From the Chabad Young Professionals:
14-FOOT GLOW IN THE DARK MENORAH TO LIGHT UP MORRISTOWN!
The Rabbinical College of America, and its affiliate, Chabad Young Professionals of Morristown, will ignite a public 14-foot menorah erected at the Morristown Green, followed by a community-wide celebration on the Second night of Chanukah, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, at 5:30pm.
The ceremony will feature the Mayor of Morristown, the Honorable Tim Dougherty; the dean of the Rabbinical college, Rabbi Moshe Herson; and other community leaders and dignitaries.
Following the menorah lighting ceremony, participants will enjoy jelly doughnuts (a traditional Chanukah treat), a live music performance by Rabbinical College of America student band, and a show by The Budapest Jugglers.
All children who attended the Chanukah celebration will walk away with a free LED Menorah necklace.
Mr. Norman Feinstein, member of the board of the Rabbinical College of America and vice chairman at The Hampshire Real Estate Companies, will light the Menorah.
The public menorah lighting was organized by Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz, director of Chabad Young professionals – Morristown, who remarked, “The Menorah serves as a symbol of Morristown’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly, and with pride.
“Specifically in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles.”
The Chanukah event is partly sponsored by Shoprite of Morristown, and J & S designer Flooring. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
Chabad Young Professionals will also be hosting their annual event for the Young Jewish Professional population on Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Game Vault in Morristown. For more information about all Chanukah events and Chabad in general Contact Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz at 718.772.5406, www.cypmorristown.com, of facebook.com/cypmorristown.
Morristown’s Menorah is one of thousands of large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad throughout the world, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.
Throughout the State of New Jersey, The Rabbinical college of America will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, giant menorahs made out of ice and Legos, Menorah Parades, Latkes parties, Giant Dreidel Houses, “Chanukah Wonderlands” and more.
To find a local event in New Jersey or practically anywhere throughout the world, visit www.Chabad.org/Chanukah. For more information about Chanukah and a local schedule of events visit CypMorristown.com
EVENT RECAP:
What: Chanukah on the Green
Where: The Morristown Green
When: Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 5:30pm
ABOUT CHANUKAH
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated a ruthless enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion.
During the occupation of Jerusalem and the Temple, the Syrian Greeks desecrated and defiled the oils prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service in the temple.
Upon recapturing the Temple from the Syrian Greeks, the Jewish people found only one jar of undefiled oil, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight days until new, pure olive oil was produced.
In commemoration of this event, the Jewish people celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah. The Menorah is placed in highly-visible place to publicize the miracle, with its message of hope and religious freedom, to all.
Today, people of all faiths consider the Chanukah holiday as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.
