Over 15 Million Witness the Miracle of Chanukah
Bris Avrohom continues their busy holiday of Chanukah with events throughout the area for young and old alike. Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Executive Director of Bris Avrohom and his staff lit menorahs on the Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing with administrators of the Port Authority of NY and NJ. This is an annual event which publicizes the miracle of Chanukah to millions of people who cross these bridges over the eight days of Chanukah.
Linden City Hall was the site of a Chanukah celebration, attended by over 50 people, arranged by Bris Avrohom. Mr. Howard Klein lit the menorah and area seniors, many of whom were from the FSU, attended this annual event. Rabbi Kanelsky and Rabbi Joshua Hess of Cong. Anshe Chesed in Linden both spoke to those in attendance.
Hillside, the headquarters of Bris Avrohom, hosted Chanukah menorah lighting in City Hall. The Hillside Council and Mayor Joseph Menza welcomed the entire Jewish community to their chambers, where Councilman Pateesh Freedman lit the menorah. Rabbi Kanelsky and Rabbi Jonathan Schwartz, of Cong. Adath Israel, spoke to the community members. Traditional Chanukah doughnuts were served.
For the first time ever, all three large Orthodox congregations in the Elizabeth-Hillside community held a Chanukah carnival together. The “Chanukah in Chocolate-Land” event was held in the gym of the Jewish Educational Center and featured Mechanical Bull, inflated rides, ball crawl, decoate your donut, carnival games and prizes, crafts, food and much more. A large menorah was created out of chocolate, much to the joy of the hundreds of youngsters in attendance. This successful event was made possible through the efforts of Rabbi Avremy and Mrs. Chaya Kanelsky of Bris Avrohom, Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker of Bris Avrohom, Miss Dara Shulman and Miss Dena Lichtman of Cong. Adath Israel and Mr. Elie Bodner of the Elmora Avenue Shul.
Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Administrator of Bris Avrohom, worked diligently to set up public menorahs throughout the greater Elizabeth-Hillside area. Jersey Gardens, local Jewish businesses, locations throughout the community and all of the area supermarkets – Shoprite, Pathmark and Stop & Shop – display Bris Avrohom menorahs to publicize the miracle of Chanukah.
Senior citizens in Bayonne and Springfield were treated to Bris Avrohom sponsored parties as well. Over 500 elderly citizens took part in these parties. Rabbi Cantor Zalman Baumgarten gave four concerts to entertain the crowds. Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Program Director of Bris Avrohom, handed out menorah and candle kits, doughnuts and multi-lingual brochures about the history, laws and customs of the holiday. He also put tefillin on senior citizens who were unable to perform this mitzvah on their own.
Bris Avrohom’s final Chanukah event was held in Secaucus Junction, where a permanent menorah was installed. Mr. Jeremy Halpern, of Atlantic Realty, lit all eight candles on the menorah in memory of Dovid Gavriel Pincus, of blessed memory.
