By Beth Carroll
On Sunday, the first night of Chanukah, the Chabad of Morristown partnered with the Rabbinical College of America for a menorah-lighting, gelt-dropping, dreidel-spinning celebration of the Festival of Lights.
Young people circulated through the crowd offering free menorahs to anyone who needed one. Two young men dressed in dreidel costumes spun through the audience while the Dreidel song blasted.
Doughnuts and hot cider warmed everyone from the inside while jumping for gelt and parachuting dreidels tossed down from on high warmed the children (and their equally excited parents) from the outside.
But Chanukah is an eight-day holiday, and the festivities on the Green weren’t over yet.
Despite frigid temperatures, dozens of families turned out once again on Wednesday, the fourth night of Chanukah, for more celebrating.
This time the activities were hosted by the Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael in conjunction with Temple B’nai Or, continuing a longstanding local tradition.
Video playlist by Beth Carroll. Click icon top right to toggle through clips:
Hot chocolate and coffee were served to keep the crowd warm, along with soufaniyot (doughnuts, including a vegan option).
Music filled the night, as a children’s choir performed many traditional Chanukah songs in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English. With the words flashing on a screen, karaoke-style, many in the audience added their voices.
And there was gelt! Piles of gold-covered chocolate coins once again were given to eager children.
And, of course, the lighting of the fourth candle on the menorahs was the highlight of the evening.
Local luminaries joined in the fun, including Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty on Sunday and state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.) both nights.
A joyous time was had by all.
