Rain Doesn’t Dampen Festival

By Yehudah Obermeyer

I’ve attended many Chanukah Festivals in South Florida, but the 34th Annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, was to me, by far, the most memorable and enjoyable.

All day it was raining cats and dogs in South Florida. It never dawned upon me not to venture up the I95 to Gulfstream Park, for a Mega Chanukah Event that I have attended since 1980, with one exception when I had a Simcha out of town.

I am familiar with the staff and volunteers of Chabad of South Broward, so I knew, rain or shine, “The show will go on.”

What made this 34th Chanukah Festival most memorable, was the Chayus, the energy, the smiles on the faces of all the participants, and the self sacrifice of Avraham Fried and members from NY of his orchestra, and the YBO Band, who “gave it all they got”, laughing, singing, playing and even dancing in the rain.

There were never so many elected officials at a Chanukah Festival. The Mayors of Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Aventura, Broward County plus many of their fellow Commissioners. The Sheriff of Broward County and many of his staff. Members of the Florida Legislature. And the biggest surprise to the huge crowd in attendance was the participation of Florida Governor Rick Scott.

The Governor flew in especially for this Mega Chanukah Event, choosing to celebrate his birthday in South Florida at a Chanukah Festival that over the years has been graced by thousands of people.

Many local Jewish organizations, Synagogues and families have made it a habit not to schedule anything the night of the South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival.

That’s why I knew, driving up the 95, that there would be an overflowing crowd, and that the perhaps the wet weather wouldn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. How right I was, and how sweet it was.

Rabbi Abraham Korf, head Shliach to the State of Florida since 1960, honored as usual with lighting the first candle, danced the night away with the vigor and speed of a Yeshiva Bochur!

Avraham Fried, despite catching a cold in the rain, selflessly sang and danced in the rain, with Chassidishe warmth and humor that put the orchestra and Festival goers at ease, and made the night so memorable, so meaningful and so mesmerizing, the diehard hundreds who were dancing didn’t want the night to end.

Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, the Rebbe’s first Shliach to Broward County, since 1980, couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, so grateful that for one and a half hours the Festival was able to go on, because there was miraculously, a lull in the downpour that enabled the Festival to rock ‘n roll, the likes of which never was seen before.

Called by those who know him “the eternal optimist”, Rabbi Tennenhaus said that someone was so inspired that he pledged to cover the cost of the music and the star singer. When Rabbi Tennenhaus told this unsolicited donor , “one never knows which one Jew was inspired by a night like tonight,” the donor exclaimed, “I know which one Jew was inspired, I was this one Jew who was inspired! I’ve never seen anyone like this in my life.”

The Festival had it all: Rabbi Chazzan Yossi Lebovics singing the Brochos on the Menorah and Maoz Tzur, 800 children receiving Chanukah gelt and other goodies, Avraham Fried singing a classic Happy Birthday to the Governor, a stunning and glamorous venue at Gulfstream that is second to none, Chabad.org broadcasting the Festival around the world in High Definition, and a modern day miracle of Chanukah that the Festival not only went on, but proved to be the most moving and memorable Chanukah Festival in history.

Avraham Fried joyously agreed to come back in 2014, Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus, Festival coordinator, has put into motion the necessary steps that next year, the stage will be covered and the equipment protected, and most important, all Festival goers are anticipating the 35th Annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival to take place with Moshiach in Jerusalem.

Special thanks to all Festival organizers and volunteers, including Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus, Rabbi Mordy Feiner, Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, Rabbi Mendy Tennenhaus, Reb Aaron Shimon Kaufman and the students of the Chaya Aydel Seminary. Much gratitude to all sponsors, advertisers and donors, who helped this event , which costs over $100,000, once again make this Chanukah Festival the “highlight of the year” to so many men, women and children.

You can watch this historic Chanukah Festival right here, or by logging on to Jewish TV at Chabad.org. You can also contribute to the Festival when you watch the video.

Chabad of South Broward oversees 12 Chabad Centers in Broward County, and over 45 agencies from their Headquarters.

“This may have been the night the keyboard died, but most importantly, it was the night thousand of Neshomas came alive,” Rabbi Tennenhaus remarked. And what a night it was!