It's Hanukkah In The City: Tampa Lights The Menorah

TAMPA, FL — Rabbi Mendy Dubrowski of Chabad Chai of South Tampa and members of the Tampa City Council kicked off the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, Sunday at the Old City Hall, 315 E Kennedy, Blvd., Tampa, with the annual lighting of the giant menorah.

The event also featured a gelt drop by Tampa Fire Rescue, a build-a-dreidel activity for kids, hot latkes and doughnuts.

“This year’s menorah lighting carries special significance, as society seeks to rise up from the terrible pandemic we’ve all suffered,” Dubrowski said. “Chanukah reminds us of the power light has to dispel darkness and the candle within each of us we must use to illuminate the world.”

Orlando Gudes, Tampa City Council chairman, took part in the menorah lighting on behalf of the city of Tampa.

“Chanukah in the city is a such a wonderful way to celebrate the festival of lights,” Gudes said. “We thank Chabad Chai and South Tampa and Chabad of Tampa Bay for making this special event possible for families across our wonderful community.”

Hanukkah runs through Dec. 6 this year.

Other celebrations include:

• Jewish Heritage Night will take place with the Tampa Bay Lightning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at Amalie Arena. There will be a pre-game menorah lighting at Ford Thunder Alley before the Lightning take on the St. Louis Blues, a kosher meal and collectible Lightning menorah pin. Click here.
• Chabad Chai will continue its celebration at Sparkman's Wharf Winter Wonderland, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Sunday, Dec. 5, starting at 6 p.m. There will be a giant menorah lighting, a menorah ice sculpture, hot latkes and doughnuts, chocolate gelt, a Hanukkah craft for the kids and a limited-edition Hanukkah beanie for the first 35 families. Click here.
• Congregation Schaarai, 3303 W. Swann Ave., will host a Hanukkah party for those in their 20s and 30s Dec. 2 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. featuring a latke bar, sufganiyot, Hanukkah-related activities, a raffle and the lighting of the menorah. Registration is required. Click here.
• Hanukkah on Ice will take place Dec. 5 from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. at Westfield Countryside mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Join Chabad of Pinellas County for ice skating, a menorah lighting, music, doughnuts, latkes, Hanukkah gelt and a Poppit dreidel fidget toy for kids. The event is free, but reservations are required. Click here.
• Enjoy the songs and dances of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and other holidays when the Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo, presents "Santa’s Holiday Review." Tickets are $8.50.
• Citrus Park Town Center, 8021 Citrus Park Town Center, Tampa, will celebrate Hanukkah through Dec. 6 with a menorah display in the west wing, provided by Young Israel of Tampa, the Bay Area's Center for Torah Judaism.

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) commemorates the defeat of the mighty Greek army by a band of poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, in the 2nd century, allowing the Jews to reclaim the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

When they sought to light the temple's menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days.

To commemorate these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah.

Synagogues throughout Tampa Bay will celebrate the occasion by lighting the menorah for each of the eight days of Hanukkah, special prayers and traditional foods.