Menorah Made out of Donated Food Lit on NYU Campus

New York, NY [CHI] -– The Chabad Serving NYU, the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, and Arts on the Move all came together to organize a momentous event where they could combine the holiday of Chanukah, art, and acts of kindness to spread light onto the campus. After a month of collecting cans all over NYU, students will finally saw the culmination of all their efforts last night, Tuesday, December 15, 2009, by the Washington Square Arch. A massive Menorah was built utilizing the cans collected from over hundreds of students. The success of the food-drive relied primarily on the actions of the student body as a whole rather than a few individual leaders, thus portraying the uniqueness as well as the unity of this campus.

David Rittberg, Acting Executive Director of the Bronfman Center, Rabbi Dov Yonah Korn, Director and Rabbi of Chabad Serving NYU, and Rabbi Sarna, the Rabbi of the Bronfman Center, worked closely together to organize and coordinate the event. Adam Courtney, the director of Arts on the Move, oversaw the assembly of the cans and was an integral asset in its engineering and design.

After constructing the Menorah and kindling the candles in a meaningful ceremony, the Menorah was taken down so the cans could be donated to The New York City Food Bank. The main objective of this project was to demonstrate how one’s good deeds have far reaching impact and significance. Each mitzvah (commandment) has the potential to leave an impression on the world beyond the scope of an individual’s comprehension. The Menorah—a symbol of light and hope, struggle and salvation—illuminated, not only Washington Square Park yesterday evening, but will continue to spread its joy throughout the city’s needy once cans are distributed.

The Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam –“repairing the world” expresses the responsibility that each individual has on the social welfare of others and helping spread light and warmth to those in distress. This Chanukah, the scintillating lights of the Washington Square Menorah and the tangible charity of New York University’s Jewish students fused together to create a positive start to this holiday season.