Chabad Mid Hudson hosts Hanukkah celebration

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 12/21/22

On December 18, the first day of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yacov Borenstein, of the Chabad of the Mid Hudson Valley, held a small ceremony in honor of the season that lit the first part of a large Menorah in …

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Chabad Mid Hudson hosts Hanukkah celebration

Posted

On December 18, the first day of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yacov Borenstein, of the Chabad of the Mid Hudson Valley, held a small ceremony in honor of the season that lit the first part of a large Menorah in the middle of the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Rabbi Borenstein said they have been holding this ceremony, often called the Festival of Lights, since the Walkway opened in 2009.

“The message is to illuminate the world with a little goodness and kindness. A little candle that flickers brings in light, brings in warmth and we should all be able, with acts of goodness and kindness, to make this world a better place.”

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that is observed for 8 days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar – anytime from late November to late December. The festival of lights starts with one candle but each day another is lit on the Menorah.

Rabbi Borenstein said all peoples of all religions can join together, turning candles into torches.

“And what do we do with these torches, we illuminate and brighten the world,” he said.
On the first day of Hanukkah the center candle, called the Shammash, is lit first, followed by the candle on the far right of the Menorah. Each night another is lit until, by the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all are illuminated.