Light the Menorah, Hanukkah Is Here

Two words best describe the second annual held at Wednesday night: diverse and joyful.

A crowd of about 100 people representing Jews of varying traditions, township officials and ecumenical gentiles gathered to see Parsippany resident Joseph Raich set a giant candelabra alight in observance of the Festival of Lights. 

The event was largely organized by the Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey, which holds menorah lightings in different parts of the region on each of Hanukkah's eight nights. Also involved in the planning were the Office of Mayor James Barberio and Parsippany's Jewish faith communities, ,  and , led respectively by Rabbis Ronald Kaplan, Mark Biller and Shalom D. Lubin.

A highlight of the event was a performance by the Temple Beth Am Children's Choir.

Chabad's Rabbi Mordechai Baumgartner praised the township for embracing its Jewish community and placing the giant menorah in such a visible place: on the municipal building's grounds in plain view of busy Route 46.

Barberio, wearing a yarmulke belonging to his "Jewish father," former Mayor Joseph Weisberg, said the event showed that Parsippany is united by faith and hope to "celebrate religious freedom" and demonstrate "tolerance and respect" for all.

Barberio thanked the local Jewish community for lending a hand during the Irene crisis and during the October surprise snowstorm.

"That the mayor and the Town Council and non-Jewish neighbors attend is very meaningful," said Rabbi Lubin of Shaya Ahavat Torah.

Temple Beth Am's Rabbi Kaplan said the partnership that put together the menorah lighting represents another partnership.

"Light was created by God, but the candle requires our participation," he said. 

Rabbi Asher Herson, regional director of the Chabad Center, said that the light of the menorah represents something deep within each human being.

"Each of us is a walking menorah," he said. "In dark times, do an act of light and the darkness will dissipate."