Monday, January 20, 2025
Families from Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh gathered on Dec. 25 to celebrate Hanukkah in a lively and heartwarming event hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The Hanukkah Experience, a cherished community tradition, brought together hundreds of attendees for an evening filled with joy, light, and togetherness.
The festivities began at 5 p.m. at the Merrick Gazebo with the 19th Annual Grand Menorah Lighting. Students from the Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center Preschool and the Chabad Hebrew School captivated the audience with their special Hanukkah performances.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman was part of this year’s menorah lighting ceremony, as was Alan Forman and Eliezer Putter, both longtime Chabad supporters, who were donation matchers in the Chabad’s end-of-year campaign which raised over $400,000. Forman and Putter were both honored and thanked during the menorah lighting.
At 5:20 p.m., the Great Menorah Parade set off from the gazebo, winding through the streets of Merrick as participants made their way to the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The parade featured decorated vehicles that delighted spectators along the route.
Once at the Chabad Center, attendees enjoyed a warm and welcoming Kosher Hanukkah Chinese dinner at 5:30 p.m. The meal included traditional Hanukkah treats such as crispy latkes and sweet donuts. Activities for all ages followed, with guests choosing between three movie rooms tailored to adults, school-age children, and preschoolers, or participating in creative Hanukkah crafts.
“Hanukkah is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition,” Rabbi Shimon Kramer, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, said. “In ancient times, our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. This year, through the Hanukkah Experience, we hope to rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place. We are thrilled to share the light and joy of Hanukkah with the community through parades, performances, and meaningful gatherings.”
Kramer also emphasized Hanukkah’s universal message, which transcends faith and culture: The triumph of good over evil, freedom over oppression, and light over darkness. As part of Chabad’s global Hanukkah outreach initiative, the Merrick celebration joined thousands of similar events organized worldwide — from major cities like New York and Hong Kong to remote areas in Africa and South America.
“Now more than ever, coming together as a community is essential,” Kramer said. “Our event is warm, friendly, and open to all, with no synagogue membership or affiliation required. We are proud to offer a space where everyone can feel included in the spirit of the holiday.”
The parade and experience was a joyful occasion that celebrated tradition, unity, and the power of community, leaving attendees with memories to cherish and the promise of light in the year ahead.
