Avraham Fried and 8th Day Shine at Florida Festival
by Chaim Lehrer
An overflow crowd of thousands of men, women and children packed into the three levels of Gulfstream Park and Casino in Hallendale Beach, FL, to celebrate the 37th Annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival on Tuesday night, the fourth night of Chanukah.
Three hours of Chanukah singing and dancing, featuring the King of Jewish music Avraham Fried, and the most popular Jewish singing group 8th Day, brought a nearly four decade Florida tradition to new and ecstatic heights.
The weather was stunning, the spirit was pulsating, and the crowd was diverse, united in the joy of the Chanukah Festival and inspired by the lighting of the 18 foot Menorah, led by Cantor Rabbi Yossi Lebovics.
2,000 children received Chanukah Gelt and other goodies, distributed by students of the Chaya Aydel Seminary.
The Miami Herald, the Jewish Journal, and other media outlets were in attendance, adding to the Pirsumei Nisa, the publicizing of the great miracles of Chanukah.
Mayor Josh Levy of Hollywood, Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Keith London, and Rabbi Abraham Korf, head Shliach of Florida, along with community leaders, were called to light the Menorah.
The message of light eliminating darkness, resonated throughout this magical evening, that no one wanted to come to an end.
Some five hundred people danced non stop for forty five minutes, in a Simcha that broke all barriers.
A tradition since 1980, Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, head shliach of South Broward, relayed a Brocha from the Rebbe regarding this Festival, that “it should grow each year as the candles of the Menorah grows each night”.
And how has it grown! From a project that initially cost $300 in 1980, the World’s Largest Annual Chanukah Festival is now a production of mega planning, personnel and money, that is approaching ” six digit costs.”
From all over Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, from throughout the US and Canada, and from some 20 countries around the world, locals and tourists mingled with a revelry that shined as bright as the magnificent Menorah.
A special thank you to all the sponsors and staff, who kept the tradition alive, and enabled the 37th Annual South Florida Chanukah Festival to outshine all the other Festivals!
Staff coordinating the Festival included Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus, Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, Rabbi Mordy Feiner, Rabbi Yossy Lebovics, Rabbi Eli Phillips, Rabbi Mendy Tennenhaus, Shevy Schapiro, Leah Dworcan, Miriam Lieblich, Rivky Blezinsky and Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus.
The Mayor of Hollywood proclaimed “115 Days to add in acts of goodness and kindness, to hasten the redemption with the righteous Moshiach”.
Chabad of South Broward Headquarters in Hallandale Beach has 15 Chabad Synagogues and Chabad Houses dotting South Broward, and 45 agencies at their Headquarters. Unique amongst the 45 agencies is Florida’s Mikvahs for the Physically Challenged, Florida’s only Teacher’s Seminary for Women, and scores of initiative outreach projects that touches the lives of tens of thousands of people.
