A frozen Festival of Lights

Needham, MA — The Chabad Jewish Center of Needham mixed fire and ice Sunday night, when it rallied a couple of hundred residents to celebrate the lighting of this year’s ice-sculpted menorah on the town green.

“I don’t think it’ll last eight days unless a miracle happens,” Rabbi Mendel Krinsky said, laughing.

The sculpture, a new twist on an old tradition, was expected to remain between five and six hours, depending on temperature; it was originally cut from a 600- to 800-pound slab of ice by Ice Effects.

The mild weather brought many onlookers for the lighting of the 6 1/2-foot-tall candelabra that bears one elevated candle, or shamus, with which to light the eight lower candles.

“The message of Hanukkah is one of freedom over oppression, light over darkness, good over evil,” Krinsky said. “Although the story of Hanukkah happened many years ago, the battle is still on.”

Kransky said the menorah, though erected for just a short while, is a reminder to residents of the message, giving them a sense of hope and empowerment.