Village hosts first annual menorah lighting

Members of the Jewish community in Rockville Centre joined local rabbis and village officials on Wednesday, Dec. 21, for the first annual menorah lighting event on the Village Green.

Mayor Francis Murray and Trustees Emilio Grillo and Katie Conlon, joined Rabbi David Lerner and Cantor Alexandra Weiser of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, Rabbi Michael G. Cohen of Central Synagogue Beth Emeth, Rabbi Levi Gurkov from the Chabad of Oceanside, and several neighbors to celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah.

Rabbi Lerner said part of the holiday tradition, “pirsumei nisa,” means to publicize the miracle, which is why many families will light their menorahs in the window facing outward.

“We could go back thousands of years into his history to the miracle of the Maccabees, defeating the Greeks and having hope that we can overcome terrific odds,” Lerner said. “But there's an enduring miracle as well. The enduring miracle is light overcoming darkness. This idea that when we have good intentions, and when we do things, out of kindness, out of love with our hearts in it, that everything will eventually work out.”

Dominick Alesi with the RVC Electric Department helped light the menorah, after which, the Hebrew school students led the group in reciting prayers and Hanukkah songs.

James Avondet, chief of the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department, also stopped by with a special gift for Rabbi Lerner and Rabbi Cohen, who were officially appointed as chaplains of the department. They were both presented with their own honorary fire helmets.

Following the ceremony, everyone gathered inside the firehouse for potato latkes and jelly donuts.