Community Corner

Light Up the Holiday with Three Public Menorahs

Three public Menorah celebrations will illuminate University City and Chesterfield for Chanukah.

Chabad centers in St. Louis have announced Show-Me-Chanukah, a program designed to maximize awareness of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Chanukah. The program includes three Menorah displays throughout the region, with a public celebration at each on different nights of the holiday.

The displays and events aim to highlight the history and traditional observances of Chanukah, which begins this year after nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 8 and lasts for eight days.

The Market Pub House, located at 6655 Delmar Blvd., will be the site of the first public Menorah lighting, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. This event is sponsored by Chabad at Washington University. The program will include a Menorah lighting ceremony, live music and Chanukah Gelt (chocolate coins – a Chanukah tradition) for the children.

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Dignitaries will be on hand to offer Chanukah greetings.

At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, Chabad of Greater St. Louis will sponsor the kindling of the Tallest Menorah in Missouri, located at the Lazaroff Chabad Center, 8124 Delmar Blvd.

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The program will include a Menorah lighting Ceremony, hot latkes (fried potato pancakes – a Chanukah favorite) and Chanukah themed children’s crafts.

Finally, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, Chabad of Chesterfield will celebrate the kindling of a public Menorah at Chesterfield Mall on the first level at the entrance near Dillard's. The program will feature a Chanukah hunt, live music, doughnuts and a Menorah lighting ceremony.

“A little bit of light can dispel a great deal of darkness”, said Rabbi Yosef Landa, Chabad’s Regional Director. “Our goal is to introduce the light and warmth of the Chanukah lights to the entire community, and to brighten the lives of individuals, families and children, not only in their homes, but also in their public thoroughfares and places of business.”

About the Holiday

The festival of Chanukah (or Hanukkah) celebrates the ancient victory of the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish fighters, against their Greek Assyrian oppressors, in their struggle for religious freedom in the Land of Israel. In commemoration of these events, the Menorah is kindled on each night of Chanukah, with one light being added each night.

In contemporary America, Chanukah is a time for families to celebrate together by lighting a home ‘Menorah’ (candelabra), playing ‘Dreidel’ (a Chanukah top) and sharing holiday foods, including the traditional ‘Latkes’ (shallow fried potato pancakes).

Additional information on the history and observances of Chanukah may be obtained by visiting www.ShowMeChabad.com/Chanukah.

About Chabad

Chabad of Greater St. Louis, the regional headquarters of the global Chabad movement, offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. Local affiliate institutions include Chabad at Washington University, Chabad of Chesterfield and the Source Judaica.


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