Five Towns Chabad celebrates Hanukkah in Cedarhurst

A warmer than usual December night, the fourth night of Hanukkah, enveloped the intimate crowd at Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park where the Chabad of the Five Towns lights the grand menorah all eight days of the Jewish holiday. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

The first night of December also included a drive-in concert at North Woodmere Park sponsored by the Town of Hempstead and supported by Supervisor Don Clavin. More than 1,500 people were attendance, said Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, who leads the Cedarhurst-based Chabad.

Cedarhurst Mayor Benjamin Weinstock lit the grand menorah and Wolowik thanked the village for its support. “The village has been a role model to all surrounding communities, today we have in the Five Towns 10 public menorahs and it all started right here,” Wolowik said, noting the legacy of former Mayor Andrew Parise, who the park is named for, said that “my power is saying yes.”