Lighting Up Miami’s Lincoln Road

It was a very busy Chanukah on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, one of the hottest tourist destinations in the city.

Every night of Chanukah a grand menorah lighting was held, attended by very large crowds drawing together Jews from around the globe.

Rabbi Zev Katz, the Shliach at Chabad house in Miami Beach, started with humble beginnings operating with a Mitzva tank.

Some 15 years ago he created a community, as a result of meeting Jews on Lincoln Road. In time, this grew into a full time Chabad house at the back of Lincoln Road.

On Sunday night, the 6th night of Chanukah, over 500 people participated in the lighting of their now-famous seashell Menorah.

The famed lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz lit the Menorah, who also told the story of how Rabbi Katz put a mezuzah on the door of his new condo near Lincoln Road, and as “payment” he agreed to give one free lecture at the Chabad house every winter.

The children enjoyed the opportunity to spin the giant seashell dreidel made of 35,000 sea shells created by Roger Abramson and recently featured in the international news.

On another night, known movie director Mr. Brett Ratner lit the Menorah. Ratner, who is a Miami native, attended a Jewish day school in Miami and has been a friend and a supporter of Rabbi Zev Katz since meeting him on Lincoln Road 13 years ago.

On Friday night Chanukah over 150 young professionals joined Chabad of South Beach for a special Shabbat dinner with Ratner and an inspiring talk by Rabbi Yitzchok Sufrin of London. Ratner gave an emotional and moving talk and Rabbi Sufrin related a timely Chanukah lesson.