Chabad of Cape Ann To Light Up Some of the 15,000 Public Menorahs Worldwide, Symbolizing Universal Message of Religious FreedomÂ
In what has become an annual tradition, Chabad will ignite a public 9-foot Chanukah menorah erected in Downtown Rockport, followed by a community-wide celebration on Thursday, December 7th, the 1st night of the eight-day holiday. The menorah lighting ceremony will include music, Chanukah themed refreshments, such as latkes and doughnuts and children’s activities. Additionally, what started last year and became an annual tradition, there will be a Public Menorah Lighting in Downtown Ipswich followed by a Chanukah party on Sunday, December 10th at 5:00PM.
In keeping with the spirit of Chanukah of always adding light, and the stronger the darkness the more light needs to be added, this year there will be a Public Chanukah celebration and Menorah Lighting in Hamilton – Wenham on Monday, December 11th at The Community House.
The public Chanukah celebration is being heralded as a response to the worrisome rise in antisemitic rhetoric online and elsewhere.
“Our response to hatred of any kind must never be to cower or hide our faith,” said Rabbi Avremi Raichik, who directs the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Cape Ann along with his wife Rivky. “The message of Chanukah is the message of light,” . We can have no better response to negativity than to gather together in even greater numbers and celebrate the light of the menorah in public.
“The menorah serves as a symbol of our ability 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,”
The Menorah lighting is part of the worldwide Chanukah 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 Chanukah miracle.
Today, the unprecedented public display of Chanukah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the American practice and awareness of the festival. Cape Ann’s menorahs are some 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
Throughout the North Shore, Chabad will be presenting dozens of Chanukah events and celebrations. For more details visit Northshorechanukah.com
For more information about Chanukah and a local schedule of events visit Chabadcapeann.com/chanukah
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