With Rise in Anti-Semitism, Larger Than Usual Crowds Exepcted

Chabad of Port Washington has been hosting the public menorah celebration in Port Washington for 28 years, but this year it will be celebrated by a record number of Jewish participants eager to stand together and face down growing anti-Semitism throughout the United States and the world, with an defiant dose of Jewish pride when the first night of Hanukkah commences on Sunday, Dec. 22.

The recent rise in hate speech and hate crimes nationwide, including deadly shootings in Jersey City, NJ, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Poway, Calif., has organizers preparing for their largest turnout ever to take a stand against hate in a show of Jewish pride and unity.

“Hanukkah is the celebration of light over darkness,” said Rabbi Shalom Paltiel who directs Chabad of Port Washington. “The darkness that we, as a nation, have been experiencing must be fought with light and goodness, and we are putting together our biggest program ever to show that we will not be intimidated by those who wish to scare us.”

The event will begin at 3:00 PM, with a performance by Cantor Shloimie Rabin who will lead the crowd in Gd abless America and songs of peace and prayer honoring the victims in Jersey City. Len Berman will serve as “Master of Ceremonies”, and programs for children, including a Mega Gelt-Drop!, with gracious assistance from the Port Washington Fire Department, nearly 3,000 chocolate coins will “rain” down on the gathered crowd, a fire juggler, complimentary latkes, doughnuts, coffee, generously provided by Starbucks, and other giveaways. Event themed scarves will be given to the first 200 participants.

The highlight—the lighting of the menorah—will follow with words of address by Congressman Tom Suozzi. He will also be given the honor of lighting the Shamash, the lighter candle. Dignitaries and local community leaders will be on hand to greet the crowd.

Laurie Radler is from Port Washington, who is planning to attend the public celebration for the first time despite her initial discomfort with expressing her Jewish identity so publicly and openly.

“They want us to be afraid—to fear proudly proclaiming our Jewish identity,” Radler said. “Usually, I light the menorah at home, privately, but with all the anti-Semitism we are witnessing around us, I’m going because I think this is the most effective thing we can do to fight evil. We need to be taking it head on.”

Since its inauguration, the 14-foot-tall menorah has become an iconic staple of Port Washington holiday scene, with the weeklong festival drawing crowds every night to celebrate with dignitaries, artists and members of the city’s wider population.

For more information, visit www.chabadpw.org or call 516-767-8672/516-322-4322.

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EVENT RECAP:

What: Menorah Lighting

Where: LIRR Port Washington, Main Street

When: Sunday, December 22 at 3 PM

ABOUT HANUKKAH

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins this year on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 22 and concludes the evening of Monday, Dec. 30. It commemorates the victory of a militarily weak Jewish people who defeated the Syrian Greeks who had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life and prohibit religious freedom. They also desecrated and defiled the Temple and the oils prepared for the lighting of the menorah, which was part of the daily service. Upon recapturing the Temple only one jar of undefiled oil was found, enough to burn for only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight. In commemoration, Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabrum known as a menorah. Today, people of all faiths consider the holiday a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness. Additional information about the Hanukkah holiday is available at www.chabadpw.org.

ABOUT THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION

Chabad of Port Washington offers Jewish education, outreach and social-service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, contact Rabbi Shalom Paltiel at 516-767-8672 or 516-322-4322 / rabbi@chabadpw.org or visit www.chabadpw.org.