Chabads of Manhattan’s Chanukah on Ice!

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — Close to 1000 people took to the ice on Central Park’s Trump Wollman Rink for an evening of Jewish unity on Tuesday, December 23, the third night of Chanukah. Chabad’s Chanukah on Ice NYC drew people from all five boroughs and beyond, to as far way as Hungary, South America, Israel and France.

More pictures in the Extended Article! (Photos by: Meir Pliskin)

Surrounded by snow covered hills and trees, with the dramatically lit NYC skyline overhead, Central Park’s iconic skating rink was the perfect setting for Chanukah On Ice.

Skaters of all ages circled the rink to the sounds of lively Jewish music. The food concession, koshered for the occasion, served a kosher dinner and drew long lines as people came in to warm up on the complimentary hot drinks and donuts.

In the heated tent, families stopped in to enjoy crafts, videos and an Olive Oil Workshop demonstration while Kosher.com offered visitors goodies and a chance to win free kosher groceries.

Co-director of Chabad Children’s Programs of Chabad of the West Side Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky led the lighting ceremony as skaters gathered around the dramatically lit Ice Menorah to participate in the lighting.

“Finding the flask of pure oil, represents that there is always a place inside each of us that remains untouched and pure. This place is our Neshama, soul, an actual part of G-d, the Great Creator of the universe, and we connect to G-d through studying His Torah and living as a Jew, fulfilling His commandments, His Mitzvot,” Rabbi Alevsky said. He described the Mumbai Shluchim Rabbi Gabi and Rivkah Holtzberg as examples of those who shed light in the world with their good deeds, faith and Torah teachings. In the wake of the terrorist attacks that took their lives and others’ in the Chabad Nariman House, he urged the assembled, “to share the light that had been put out in Nariman House by adding in Mitzvot and learning Torah in their merit.”

Violinist Andrew Hait-Merczynski, 12, and soloist Adam Powers, 7, performed a moving rendition of the Chanukah classic Banu Choshech L’Garesh. Jay Blumenstein accompanied the duo on the keyboard.

CNN commentator and political consultant Hank Sheinkopf lit the Chanukah candles.

The success of Chanukah on Ice NYC follows last years’ inaugural program when Chabad of the West Side, together with Chabad of the Upper East Side, threw a Chanukah party at the rink with 400 people attending.

This year, event organizers Rabbi Chayim and Sarah Alevsky rented the entire rink for Chanukah on Ice. Chabad Centers of the West Side, Upper East Side, West 60s, Beekman-Sutton, Chabad Israel Center, Columbia Univeristy, Gramercy Park/ Center for Jewish Discovery, Washington Heights and Riverdale all participated. Other New York City synagogues, organizations and schools also publicized Chanukah on Ice with their members and families, helping bring the entire Jewish community together for this event.

The management and staff of Trump Wollman Rink came outside to enjoy the lighting of the Menorah. Manager Barry Weisselberg put his cell phone on speaker to allow his father, Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg, to hear the Menorah lighting ceremony. “We usually spend Chanukah together as a family in Florida, and they were celebrating without me, so I called them at the family party to hear what was happening at the rink. It was really moving.”

Director of Special Events Gwen Weinstock said, “We look forward to working together with Chanukah on Ice again, and we already circling potential dates for next years’ event!”

Chanukah on Ice drew rave reviews from the attendees, with many calling it the highlight of their Chanukah celebration. As one participant wrote, “Amazing, amazing time last night, it really was a whole new level of celebration with kosher food and our music. It was great. Our kids started skating better after the menorah and could have gone on all night!”