Lighting the Lights on a Cold Maplewood Night

"Last week it could've been 80 degrees. Tonight it's going to be 20," joked Rabbi Bogilmisky of the after he had led the annual menorah lighting at Ricalton Square. "Every year we get the windiest, coldest night!"

A few dozen hardy Jews—and friends—gathered around with local luminaries Mayor Vic De Luca, Vice Mayor Kathy Leventhal, Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta, Committeeman Jerry Ryan, manager Julie Doran, Jonah Zimiles from and the 's Alan Weiser. They sang the traditional prayers and then more popular holiday favorites including The Dreidel Song.

No-one was as excited about the ceremony as Jordan Purcell, a Maplewood Middle Schooler who took a shine to my camera and snapped some pictures for Patch (see below). Jordan was on hand with mom Dina and little brother Mitchell. Dina said her family belongs to Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange but they nonetheless come to Maplewood to enjoy the outdoor ceremony each year—despite the cold.