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On December 22, over 200 residents of the Larchmont and Mamaroneck gathered together on the corner of Mamaroneck Avenue and Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, to watch the first light of Chanukah be kindled. The ceremony, organized by Chabad Rabbi Mendel Silberstein, featured the lighting of the 15 foot high Menorah with the aid of a fire truck. Hanukkah “Gelt” or chocolate coins dropped from the sky as an exciting LED Light Show took place. . Following the ceremony, the crowd went into the new Chabad Center on Mamaroneck Avenue and enjoyed a delicious buffet of traditional Hanukkah foods including latkes and donuts, while the children enjoyed creating their very own Hanukkah crafts.

 

 “The menorah serves as a symbol of Mamaroneck’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G d freely, openly, and with pride. This is true especially in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution,” said Rabbi Silberstein

 

Attendees of the Menorah Lighting felt pride in their Jewish heritage. Many brought their children along, stating how important such events are in their children’s education.

 

The Menorah lighting is part of the worldwide Hanukkah campaign, an initiative launched by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 1973. The campaign highlights and encourages the central theme of the holiday — publicizing the story of the Hanukkah miracle.

 

“The message of Hanukkah is the message of light,” added Rabbi Silberstein. “The nature of light is that it is always victorious over darkness. A small amount of light dispels a lot of darkness. Another act of goodness and kindness, another act of light, can make all the difference.”

 

Today, the unprecedented public display of Hanukkah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the American practice and awareness of the festival. Mamaroneck and Larchmont have 4 public menorahs erected. At the corner of Boston Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue, at Shop & Shop, at Constitution Park, and the corner of Palmer Ave and Weaver Street. These menorahs are a few out of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.