Hanukkah celebrations abound in Bellmore-Merrick

Winter is right around the corner, and while a sudden onrush of freezing cold weather has brought an icy chill upon the Bellmore-Merrick area, it has done nothing to diminish the community’s joyous holiday spirit.

Hanukkah is officially here, and local congregations have found creative ways to celebrate.

The Chabad Center for Jewish life, which serves Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh, culminated its holiday celebrations with a Chanukah Wonderland festival in the clubhouse at the Merrick golf course last Sunday. The event was complete with doughnut decorating, latke eating, dreidel crafts and a candy menorah consisting of 3,100 jellybeans.

More than 500 people took part in the day’s events, and the jellybean menorah was lit by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Legislator Dave Denenberg and Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Angie Cullin.

Rabbi Shimon Kramer addressed participants by sharing his interpretation of the meaning of Hanukkah. “Within every one of us there is a small jug of pure, holy oil, our godly soul, the spark within us,” Kramer said. “That jug of pure, holy oil is our essence, is who we are. And although it may be small in quantity, it is a miraculous little jug, which can light up our lives and brighten up our daily experience with Jewishness and spirituality. As we share the warmth and light of Hanukkah with one another, let us be inspired to add more good deeds to our lives, allowing that inner spark within us to shine and illuminate our lives with godliness and goodness.” 

Shortly after, attendees joined Chabad’s fourth annual Menorah Car Parade. The parade made its way along Merrick Road toward Camman’s Pond, where participants lit an eight-foot menorah and ended the day’s festivities by singing and dancing.

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