Neighborhood Marks Hanukkah

MALTA, NY — Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a remembrance of what a small group of people can do when they come together through faith.

The true spirit of the holiday came to life Sunday in Luther Forest as Rochel Rubin and her neighbors lighted a 9-foot-tall homemade menorah on her lawn on the sixth day of Hanukkah.

According to Rubin, the giant menorah, built for her by a neighbor, is meant to get more people thinking about the celebration, which is often overshadowed by yard displays of reindeer and Santas.

“I thought we could make Hanukkah more visible in the area,” Rubin said.

Around 25 people joined in the religious festivities and watched as Sid Hellman illuminated the display.

Rubin, who hopes to make the celebration an annual event, wanted to create family tradition for her children — Moshe, 5; Chaya, 4; and Chana, 2.

“My children were so excited to be able to host something,” Rubin said. “We played dreidel with the chocolate coins, and we had the traditional latkes and homemade doughnuts.”

The party also included singalongs and arts and crafts for the children.

With the recent snap of cold weather, Rubin said the celebration required a little bit of flexibility, especially when it came to the enormous menorah.

“It was attached to a tree. We were going to dig it in the ground, but the ground froze. So we had to attach it that way,” she said.

Amid the mix of holiday lights around the neighborhood, the menorah has attracted some positive attention.

“People kind of smile when they see it,” Rubin said.