World’s First Tombola Menorah in London Suburb

The Chabad Centre in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, UK, has done it again with another amazing record-breaking Menorah to feature at their Chanukah party this year. The World’s First Tombola Menorah.

The dictionary definition of Tombola is “a prize draw raffle system whereby participants get balls with tickets inside or printed on and some numbers will be immediate winners.” The Chabad House produced a Tombola Menorah: hundreds of balls each containing a number filled a clear Menorah.

The Menorah was the brainchild of Esti Rubin, the Chabad House youth shlucha and administrator, together with Andrea Solomon, community photographer. The two were talking at the Breakfast Meal following Yom Kippur when Rabbi Odom Brandman, always looking to be two steps ahead, joked “What can we make for this year’s World’s First Menorah?”

Each year the Chabad House makes a unique specialty Menorah. Modifying a previous Menorah, Noach Evers, a ‘bochur shliach’ working in Buckhurst Hill, together with Desmond Solomon, created something spectacular. The Tombola balls would be held in the branches and when released would fall through a maze into a box where it could be retrieved and opened. The balls were sold to raise money for the Chabad House activates, and two tables laden with donated prizes including jewelry, electronics, kids’ toys and food items were laid out either side of the Menorah.

There was a huge buzz of excitement as everyone came into the Shul, saw the Menorah and got busy buying balls, cracking them open and retrieving their prizes.

This year’s Menorah was highly anticipated by the community, which over the last few years has seen a Pearl Menorah, Coin Menorah, Can Menorah, Recycled phones Menorah, Chocolate Menorah and probably their most famous to date – the Whisky Menorah containing 65 liters of single malt whisky.

Rabbi Odom Brandman, director of the Chabad Centre, said “Chanukah is such a special and happy time of year and it was amazing to see the community come out in great numbers to support this fantastic event as they do every year in growing numbers. Chanukah is a time to spread light, warmth and community spirit and these events go a long way in encouraging this spirit among the wider community.”

Esther Jospeh took care of selling all the balls, different colors for different prices, and prizes were organized into value categories. Mrs. Henny Brandman said, “It was so generous of people, lots of lovely prizes were donated and everyone had a great time. Fundraising is never easy and this event was a fun way for people to give more and receive a prize in return with every penny going straight to charity.”

A very special thanks goes to Rivky Kesleman, Yoninah Shaw, Chani Shaw and Sorale Keselman, who together with Mrs. Henny Brandman ran four crafts for children while the adults enjoyed refreshments and music. The Chabad Catering team, Karen Wise and Daphne Benham-Whtye, put on a lovely spread, and the crowds all enjoyed a wonderful evening.

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