10th Lights Shine Even Brighter on The Jerusalem Avenue

Photo/video credits: Dovid Mendelson, Mendi Hechtman, Chaim Tuito, Naomi Retbi

It was to be the 10th year of annual festive Chanuka lightings in Mamilla Avenue since Rabbi Eli and Chana Canterman, Shluchim to Talbieh- Mamilla in Jerusalem, commissioned the magnificent Menorah that adorns the entrance to the Mamilla Avenue Mall for the 8 days of Chanuka. (See “What Changed the Curator’s Mind” reported on COLlive for the full history).

These public Menorah Lightings have become one of the festivities that Jerusalemites and tourists pencil into their calendar yearly.

Unalarmed by the challenges, be they force 8 storms or parallel events happening in the city, project Light Up Mamilla enchants the streets of Central Jerusalem.

And then, Covid-19 hit…

“We understood, as Chanuka 2020 was around the corner, that this year would be an exception. It was impossible for us to safely organize nightly lightings that had in the past, attracted numbers in the thousands. On the other hand, it was painful to think of the light that had emanated from this ‘Rebbe’s Menorah on Mamilla’ dimming in the year people need it most,” says Rabbi Eli Canterman.

Yet, the Menorah had undergone three months of refurbishment and renewal (after enduring nine years of wear and tear each Chanuka when it stands exposed to the outdoor inclement weather)…and stood ready and waiting.

Then a call came from the Mamilla administration.

Kobi and Chana Barzilai, the directors of Mamilla Mall were on the phone. “We cannot bear to forgo the light of our Chabad Menorah on the Avenue this 10th year. Let’s meet and see how we can make the festival happen safely.”

In total disbelief, the Shluchim joined the meeting.

Kobi felt it would be safe to have dignitaries light the Menorah nightly with a handful of representatives of the groups being honored each night. The challenge was the music – which was certainly the cause for huge gatherings every year.

“We cannot stop the music!” Kobi insisted. “I will personally approach one of the owners of a rooftop shop on the Avenue and if all goes well, we will broadcast the musical performances each night from there, not just to Jerusalem homes but to Jewish homes around the world.”

“I was stunned, this was ‘Shliach Oseh Shliach’ before my eyes,” Rabbi Canterman told COLlive. “Kobi was miraculously, now the one propelling the entire event forward, to reality. The Rebbe’s Menorah had intrinsically become their Menorah too, and hearing this was a moving moment.”

And so it was. From there, all the preparations- involving many logistics – broadcasting lightings live from the Avenue and then Livestreaming concerts from the rooftop, just raced ahead.

“For ten years, we produced events with no help at all from the municipality. This year, an extra blessing sprung forth and the Jerusalem Municipality, with Chabad representative Rabbi Ya’akov Halperin at its helm, facilitated a permit for one of the sole, live Menorah Lightings to go ahead, in keeping with all safety regulations. They further participated in the production of the events to create truly memorable evenings,” Chana Canterman said.

Project אור מוסיף והולך took off on full volume, each and every night with its planned theme and thought out meaning.

Honored groups included: Israel’s Soldiers, People with Special Needs- who lit with Mr. Rami Levy, 5 Outstanding Young Lights, Families of Victims of Terror (the Mark and Ettinger families who lit with Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon were warmly introduced by Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov and Shira Mark spoke with bitachon and a strength that left many inspired), Medical Personnel Dr Yechezkel Caine, CEO of the Herzog Medical Center and Dr Daniel Fink, head of Thoracic Surgery at Shaarei Zedek Medical Center and Olim from around the globe.

The performers shone brighter than ever as they sung with heart and soul, live on Mamilla’s rooftop with breathtaking views of the old city as their natural backdrop.

From Shmuel Dahan to Chazzan Dovid Caytak, the legendary Avi Piamenta and his band, Israel Music School Singers, Chaim Zippel and Itay Turgeman led by musician Leibele Lipsker, Rami Kleinstein, The Solomon Brothers, and an online concert with 8th Day Singers.

Their singing reached way beyond the live stream cameras, and lit up the spirits of many thousands of souls needing joy specifically at this time.

Singer Rami Kleinstein gave a most rousing performance produced by Tzvaim productions, for the 2 families representing victims of terror. He even created a ‘Kleinstein Niggun Novelty’ – as he performed the famous Chabad Keili Ata and Vaharikosi Lachem Bracha for the overjoyed families and online viewers.

“Yes, this year was truly an exception,” concluded Liat Fererro, an Italian member of the Chabad Talbiya – Mamilla community.”Yet surprisingly, in a most positive way. Jerusalem shone ever brighter and further, uniting thousands of Jewish people with the ever-increasing lights of Chanuka in the holy city of Jerusalem.”

Chabad of Talbiya – Mamilla extends heartfelt thanks to the Fogel, Glowinsky, Greenfield, Kaufman, Rutstein, Hayman, Herzog and Smetana families for so generously helping project Light Up Mamilla to continue to shine.

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