Orange County Residents “Unite the Lights” with Chabad’s Community Menorah Lightings
ORANGE COUNTY, NY [CHI] — With a sense of unity, and the special holiday spirit, many Orange County residents gathered to “Light Up the Night” and participate in the community menorah lighting celebrations hosted by Chabad of Orange County.
Rabbi Pesach Burston, director of Chabad of Orange County, was not surprised that many braved some stormy, cold weather. “The way I see it”, he said, “G-d is just painting the contrast-backdrop of what Chanukah is all about: Countering the bitter cold, the darkness of the world – and all it’s “storms” – by adding warmth and light!”
Nearly each night Chanukah, community menorah lightings were held in various locations around the county, and included Lightings & Latkes, Doughnuts, Dreidels & Dignitaries, Cocoa & Chocolate “Gelt” (Gold-wrapped chocolate coins).
On Sunday, December 21, the first night of Chanukah, the lighting was held in Washingtonville. Mayor Thomas DeVinko lit the first candle. At the ceremony, special recognition was given to Chabad Hebrew School student Zachary Pincus, 9, of Washingtonville, who (with the help of his parents) was going to make sure the public menorah would be lit each night.
On Monday, December 22, the lighting was held in Tuxedo Park, with the participation of Town of Tuxedo Supervisor Peter Dolan. Mr. Richard Spiegel, President of SOS Fuels in Tuxedo, and a friend and supporter of Chabad, was honored to light a candle as well. “In a certain sense, Mr. Spiegel and I are in the same business” Rabbi Burston explained as Mr. Spiegel lit his candle. “We are both involved in warming people’s homes!” Addressing those assembled, Burston added, “Chanukah is the fusion of the two together: When we take a candle – or oil – and we put to the flame of spirituality – it becomes a Menorah! The message of Chanukah is to become a menorah: to add spiritual warmth.”
On Tuesday, December 23, more than 170 people participated at Chabad’s Grand Chanukah SuperBowl & Show, held at Colonial Lanes in Chester. The event included bowling and dreidel games, hot buffet dinner, latkes & doughnuts, Chanukah arts & crafts, raffles & prizes and a grand Bowling-Pin Menorah Lighting Ceremony. The menorah was lit by Town of Chester Supervisor Stefan Neuhaus, as well as by the event sponsors: the Wenzel, Goetz, Berkowitz and Sandow families.
“The message of Chanukah is that we have to ‘pin down’ darkness,” Rabbi Burston said at the ceremony. “And we can create light with any tools we have – even bowling pins!”
After the lighting, participants were entertained by a spectacular comedy basketball show by “The Hoop Wizard,” NYC playground legend and Guinness Record holder Jack Ryan.
Allison Berman of Warwick, who attended the event with her family, said, “This was a perfect way to celebrate the third night of Chanukah – lighting candles, singing songs, bowling and a show. I Thank Chabad for planning another wonderful community event.”
On Wednesday, December 24, a lighting was held on 17m, in front of the Chabad Monroe Location (Chase Bank building).
Mitch & Gladys Wenzel, of Monroe, who established The Gregg Wenzel Scholarship Fund, enabling students to attend Chabad Hebrew School, in memory of their son, Gregg, lit one of the candles. “Through the good deeds done in his memory, the Wenzel’s are keeping the flame of Gregg alive” Rabbi Burston said after the candles were lit, “and enabling children to pass on the flame of Judaism from generation to generation.”
After the lighting, participants were invited into the Chabad suite for a Chanukah Party including a special video presentation, Chanukah Arts & Crafts and Dreidel Games.
The last night of Chanukah was celebrated with a community menorah lighting on Sunday, December 28 at the village green in Goshen, with the participation of Goshen Town Supervisor Douglas Bloomfield.
The Community Menorah Lightings were part of the Unite the Lights Campaign, a nationwide campaign to remember the victims of the Mumbai tragedy while promoting acts of kindness and goodwill. (To see lights from around the globe, and share yours visit www.UniteTheLights.com)
For more information, contact Rabbi Pesach & Chana Burston at 845-782-2770, email rabbi@ChabadOrange.com or visit www.ChabadOrange.com.
