By Robert Kalfus
The first night of Chanukah, the Festival of Light, started this past Sunday night when the first candle is lit, with each night adding yet another candle, continuing for 8 days, with all of the eight candles lit on Sunday night, December 25th. Chanukah recalls the miracles of a small outnumbered band of Jewish partisan fighters who fought for 25 years, refusing to accept defeat from the better armed, more numerous and overwhelming Syrian-Greek forces, sent to crush their culture, religion, and entire way of life. The Maccabees liberated the oppressed Jewish nation, bestowing independence, and were inspired by the miracle of the single cruze of undefiled oil, sufficient for only one day of kindling the lights in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, yet lasting for eight days, the length of time necessary until new pure olive oil could be pressed.
Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz of Chabad of Yonkers/Greystone Jewish Center welcomed almost a hundred people who braved the cold and came out to witness “spreading the light”, who saw the first candle of Chanukah lit at the Ridge Hill Shopping Center, celebrating Chanukah, starting with the music of Mr. Shabbos band, Keith Leaf’s amazing fire and juggling show, a gelt chocolate candy drop from a cherry picker, and free hot latkas (potato pancakes) and sufnaniot (jelly and chocolate donuts), where Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano braved the cold to ride up in a cherry picker to light the shammash, the service candle serving to light the first night’s light.
Rabbi Hurwitz noted “Judaism is not a religion to be practiced just in the synagogue. Judaism is a way of life, a religion which informs all your actions wherever you are”, and Chanukah’s celebration, inspiration, food, and joy was shared.
Chanukah’s second night party moved to Yonkers’ Cross County Shopping Center, where the “WhatsUp” band entertained with great music, causing much dancing and singing, keeping warm, until Chabad of Yonkers/Greystone Jewish Center Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz lit the second night’s candles. All present, including those passing by and shopping, enjoyed jelly and custard donuts, and hot latkes.
A Menorah lighting at Yonkers City Hall, where Chabad of Yonkers Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz celebrated the fourth night of Chanukah with a joyous candelighting. After Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano lit the shammash (service) candle, Yonkers Police Officer Dean Campana lit the fourth candle on this fourth nigh of Chanukah, recalling the memory of Yonkers Police Sgt. Frank Gualdino, tragically killed just several weeks ago by a reckless 16 year old driver who was driving with only a three week old learner’s permit.
The Yonkers Police Dept. Highway Squad members arranged a parade throughout Yonkers of cars displaying brightly lit Happy Chanukah signs atop their cars, which ended at the Nahmais et Fils distillery, Yonkers. There, Highway Sgt. Karl Hippolyte lit the shammash candle, remembering Sgt. Frank Gualdino, who had in previous years enjoyed the warm and comraderie of the Chanukah celebration, where sufganior (jelly donuts) and pizza was shared by all.
All are welcome and invited Sunday, December 25th at 4:15 pm on Chanukah’s eighth night to see a giant menorah lit with all eight Chanukah lights overlooking the sun setting over the Hudson River, at majestic Untermyer Park, 945 North Broadway. However you prefer to spell the many transliterated names of the holiday, Rabbi Hurwitz asks for volunteers to climb the ladder to light the menorah’s Tiki torches, to publicize the miracle of Hanukah and to spread the light. Singing traditional Hanukah tunes such as Maor Tzur, and spinning dreidls, all will enjoy a large variety of jelly donuts and chocolate gelt.
Please contact Rabbi@JewishYonkers.com or call 718 679-3614.
