JACKSON – Hannukah lights shined brightly for the annual township Menorah Lighting ceremony held outside and inside Town Hall.
Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of lights is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. It started on sundown on December 14. It will conclude at sundown on December 22.
The festival also commemorates the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting long enough to keep the temple’s menorah burning, a tradition echoed today by lighting an additional candle each night.
This year’s ceremony was held on the second night of the holiday and drew a large attendance who came together to observe the lighting of the menorah on the grounds of the municipal complex.
Bat Shalom Hadassah, Jackson Chabad, Westlake Yiddish Club, Shalom Club of Winding Ways, South Knolls and Metedeconk and Jackson Township sponsored the event. Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn, Council President Mordecai Burnstein and Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri were among those present.
Rabbi Shmuel Naparstek of the Jackson Chabad recalled the history of Hannukah and reminded everyone that it was a time to gather around the menorah and to light candles each evening noting that when you light one candle, that candle will bring light and it will spread.
“We are lighting the menorah; we are lighting the candles; we are increasing in light every day. We keep on lighting the menorah until it is lit completely. When we give of our time, our energy, our resources – we are giving something that is a loss for us. When you give a light, you share a flame. Not only do you share a light – you are not missing anything because light spreads, it doesn’t diminish. Light gets stronger and stronger which is the message of the Hannukah menorah,” Rabbi Naparstek noted.
Mayor Kuhn called for a moment of silence for the victims of a mass shooting in which 15 people were killed during a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
“Don’t give up. Keep on forging forward. I am very happy we have such a large crowd considering the weather and that is what this township is all about. We don’t give up and we tackle our problems together as one town. We have so many wonderful residents who want to make a difference. Happy Hannukah and don’t eat too many donuts,” Council President Bernstein remarked.
Annabel Lindenbaum of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County said “we feel the tragedy of what happened to those in Australia. The Federation sponsors a yearly unity of caring celebration in our fight against hate and we recognize people in the community, Jewish, non-Jewish who have done something small to make a difference in this world.” She said this year’s observance was on December 22.
Event hostess, Bat Shalom Hadassah President Ellen Keller noted that “even the recent snowfall couldn’t deter the annual Jackson Township menorah lighting. Bat Shalom Hadassah had begun the tradition over two decades ago with the help of its members, Honey Greenberg, Marcia Fishbein, and Linda Selznick.”
“For the past nine years, we are fortunate to have Chabad Rabbi Naparstek to help us. This year, in the shadow of the tragedy at Bondi Beach, it was even more important to show that we will continue this long-standing tradition,” Keller added.
Keller mentioned seeing Eli Sharaby, who was released from Hamas captivity after 491 days. “Sharaby’s indomitable spirit, despite unthinkable personal loss, is the spirit of Hannukah. We must choose to live, to bring light into the world, to appreciate what we have, even on the darkest of days.”
After the indoor portion of the ceremony concluded attendees moved outdoors to witness the lighting of the second candle. Rabbi Naparstek lit a candle on behalf of Hadassah while Alan Tannenhaus lit the second one on behalf of The Westlake Yiddish Club. The attendees then sang Maoz Tzur, a traditional Hannukah song.
“We are grateful to the township recreation staff for providing us with adorable Hannukah ‘toys,’ such as necklaces and cute glasses adorned with menorahs and dreidels. Thanks to Chabad for the warm blue hats that were useful when we lit the menorah outside,” Keller added.
She also gave thanks to the Westlake Yiddish Club for “the generous donation that bought us delicious jelly donuts from Gelbstein’s. Many thanks to Marsha Inzelbuch and Carolle Weiner for picking up the donuts despite the cold, icy weather.”
Keller also thanked Inzelbuch for facilitating the event, as well. “We hope that everyone who celebrate the eight days of Hannukah enjoy the warmth of family, friends, and of tradition.”
