Have you ever seen a menorah made out of chocolate? How about one made out of balloons or seashells?
This year you can see a 6- to 7-foot-tall menorah made out of dreidels. How many dreidels, you ask? For now, that’s a secret. If you are the one who guesses how many dreidels of varying sizes have been carefully glued together to make a one-of-a-kind menorah, you will walk away with a special gift.
What is not a secret, and what everyone who participates will walk away with, however, is the gift of sharing in a special Menorah Lighting custom as part of the Chanukah celebration.
The Chabad Jewish Center of Newport Beach invites you to enjoy the Menorah Lighting at Fashion Island on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. outside of Atrium Court. Highlighting this year’s event will be a concert by the local group “Las Judeos Locos.”
“We want to make it fun, to bring the joy of the holiday, to share the message of Chanukah and the lights to everyone and to light up the world,” explained Chani Mintz. Chani is the director of the Chabad Hebrew School and leads all of the women’s groups and events. She is also the wife of Rabbi Reuven Mintz, who has been the rabbi of Chabad of Newport Beach for 10 years.
In October the Chabad moved to its present location in Corona del Mar, in the Newport Beach Indy building (also known as Port Plaza).
Chani explained that this year will be the tenth in which the Chabad has sponsored the Menorah Lighting at Fashion Island.
“We always have a huge turn out, it’s wonderful,” she said. “We welcome everyone. We’ll have fun arts and crafts, face painting, gifts, snacks and treats for the kids. We’re preparing for about 500, though we never know exactly how many to expect. Somehow every year we have enough, we don’t run out.”
The gifts not running out is reminiscent of the oil not running out nearly 2,200 years ago when only a small amount of oil was found to kindle the temple light after the Jews victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem’s Mount Moriah. There was only enough oil for a single day, but miraculously it burned for eight days. The Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV oppressed the Jews in Judea and tried to forbid them from their religious practices and from studying the Torah. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Jews fought valiantly for three years and reclaimed the temple.
Chanukah, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” commemorates the triumphs of those ancient Jewish heroes and is celebrated with blessings, games and festive foods. It starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts eight days and nights. This year it began at sundown on Dec. 1.
The lighting of the menorah is the most important Chanukah tradition. A menorah is a candelabra with nine branches; typically there are eight candles of the same height, one for each day of Chanukah. A taller ‘servant’ candle in the middle is used to light the others, and one additional candle is lit every evening of Chanukah while a special blessing is read.
The dreidel, a spinning top, is a favorite Chanukah toy that once served a very serious purpose. When the Greek oppressors outlawed Torah schools, the children had to study in the forests, posting a sentry to alert them to Greek patrols. When the alert came, the children hid their texts and began playing with dreidels. Today, playing with dreidels during Chanukah commemorates the courage of the heroic children.
Chani said that last year the menorah used at the Fashion Island Menorah Lighting was made out of seashells. Over the past years they have created menorahs out of chocolate, ice, balloons, canned food later given to needy families, legos, and seashells.
Gift giving is a very important part of the celebration. Each year those who come are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift, which will be given to needy children and children with special needs in the community.
“We have been collecting gifts for the giveaway.” Chani explained. “Most of our toys are donated by people in the community; we are so thankful to Jakks Pacific and others who very generously donate for needy children and children with specials needs. We make deliveries to orphanages, hospitals or to private homes of people in need.”
Last week I had the privilege of joining a women’s group at Chabad where we wrapped the donated gifts as Chani “unwrapped” the story of Chanukah. I was warmly welcomed and enjoyed learning about Jewish history, tradition, and eating delicious foods Chani prepared.
For information about the Menorah Lighting or about the Chabad Jewish Center of Newport Beach call (949) 721-9800 or visit www.JewishNewport.com
Cindy can be reached at cindy@newportbeachindy.com
