LARCHMONT, NY — Chanukah begins Sunday evening, December 21, but in Larchmont, the holiday is “ahead of the curve.” The Dreidel House, operated by Rabbi Mendel Silberstein of Larchmont and Mamaroneck’s Chabad, opened on December 8 at 2098 Boston Post Road, the prior home of a Curves exercise studio. The workout machines are gone, replaced with menorahs, dreidels, arts and crafts and Chanukah-themed gifts.
Chanukah Gets a Head Start at The Dreidl House
LARCHMONT, NY — Chanukah begins Sunday evening, December 21, but in Larchmont, the holiday is “ahead of the curve.” The Dreidel House, operated by Rabbi Mendel Silberstein of Larchmont and Mamaroneck’s Chabad, opened on December 8 at 2098 Boston Post Road, the prior home of a Curves exercise studio. The workout machines are gone, replaced with menorahs, dreidels, arts and crafts and Chanukah-themed gifts.
The shop will stay open until Monday, December 29 with hours on Monday through Thursday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm; Sunday 10:30 am – 6:00 pm. There is no entry charge and most of the programs are free. The crafts run from $2-$7
Children and adults are invited to build and paint their own car or train menorah, make their own Chanukah candles, squeeze and refine olive oil, and guess how many dreidels to win an iPod nano-chromatic.
This is the third year for the Dreidel House, which has opened in different venues around Larchmont since Mendel and Channa Silberstein moved to Larchmont a few months before Chanukah in 2006. They have established a local branch of Chabad, an organization of Hasidic Orthodox Jews that encourages greater affiliation with Judaism.
Some of the new features in the Dreidel House this year are the building of a giant Lego menorah, an archaeological Chanukah dig, and a “Make Your Own Menorah” contest.
Welcoming visitors to the Dreidel House is a full-sized armored mannequin representing Judah the Maccabee, the hero of the Chanukah story. Each day there is an olive oil refining show along with a candle making workshop. There is also a video playing of the world’s wildest menorahs. Toddlers have their own corner where they keep busy while their older siblings complete their craft projects.
“While The Dreidel House is bringing in families from all around Westchester County, its main goal is to give the residents of Larchmont and neighboring Mamaroneck a place where they can come with their children and have a stimulating Chanukah experience without going too far,” said Rabbi Silberstein.
