Chanukah celebration lights up the Green in Morristown

Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
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Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove

By Kevin Coughlin

A choir. Jelly doughnuts. Fire juggling.

Who could ask for a bigger, better Chanukah celebration?

Mayor Tim Dougherty and Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Mayor Tim Dougherty and Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove

A large crowd took the chill off the Morristown Green for Wednesday’s annual lighting of the giant menorah.

Each and every person is a candle,” said Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz, as five of eight lamps were lit by rabbis in a cherry-picker. 

“You just have to see the light that each person has. Let it shine, and you will shine as well. Do something nice for someone. Try to use nicer words. Donate to a worthy cause. Do another Mitzvah.

“Try to get closer to God, let your soul shine. With so many flames together, we make a very big candle. A very big light. A flame that will light up Morristown and the whole entire world. Happy Chanukah!”

Mayor Tim Dougherty called it the biggest Chanukah turnout he’s seen during his seven years as mayor.

“Rabbi Moishe has done an amazing job of reaching out to the community. They’re really making this something special,” Dougherty said.

WATCH VIDEOS OF THE CELEBRATION

Morris Township Committeeman Peter Mancuso also attended the festivities, which were organized by the Rabbinical College of America and its affiliate, Chabad Young Professionals of Morristown. Sponsors included Glassworks Studio,  J and S Designer Flooring, and  ShopRite of Morristown.

Chorister holds candle at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Chorister holds candle at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The youth choir of Cheder Chabad of Morristown sang traditional songs with gusto, and Keith Leaf — who returns to Morristown on New Year’s Eve for First Night Morris County–dazzled everyone by juggling daggers and flaming torches. (Do NOT try this at home, kids!)

Chanukah–the Festival of Lights–commemorates a jar of oil that miraculously burned for eight days when the Jews recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks 2,100 years ago.  This year’s eight-day celebration started on Dec. 24, 2016.

Wednesday’s events promoted Jewish unity, said Rabbi Gurevitz, while also striving to convey “that every individual, every religion, has a right to …be proud of themselves, and every person whoever they are, should be proud of who they are.”

Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove and Kevin Coughlin

Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
PLAYING WITH FIRE: Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Rabbis light lamps at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Menorah lighting at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
FIERY ACT: Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz welcomes crowd to the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Mayor Tim Dougherty and Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Mayor Tim Dougherty addresses crowd at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morris Township Committeeman Peter Mancuso, left, at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kids are mesmerized by juggling at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
TA-DA! Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sarala Pollen, 7, enjoys a jelly doughnut with her mom, Leah, at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Youth choir sings at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Stacey Schlosser, right, of Glassworks Studio co-sponsored the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Chorister holds candle at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kids enjoy juggling show at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
STAND CLEAR! Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Young reveler at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Samantha Rothman, Mayor Tim Dougherty and Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Crowd watches juggling show at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Duo performs at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
A big crowd enjoys the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
UPPER DECK: Youth watches juggler at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Crowd enjoys the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Juggler Keith Leaf at the 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
The 2016 Chanukah celebration on the Green. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
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