Festive Menorah lighting at town hall

Religious Thursday, January 2, 2020

There was dancing and celebration when a
menorah was lighted Dec. 23 in front of Miami Lakes town hall.
The ceremony was to mark the second night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Jews observe the holiday by lighting a candle over eight nights to remember how, in the second century B.C., a small amount of oil needed to light a temple in Jerusalem lasted eight nights.
It was considered a miracle, according to Chabad.org.
Special prayers are said and fried foods such as donuts and potato pancakes, or latkes are enjoyed as a reminder of the oil’s role in the miracle.
The traditions were part of the festivities in Miami Lakes, with a few modern twists.
From the bucket of one of their ladder trucks, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighters tossed chocolate coins covered in gold foil to the eager kids on the ground.
There was a dancing “dreidel man,” named for the wooden toy top that children spin, a DJ and candle-making activities for children.
Some of the guests wore lighted blue menorah headbands and holiday necklaces and bracelets.
Miami-Dade
Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr. (shown in photo at right, with Rabbi Mendel Weiss) spoke and helped light the menorah.
Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid made remarks, too.
Councilman Luis Collazo also attended.
Rabbi Weiss, of the Chabad Jewish Center in Miami Lakes, hosted the gathering with his wife, Tzippy Weiss and their children.--Linda Trischitta