Hanukkah celebrated with Menorah lightings

Goshen —The communities of Monroe, Goshen and Tuxedo were recently warmed by the glow of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, with three Menorah Lighting Ceremonies arranged by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston of Chabad of Orange County. On Thursday, Dec. 6, a crowd of men, women and children gathered at Chabad’s Monroe location at the Chase Bank on Route 17M in Monroe to light a nine-foot menorah. Orange County Director of Operations Steve Gross lit the “shamash” — the torch that lights all the other candles — “since the role of the elected officials is to serve the community,” Burston said. Participants lit their own candles from the dignitary’s torch. Chaim Cohen, Henry and Samira Galler of Monroe and the Doblin family of Chester were among the guests who were honored in lighting a candle. After the outdoor ceremony, participants were invited into Chabad’s suite for a festive party with music, Hanukkah refreshments, and arts and crafts for children. Despite the freezing rain, local residents gathered to join in a public Menorah lighting ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 9 in the Goshen Village Green. “A small miracle happened here tonight,” Burston said as he introduced Goshen Mayor Robert Weinberger. “It stopped raining exactly at 5:30 p.m., the scheduled time to light the menorah. Perhaps the mayor has good connections,” he joked. Weinberger was honored with lighting the “shamash.” Additional candles were lit by locals including Stephan and Doris Fornino, who own the menorah, and had invited Chabad to host the annual menorah lighting. “The menorah teaches us an eternal lesson,” Burston said “The way to fight darkness is by adding light. And it does not have to be all at once; we can illuminate our surroundings, one candle — good deed — at a time.” After the mayor greeted the crowd and extended warm holiday wishes, Burston presented Weinberger with a musical “dreidel” as a token of appreciation on behalf of the Jewish community. Afterwards, children watched a circus entertainer while participants had hot cocoa, hot latkes with toppings, doughnuts and other Hanukkah treats in a special tent set up nearby. “Freezing rain and hot cocoa is a wonderful mix,” said one of the participants. On Monday, Dec. 10, another Menorah Lighting Ceremony took place on Route 17 in Tuxedo. Town Supervisor Peter Dolan and town councilmen were honored with lighting the menorah. “Hanukkah is not only celebrating a miracle of light from the past,” Burston said, “But a miracle that continues to this very day. After so many years of persecution, and repeated attempts to extinguish the flame of Judaism, the fact that we can stand here in public is itself a miracle.” Dolan then greeted the crowd, extending holiday wishes, and thanked Chabad for sponsoring and arranging the event. After the ceremony, all were served Hanukkah refreshments and hot cocoa, under a special tent set up for this event. For more information about Chabad of Orange County, call 782-2770, e-mail Rabbi@ChabadOrange.com or visit www.ChabadOrange.com.