Chanukah Festival, More Menorah Lightings Planned In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights celebrated by the Jewish faith, started Sunday and will continue through Dec. 26. Alexandria will celebrate with the Chanukah Festival and continued menorah lightings.

Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington will hold the Chanukah Festival 6 p.m. Monday at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA. The festival, hosted by Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington, will include the lighting of a 6-foot Menorah by Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes. The community is invited to attend, but registration is required.

"It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition" said Rabbi Mordechai Newman, director of Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington, in a statement. "In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place."

Attendees will be served hot cocoa before the event. After the Menorah kindling, traditional Hanukkah foods, hot potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts, will be given to attendees for free.

"We want people to 'taste' the tradition," said Newman in a statement.

The event is outdoors, so attendees should dress accordingly.

In addition to the Chanukah Festival, Alexandria residents can attend menorah lightings each night of Hanukkah. The Del Ray community will light the menorah at 6:30 p.m. each night of Hanukkah at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Mount Vernon and Oxford Avenues. The Agudas Achim Congregation and Beth El Hebrew Congregation are helping to lead the event, which runs each night through Dec. 26.

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