DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTO
“I have to say, this year we have not only the biggest but the most beautiful crowd we’ve ever had, and the nicest weather as well.”
So exclaimed Rabbi Yossi Hodakov of Chabad Jewish Center of Westville, as a crowd came together Tuesday night to celebrate the start of Channukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, with the traditional lighting of the menorah — and something more.
Emblazoned on Rabbi Hodakov’s shirt during this eighth annual Channukah celebration, cosponsored by Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA), was the phrase “Just Add Light,” a theme that was taken literally with a fire show by Lady Blaze and Jumpin’ Joe of LBSpinnerz Artz.
The blazing act included fire eating…
a variety of spinning…
juggling…
and dance routines.
Before kindling the menorah’s first light, Rabbi Hodakov explained the miracle of Channukah as a celebration of “the victory of the few over many, of the weak over the mighty, and more importantly, the righteous over the wicked.” Hodakov’s message pointed to the multiplier effect of each person doing good in a troubled world.
The menorah’s lighting was celebrated afterward with the singing of the blessing, and a medley of upbeat Channukah songs led by Rabbi Hodakov.
Nearby a long table was set with traditional Channukah goodies, including menorah kits, dreidels, chocolate gelt (coins) warm cider, and hot latkes (potato pancakes) and calendars.
On Wednesday, the second night of Channukah, celebrants gathered at the Donald Mitchell Public Library in Westville for refreshments, Channukah stories, and construction of a giant menorah led by Hodakov and volunteers.
The functioning candelabra portion of the menorah, already assembled when guests arrived, needed a base. That was created with hundreds of Lego bricks provided by the library and Marilou Oh of Bricks4kidz, a STEM-based enrichment program. It was assembled by several dozen very focused Lego architects.
After assembling the base, the second night of Channukah was celebrated with the lighting, singing of the blessings, and distribution of gifts: a giant dreidel filled with toys and wonderfully illustrated children’s books by the late author-illustrator Kate Duke of Westville.
Duke’s husband Sidney Harris, a cartoon illustrator for The New Yorker and other national publications, helped distribute the books in memory of his late wife.
With many hands, the menorah was complete, a perfect metaphor for the festival and its meaning.
The rabbi’s message to all gathered was simple and to the point: “Every bit of light expels much darkness. We need to constantly increase the light.”