Orange County Residents Light up the Night with Chabad

“The story is told of a group of boys studying in yeshiva one night when, suddenly, the lights went out,” began Rabbi Pesach Burston, director of Chabad of Orange County, “In an attempt to calm the other students, a student announced, ‘Don’t worry friends. In a moment your eyes will adjust to the darkness.’

‘No, no my child,’ said the teacher, gently correcting his student, thus teaching his class a valuable lesson, ‘never try to get used to the darkness, always find a way to create light.’

“This is the message of Chanukah,” concluded Rabbi Pesach to the crowd who braved the frigid weather to join the Goshen Menorah Lighting on the sixth night of Chanukah. “When we are confronted with darkness – be it night or any frame of mind of ‘night’ – our response is never to be content or try to adjust to the darkness. Rather, we must find a way to light up the night!”

Nearly each night of Chanukah, Chabad sponsored community menorah lightings in various locations within the county, and included Lightings & Latkes, Doughnuts, Dreidels & Dignitaries, Cocoa & Chocolate “Gelt” (Gold-wrapped chocolate coins).

Sunday’s menorah lighting in Washingtonville was cancelled due to the hazardous ice storm.

On Monday, the 4th night of Chanukah, the Town of Tuxedo opened up the Community Room in the newly restored Tuxedo Train Station. After a menorah lighting outdoors, a Chanukah reception was held indoors. Participants included Tuxedo Town Supervisor Peter Dolan and Town Councilman and Orange County Legislature elect Dan Castricone.

Also on Monday, Chabad’s Youth Directors Chaya Goldman and Nechama Jacobs joined the Chanukah Party at West Point. They brought along the Chanukah packages for the 66 Jewish cadets there were prepared by Chabad’s “Youth Zone Kids in Action for the Community” event last month.

On Tuesday, the 5th night of Chanukah, more than 250 from all over the county celebrated Chanukah together at the grand Chanukah celebration, “Chanukah in Candy Land” which was held at Colonial Lanes in Chester. The highlight was the lighting of an 8 ft. jelly bean menorah.

On Wednesday evening, the 6th night of Chanukah, participants braved the frigid weather to join in the Goshen Menorah lighting at the Village Green.

On Thursday evening, the 7th night of Chanukah, a Menorah Lighting ceremony was held in Monroe, followed by a Chanukah reception in Chabad’s Monroe Location. Guests included Monroe Village Mayor John Karl, Village Trustee Charles Lesser, Town Councilman Harley Doles and County Legislature Myrna Kemnitz, who all lit a candle of the menorah, and shared a Chanukah message with the community.

Also that night, a menorah lighting ceremony led by Chabad representative Rabbi Levi Gordon was held, for the first time, in the city of Port Jervis.

In addition to the public lightings, Chabad also brought the joys and traditions of Chanukah to the elderly at Elant at Tuxedo and Elant at Goshen.

Duvy Burston, 7, of Monroe, brings the joys and traditions of Chanukah to residents Ruth Regenworm, left and David Brand, right, at Elant in Tuxedo

Participants light a candle from the “shamash” (servant) candle at Chabad’s Goshen Menorah Lighting

Participants gather around the menorah after it was lit at Chabad’s Goshen Menorah Lighting

Village of Monroe Mayor John Karl lights the menorah at Chabad’s Monroe Menorah Lighting

Monroe Town Councilman Harley Doles kindles a candle at Chabad’s Monroe Menorah Lighting

Chabad representative Rabbi Levi Gordon, right, at Chabad’s Port Jervis Menorah Lighting

Tuxedo Town Councilman and Orange County Legislature elect Dan Castricone lighting the menorah at Chabad’s Tuxedo Menorah Lighting