Westport Menorah Lighting Begins Friday

The eight-day holiday of Chanukah begins Friday night and will be observed by the Jewish community throughout the area.

Also referred to as the Festival of Lights, Chanukah is a commemoration of two miracles that occurred in 165 B.C.:

The first is the military victory of the Maccabees, the small, ill-equipped Jewish army, over the mighty Greek Syrians, who had banned the Jewish religion and desecrated the Jewish temple.

The second is the miracle that one small container of consecrated oil  burned for eight days in the temple's menorah, when it was expected to last for one mere day.

Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht, spiritual leader of Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk, and Rabbi Levi Stone of The Schneerson Center for Jewish Life, based in Westport, will host a holiday celebration in Westport at 7 p.m. Monday.

The family-friendly event, now in its fifth year, will feature a giant outdoor menorah lighting at the Compo Acres Shopping Center at 333 Post Road West in front of Wachovia Bank. The celebration will include live music, hot latkes, Chanukah gelt and dreidels. The menorah will be displayed from Dec. 11- Dec. 19.

The Westport menorah lighting has become an anticipated event, Hecht said. "Every year, this event attracts more interest. The menorah is placed in a highly visible, yet quiet, location. People have come to expect it and look forward to it. When we started doing this five years ago, people would  say, 'Hey, look, there's a menorah.' Now, they say, 'Where is the menorah?'"

Hecht and Stone also will oversee menorah lightings, followed by food and festivities, at nearby locations. Lightings are scheduled for Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Weston Shopping Center, 190 Weston Road, and Monday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m. at Stew Leonard's of Norwalk and at 6 p.m. at Wilton Town Green.

The tradition of lighting menorahs within the community began in 1992, according to Hecht. "Many people thought it was time for a large public menorah lighting celebration, which Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk was already doing since 1986 on a smaller scale on the front lawn of its building on King Street," he explained.

"Stew Leonard's wanted to do something for the many people of Jewish heritage who visit the store. Stew Jr. and Stew Sr. and I had conversations on how best to do this celebration, and we discussed the design of the Stew Leonard Public Menorah and how it would be lit each evening of the eight days of Chanukah," he said. "We began having menorah lightings at Stew Leonard's 17 years ago."

Once the public ceremonies got under way, there was a genuine interest from area communities to publically acknowledge the holiday, Hecht points out.

"Over the years we have had first selectmen and mayors as well as congressman participate in these celebrations and  this has become a defining moment for hundreds of people of all backgrounds and traditions to participate with children and to hear our local elected officials extend greetings for a happy Chanukah and holiday to the greater community," said Hecht.

Live music, refreshments and dancing add to the joy of the celebration. "This is simply celebrating our religious freedom  really gives so many in mid Fairfield County occasion to participate and enjoy this happy time with family and friends," Hecht said.

For information on the menorah lightings, call (203) 635-4118  or ll 203-866-0534.

According to organizers, the menorah lightings are dedicated in loving memory of Rabbi Gavriel Noach and his wife, Rivka Holtzberg, who were murdered in the 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks. The couple, who were born in Israel and  resided in Brooklyn, N.Y., were found slain, along with three other hostages, at a Jewish center in Mumbia, India, November 2008.

Additional Holiday Celebrations

On Dec. 13, two additional Chanukah celebrations will take place at Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk, 40 King St., on the Norwalk-Westport border.

A Chanukah Chocolate Factory takes place 11 a.m. to noon. The Chocolate Factory will feature chocolate-candy-making activities and snacks, Chanukah crafts, sand art, doughnut making and decorating and traditional hot sizzling potato Latkes. The program is open to the entire community. 

 An open house of the Hebrew School also will be offered. The Hebrew School is accepting registration for its new semester which begins on Sunday, Jan.  3, 2010. 

The Circle of Friends/Yachad Connecticut will offer a Chanukah Extravaganza from 2-4 p.m. The afternoon will feature chocolate-candy-making activities and snacks, Chanukah crafts, sand art, doughnut making and decorating and traditional potato latkes. There will also be music and movement during the program.

The Circle of Friends is an all-volunteer organization that reaches out to families with children and teens with special needs and involves them in a full spectrum of social experiences, home visits and play dates.

A special attraction will be a performance by comedian and puppeteer Marc Weiner, who created and hosted the popular daily children's show Nickelodeon Weinerville, which ran on Nickelodeon from 1993-1996.

Families and friends are invited to join the event at 3:45 p.m. for a menorah lighting and refreshments. 

The cost is $5 per child. For more information on The Circle of Friends or to volunteer, call Freida Hecht or Susan Robison at 203-866-0534 or e-mail friendship@snet.net.

YACHAD-Circle of Friends is the Connecticut affiliate of YACHAD/NJCD and is a beneficiary of UJA Federation of Westport, Weston, Wilton and Norwalk.

For more information, call 203-866-0534 or e-mail bethisraelct@gmail.com