Celebrating The Festival of Lights in Greenwich

Hundreds of members of Chabad of Greenwich gathered on the lawn of the YMCA Greenwich at sundown Tuesday to light a towering Menorah to mark the beginning of the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, began at sundown Tuesday and continues until Dec. 24. The Jewish holiday commemorates the story of the Maccabean Revolt against Syrian rulers in present day Israel 2,300 years ago.

“With a 12-foot Menorah, this is our first full Hanukkah celebration outdoors,” said Maryashie Deren, wife of Rabbi Yossi Deren of Chabad.

“This is so symbolic of the miracle of Hanukkah. There was only a little bit of oil and God made a miracle and made it last for eight days,” Deren said. “It shows that if you put forth the effort to do something positive, God will hold your hand and help carry out what’s positive.”

While waiting for Rabbi Deren to be lifted in a cherrypicker to light the 12-foot Menorah, children gathered around tables to create holiday crafts and to decorate cupcakes which they quickly gobbled up.

There were hot dogs, latkes and sufganiyot — jam-filled doughnuts. Children were given dreidl-shaped eyeglass frames and dreidls. For the adults there were free Menorahs.

Following holiday songs performed by Chabad choirs including the nursery school choir singing ‘Dreidl, Dreidl,’ Rabbi Deren delivered his blessing.

“I’m glad they’re doing this. Everything is Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. It’s not that we have anything against Christmas, but this is nice to celebrate the holiday,” said Meloee Tanenbaum who helped her three-and-a-half-year-old son Leo frost his cupcake.

As rush-hour traffic slowly snaked through the intersection of Mason Street and East Putnam Avenue, Rabbi Deren lit the Menorah set at the street corner, to rousing cheers and applause. The light rain certainly didn’t dampen the holiday spirit.