Tallahassee.com
City Commissioner Andrew Gillum helps Rabbi Schneur Oirechman light the candy menorah on Sunday.

Jellybean-Filled Menorah Lit in Florida’s Capital

Karen Cyphers was able to experience a little piece of home at Lake Ella with members of Tallahassee’s Jewish community.

The 34-year-old mother of two said thanks to Chabad of Tallahassee’s annual Jewish Community Hanukkah Celebration she can show her daughters — 4-year-old Rebecca and 3-year-old Madeline — they are a part of a large group in Tallahassee.

Plus, it’s difficult to ignore the lure of a 9-foot tall menorah filled with jellybeans.

“It’s a piece of home in public,” Cypher said. “All the things from childhood you remember about Hanukkah — the foods and the songs — are just presented in a new way.”

Cyphers’ family joined a group of about 50 at Lake Ella for Chabad’s 13th annual celebration. Chabad of Tallahassee is a local Jewish community outreach group, run by Rabbi Schneur Oirechman. The rabbi was joined by City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, who helped light the colorful menorah after a prayer.

Oirechman said Chabad’s celebration was a chance to educate the community about Hanukkah, which actually began on Thanksgiving this year. It was the first time Thanksgiving and the start of Hanukkah happened on the same day — and it won’t happen again for about 70,000 years.

“This goes along with the message of our founding fathers,” Oirechman said. “It’s about freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Hanukkah sends a message of universal freedom for all.”

He added more than 300 menorahs have been distributed to Jewish students at Florida State University and around the city to help celebrate Hanukkah. Last year, Oirechman wowed attendees with a 9-foot doughnut menorah.

Oirechman said the candy-themed menorahs are meant to reach out to kids and make sure they’re willing to participate in Hanukkah celebrations. Next year he plans to do a popcorn menorah.

“It’s very important to educate our children that religion is something that can be fun,” he said. “It’s not something we want kids to feel like they’re forced to do. We want them to feel like it’s fun and nice and they should be happy and proud to be Jewish.”

The event was also open to members of the community who weren’t Jewish. Gillum noted it’s important to embrace diversity within Tallahassee.

“We value various religions, various cultures and various traditions,” he said. “Today is just another example of our community being able to come together and acknowledge such an important season.”