Chanukah Ushered in at Washingtonville Menorah Lighting

WASHINGTONVILLE, NY [CHI] — On Tuesday, December 4, the eight-day festival of Chanukah was ushered in at a festive Menorah Lighting in Washingtonville. Many locals braved the cold to attend the lighting ceremony led by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, director of Chabad of Orange County.

Village of Washingtonville Mayor Thomas DeVinko lit the “shamash” — the torch that lights all the other candles — “since the role of elected officials is to serve the community,” Burston said. Participants lit their own candles from the dignitary’s torch. Mr. Brad Moritt of Washingtonville, who initiated the Menorah lighting ceremony, lit the first candle.

“Humanity is like a menorah with various ‘braches’ of people” Rabbi Burston said to the large audience, “The menorah teaches us what we all have in common: light! We each have an obligation to make the world a brighter, better place.”

After the menorah lighting, Burston presented the mayor with a gift of a silver musical dreidel on behalf of the community.
After the ceremony, participants enjoyed Chanukah refreshments, hot cocoa and friendly schmoozing under a special tent set up for this event.

The event was arranged with the help of Brad Moritt, Dr. Zev Zelenko, the Washingtonville DPW and the Washingtonville Police Department.

Andrea Pincus, of Washingtonville, attended the event with her husband Brian and two children, Zachary and Jared. Sharing her feelings about the event she said, “We always have an amazing time when we are at a Chabad event. We are happy to be here celebrating together as family. After seeing the menorah lit in the village, my children are excited to go home and light their own menorahs.”

For more information about Chabad of Orange County, call Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston at 845-782-2770, email Rabbi@ChabadOrange.com or visit www.ChabadOrange.com.