schaeer were honored with the lighting of the menorah. Doughnuts and menorah kits were distributed to the public, who were in attendance for the Freeholders meeting. Each Freeholder was presented with a citation from Bris Avrohom in honor of the occasion.

The Rabbis and staff of Bris Avrohom have many more public events scheduled for the remainder of the holiday and look forward to sharing photos of these events with you. They wish everyone a Freilichen Chanukah.