Community Corner
Where to Find Festival of Lights Celebrations in the Region
Menorah lightings and Hanukkah events are popping up throughout the area over the next eight days.
Starting at sundown Wednesday, Hanukkah is here! In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means "dedication."
The eight-day festival of lights is a Jewish observance commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of 165 BCE. Hanukkah (sometimes transliterated as Chanukah) is observed for eight nights and starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which usually coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar.
The occasion is observed by lighting a special candelabrum, the nine-branched menorah, with one additional light illuminated each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The lighting of the candles pays tribute to the lighting of Maccabees' lamp. The vessel had no oil, yet it stayed lit for eight days, the story goes, enabling the Jewish tribe to earn victory over their Syrian-Greek overlords.
The holiday includes presents, games, dancing, music, family and food. High on the list of Hanukkah favorites are potato pancakes or latkes, sufganiyot (aka jelly doughnuts) and apple fritters.
Here is a list of holiday observances in the area. If you know of others, please share them in the comments section below.
Wednesday, Nov. 27
East Hanover - Menorah Lighting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 411 Ridgedale Ave.
Hopatcong - Menorah Lighting, 6:30 p.m. at Borough Hall, 111 River Styx Road
Long Valley - 1st Night of Hanukkah Celebration, 5:30 p.m. at Andrea's Dining Room, 1 Fairmount Road. Event includes holiday music and a menorah lighting.
Thursday, Nov. 28
Morristown - Preschool Hanukkah Party, 9 a.m., Cheder Lubavitch, 226 Sussex Ave.
Sunday, Dec. 1
Boonton - Menorah Lighting, 5 p.m., 6 Gregory Drive
Chatham - Menorah Lighting, 7 p.m., Firehouse Plaza, Fairmount Avenue
Madison - Menorah Lighting, 5 p.m. at Kings Road Madison Train Station
Montville - Menorah Lighting, 6 p.m. at Municipal Building, 195 Changebridge Road
Wayne - "Chanukah Celebration," 3-5 p.m., Chabad Center, 194 Ratzer Road
Monday, Dec. 2
Morristown - The Hanukkah story, songs, and a menorah lighting with Rabbi Nesson and Cantor Yucht of the Morristown Jewish Center, 4 p.m., Shop Rite of Greater Morristown, 178 E. Hanover Ave.
Totowa - Hanukkah at the Home Depot, 5:30 p.m., Home Depot, 545 Route 46; a menorah lighting will be held, and kids can enjoy jelly doughnuts and learn to build their own menorahs out of wood
Randolph - Hanukkah Event and Lighting, 6:30 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 30 Calais Road
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Florham Park - Menorah Lighting, 6 p.m., The Gazebo, 111 Ridgedale Ave.
Jefferson - Menorah Lighting, 7 p.m. at the Municipal Complex, 1033 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong (attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of nonperishable food or toiletries for Jefferson Township pantries)
Parsippany - Menorah Lighting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1001 Parsippany Blvd.
Monday, Dec. 9
Morristown - Lunch with Latkes and Menorah Lighting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Morristown Jewish Center - Beit Yisrael, 177 Speedwell Ave., $25 per family; attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the Interfaith Food Pantry
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