By COLlive reporter
Photos by Britta Van Vranken
Over 500 people from all segments of the Jewish community in Southern Arizona participated in a first and largest Chanukah celebration of its kind on Sunday, December 2.
“Chanukah at the Zoo”, organized by Chabad Tucson at the 17-acre Reid Park Zoo, was a spectacular show of unity, warmth and light. Lots of light, as trees and railings were covered in light displays, animal-themed light sculptures, and thousands of LED bulbs in Chanukah shapes, such as dancing dreidels.
Although this was the first Chanukah event at the zoo, it was Chabad Tucson’s 30th annual public menorah lighting. The first was held in 1983 at El Presidio Park, located in downtown Tucson between City Hall and the Old County Courthouse.
Lighting the beeswax candles for the sixth night of Chanukah on the large menorah was Andrew Warsaw, who recently joined the upper ranks of Arizona Wildcat football as operations coordinator.
“Chanukah is a holiday that has something for all ages, and we wanted this community celebration to reflect that,” says Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Regional Director of Chabad Tucson, the Jewish outreach and education network in Southern Arizona.
To the sound of Jewish holiday music, participants explored the zoo to view some of the animals still awake at that hour, enjoyed holiday food and stopped by the many activity stations, such as the olive oil press workshop and the photo booth.
The event was coordinated by Shluchos Chanie Shemtov and Feigie Ceitlin, with the help of Goldie Shemtov, Mushkie Shemtov, Mushkee Sperlin and a group of dedicated volunteers.
“Chanukah at the Zoo was spectacular as advertised,” commented Dr. Dan Cucher. “My family and I filled up on jelly doughnuts, saw oil for the menorah pressed from olives for the first time, created sparkling dreidel art, and all in the company of our good friends, the tiger and the rhinoceros.”
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson, said it was symbolic that a Chanukah event was held at the zoo. “Elephants were central to ancient warfare and figured prominently in the war of the Syrian-Greeks against the Maccabees, the Jewish warriors,” he said.
Chanukah commemorates the victory of the Jews over their Assyrian Greek rulers in the mid-second century B.C.E. and the subsequent rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem.
A Mega Dreidel Game had young and old entering their estimation on how many dreidels were in a large clear lucite dreidel. The Zoo Xpress train took children for a ride, and the daring ones got to pet a snake and hedgehog.
Stephanie Hoffman, a special-ed teacher, attended with her husband and two children. “We’re already looking forward to next year,” she said. “Chanukah at the Zoo was a fantastic opportunity for our family to celebrate and enjoy the holiday, both as a family and as part of the Jewish community, all at the same time.”
Participants of all ages were encouraged to kindle their own candles on personal menorahs that were provided by Chabad. It was part of the city-wide Chanukah outreach activities, distributing free Menorah Kits in shopping malls, eateries, medical centers and schools.
Levi Shemtov, Mendel Gutnick, Mendel Spalter, Zevi Nussbaum and Boruch Sholom Zajac – yeshiva students from Los Angeles – traveled to Tucson to assist with the outreach work.
“Religious freedom was denied to the entire nation in the second century B.C.E.,” said Rabbi Shemtov. “The menorah we kindle is a symbol of our dedication to preserve the right and liberty of all people to worship G-d freely and with pride.”
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cute pics not every pic did i understand nice job
Go ceitlin’s
Cute tshirt design!
Chabad of Tucson
And u can’t forget levi shemtov and mendy Spalter
Mendel Gutnick Zevi Nussbaum and Boruch Sholom Zajac you guys are bosssss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! la rocks!
Feigie Ceitlin is awesome! amazing job!