Hanukkah Menorah Lightings Mark Jewish Festival Of Lights

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured, first photo): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi watches the lighting of the menorah as Rabbi Menachem “Mendy” Hecht of Congregation Beth Israel of New Haven, joined by his children, leads a Jewish blessing at the sundown celebration of the first day of Hanukkah on Thursday on the West Haven Green.

The annual ceremony was attended by a small gathering of West Haven residents and officials, including state Reps. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven, and Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven; Councilmen Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, and Gary Donovan, D-at large; Planning and Zoning Commissioner Steven R. Mullins; and University of New Haven political science professor Joshua Sandman.

Rossi, DiMassa, Cohen, Donovan, Mullins and Sandman were later led in a menorah lighting on the Allingtown Green by Rabbi Joshua Hecht, the headmaster of the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy and spiritual leader of Chabad of Orange.

The ceremonies marked the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.

(Pictured): Rabbi Joshua Hecht, the headmaster of the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy and spiritual leader of Chabad of Orange, left, leads a small gathering of West Haven officials, including Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, fifth from left, in a Jewish blessing and the lighting of the menorah on the Allingtown Green to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah.

Joining them are, from left, University of New Haven political science professor Joshua Sandman; Rossi’s executive assistant, Louis P. Esposito Jr.; Planning and Zoning Commissioner Steven R. Mullins; Councilman Peter V. Massaro, D-6; and Deputy Chief Michael T. Esposito of the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown.

Also attending the ceremony were state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven, and Councilmen Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, and Gary Donovan, D-at large.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)