Building a Better World with Lego

Richmond, British-Columbia, Canada — How is it that the simple act of lighting candles can have so much meaning?

When it’s the Menorah – a nine-stick candelabrum – it possesses deep and historical symbolism rooted in Jewish religious freedom.

“When we light the Menorah, the message is about universal freedom of religion, of faith,” explains Chabad of Richmond’s director Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman. “It’s also about when we light one candle followed by lighting another, the light is a message that one good deed leads too many.

”As one candle can light an infinite number of candles, so can one good deed lead to an infinite number of good deeds.“

Every year for eight days, Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah, one of the most important holidays in the Jewish faith. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews defeated the Syrians and won their religious freedom.

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights because, following their victory, the Jews cleansed and purified the temple, and rekindled the Menorah. It is said that although the Menorah only held enough oil to burn a single day, it burned for eight days.

To commemorate this auspicious occasion, Chabad of Richmond invites everyone to share in the Giant Lego Menorah celebration at Richmond City Hall this Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.

”It’s the highlight of the annual Hanukkah celebration at City Hall,“ says Baitelman. ”We are building an eight-foot, perhaps even bigger, Menorah with more than 5,000 pieces of Duplo Lego.“

Along with the giant Lego Menorah, visitors to Richmond City Hall will be greeted by the sounds of traditional Jewish music, as well as an opportunity to try some traditional culinary Jewish treats such as jelly donuts and latkes.

”We will also have crafts and games for the children,“ says Baitelman.

Hanukkah means educate, and so, adds the rabbi, it’s why money is customarily given to Jewish children during the holidays.

”By giving children money we are educating, entrusting and showing children to make good decisions about money and more importantly about life,“ he says.

It’s also a time to bring people of all denominations and cultures together in harmony.

”Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place,“ says Chanie Baitelman, the rabbi’s wife and co-director of Chabad of Richmond. ”Hanukkah also publicizes the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness.“

In keeping with the spirit of Hanukkah, as well as the need to look after those less fortunate, the buckets of LEGO used in the construction of the Menorah will, after Hanukkah, be sent to the children living in the communities of Northern Israel.

”We will be shipping them to our sister city of Kiryat Shmona,“ says Rabbi Baitelman. ”These communities were devastated by the bombings and shelling that took place this past summer.“

Chabad of Richmond joins thousands of Chabad centres around the world that will celebrate by staging similar public displays of the Menorah.

According to ancient religious customs, Hanukkah is observed by the lighting on the Menorah each of the eight days of the solemn holiday.

”This year Hanukkah begins on Friday, Dec. 15,“ says Baitelman. ”Because we will be building the Menorah on Sunday, we will be lighting three special lanterns which will be inserted in the Lego Menorah.”

He goes on to explain that the centre candle is named the Shamash, the service candle, as it’s the one that lights all the others.

Come and enjoy an evening of fun and celebration during the Hanukkah family festival Sunday, Dec. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Richmond City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Rd. Everyone is invited to share in building and lighting of Canada’s largest Lego Menorah.

For more information on the event, phone 604-277-6427 or visit www.Chabad.org