By John Kriz
Celebration at the Library
The community celebrations of Hanukkah kicked off on Sunday afternoon with New Canaan Library www.newcanaanlibrary.org, in partnership with the Chabad New Canaan Jewish Center www.newcanaanjewish.org and the New Canaan Jewish Group, hosting a ‘Celebrate & Learn’ event in the library’s Jim & Dede Bartlett Auditorium, with families enjoying games, crafts and tasty seasonal treats.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate this beautiful holiday,” said Rabbi Levi Mendelow of Chabad New Canaan, noting that New Canaan Library is truly a place for everyone in the community.
Among the activities of the many dozens of people attending, about half of whom were children, were ring toss around large candles, making dreidels from clay, and constructing colorful paper menorahs. Another project was making illuminated menorahs of paper, small LED bulbs, wafer batteries and some conducting tape.
Hot latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil) and sufganiyot (fried jelly donuts) were also on hand – traditional Hanukkah food.
The United Jewish Federation was also there, distributing free children’s books on Jewish culture and traditions.
Rabbi Mendelow noted the “terribly horrific and heartbreaking news” of the terrorist murders of and injuries to many Jews at Bondi Beach in Australia who were celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
“One of the themes of Hanukkah is the power of light to vanish darkness from the world,” stressed Rabbi Mendelow. ”The only way to combat darkness is by lighting a candle, by bringing light into the world. And so this Hanukkah, when the world feels a little darker, we know that the holiday itself teaches us about the importance of light.”
God’s Acre Menorah
Another wonderful part of the New Canaan tradition
