Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Families from Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh will come together 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, brights together hundreds of attendees for an evening filled with joy, light, and togetherness.
The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. at the Merrick Gazebo for the 19th Annual Grand Menorah Lighting. Students from the Alan & Tatyana Forman JELC Preschool and the Chabad Hebrew School will captivate the audience with their special Hanukkah performances, while local dignitaries and community leaders participate in the lighting ceremony.
At 5:20 p.m., the Great Menorah Parade will set off from the gazebo, winding through the streets of Merrick as participants make their way to the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The parade will be filled with decorated vehicles, delighting spectators along the route.
Once at the Chabad Center, attendees will be treated to a warm and welcoming Kosher Hanukkah Chinese dinner at 5:30 p.m. The meal will be accompanied by traditional Hanukkah treats, including crispy latkes and sweet donuts, and activities for all ages. Guests can choose from three movie rooms tailored to adults, school-age children, and preschoolers or participate 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 highlighted the universal message of Hanukkah, 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 evening’s festivities are free, with a suggested donation of $18 per person for dinner. Event co-sponsorships, starting at $54, helps support the vibrant celebration. For more information about the Chabad Center for Jewish Life and its upcoming programs, contact the organization at (516) 833-3057 or visit ChabadJewishLife.org/Light.
The Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh has launched its annual year-end fundraising campaign, “Be a Match – Spark the Light,” with a goal of raising $300,000 in three days to support community initiatives.
The campaign kicked off on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. and ran through Dec. 19, offering the community an opportunity to come together to make a meaningful impact.
With the support of matching donors Alan and Tatyana Forman and Eliezer and Yetta Putter, every dollar contributed will be tripled, multiplying the impact of donations to support programs and services that strengthen the Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh community.
The money raised during the campaign will fund several vital initiatives.
It will support the construction of a new toddler playground at the Alan and Tatyana Forman JELC Preschool and Camp Gan Israel, providing a safe, engaging space for young children to develop physical and social skills. A modern space will be built to house the Bernard Pechter Kosher Food Pantry and the Cindy Knoll Circle of Hope Dress for Recovery program, offering a welcoming environment for those in need, along with a teacher’s lounge to support educators. Scholarships will be provided for Jewish education, ensuring more children can attend the Alan and Tatyana Forman JELC Preschool, Ckids After School Program, Chabad Hebrew School, and Camp Gan Israel of Merrick. Finally, funds will help expand programs that spread warmth, foster unity, and strengthen Jewish values, reaching even more individuals in the community.
“This campaign is about more than fundraising — it’s about sparking hope, joy, and compassion,” Kramer said. “Every contribution will create meaningful change, and thanks to our matching donors, it will be multiplied by three.”
