By Sheli Atara Man
“It was great to be able to have a human connection this Chanukah even though it was socially distanced,” says Rachel Friedman, a law student at Brooklyn Law.
She added, “I normally spend Chanukah with family and friends, but because of Covid and the way finals were scheduled this year I was not able to. The Chanukah event let me spend at least part of the holiday with people instead of spending it alone in my apartment.”
This Chanukah, Chabad Lubavitch of Brooklyn Heights was working in overdrive with all sorts of programming that catered to the many genres of people that make up the community in Downtown Brooklyn. Although Corona quieted down many events, it did not affect the Chabad’s Chanukah festivities or Menorah Lighting events.
“People needed to feel the holiday warmth and a sense of normality and therefore we aspired to do more this year rather than less,” says Rabbi Yankel Raskin.
“We took Chanukah outdoors and put-up Menorahs in every corner possible so people can get inspired and join our Chanukah initiative,” he adds. “Our 30ft Menorah in memory of my great grandfather Jacob J. Hecht was safely mounted on the front of Brooklyn Supreme Court front gates and stood tall all eight days.”
We had a public Menorah lighting every night, which was also live on Zoom. Many people attended while keeping social distancing and having masks on. Each family stood on a social distance sticker made for the Chabad by Meshulam Rosenblat from Mr. Printing. Music was playing and hot Latkes were the item of the day on every night of the Menorah Lighting while minding all the Social distancing precautions.
The first night of Chanukah was honored by D.A. Eric Gonzalez, who started the ball rolling, by lighting the Shamash. D.A. Gonzales gave words of support and encouragement to those watching live and those who were present on the scene. Many sponsors helped bring this Public Menorah initiative to life, such as Benz fish, Raskin Reisers, Steve Cohen and associates, Sam Hauser, and Gary Gottleib.
Gan Menachem Kiddie Korner Preschool and Heights Hebrew School, both projects of the Chabad, joined the Menorah Lighting and other family live Zoom events like The Glow in the Dark Family Chanukah Party with Move it by Srula Chaiton and the Chanukah Drive-in, organized by the Brooklyn Chabad Houses. Other live Zoom events were geared for adults, such as the Mentalist Show with Ilan Smith, An extremely successful event with lots of happy viewers.
Another beautiful live event was Beyond the Flame, which broadcasted at the beginning of the holiday and featured the Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, artist Yitzchok Moully, rapper Nissim Black, food writer and blogger Chanie Appelbaum, Israeli former basketball player Tamir Goodman, Ckids Aviva Jablon, lecturer Rabbi YY Jacobson, and spiritual leader Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin.
Additionally, food packages were delivered to senior’s homes as part of the Chabad Stoop Soup program. Stoop Soup, a project of Gan Menachem Kiddie Korner Preschool, delivers food to seniors in Downtown Brooklyn and many of the preschool parents and community members from Congregation B’nai Avraham and the Chabad participate in this initiative. The list currently has about 45 seniors and keeps growing.
Deliveries go out on Fridays or the day before a holiday. Fresh donuts, latkes and Menorahs were added to all food deliveries on Chanukah. “It feels so good to bring someone a hot meal and the warmth of home, especially on Chanukah,” remarked one of the volunteers.
Burt Weissberger, one of the seniors enrolled in the program, calls periodically to thank Chabad and says, “It is a morale booster! When I get a care package I think of my youth. This week my package had a scarf in addition to food. I also received Bologna with my Challah and meal. I have not had Bologna in years and did not expect such a healthy item with hardly any preservatives. It made me so happy. Thank you for the minds behind this program.”
All deliveries during Covid-19 and currently are done with much caution, masks, and keeping social distancing.
Rabbi Yankel and Yael Raskin initiated an outdoor Menorah Lighting party at the Cobble Hill Park. A big Dreidel mascot present in the park for the children and fresh donuts with hot cocoa was served.
Children came over to see what the music is all about and stayed for the Menorah lighting with Rabbi Yankel and his family. The Menorah was lit by a community member, Charles Bender and his family. Everyone passing wished the Chabad team a happy Chanukah.
“It felt very positive this year,” said one of the community members. He remembers people being wary of approaching the park and this year it felt as if people were looking to have interactions with the community and just be around other people. “Corona changed us and made us aware of what is important.”
Meir Malinas, who was inside the dancing mascot dreidel, said he was so happy to see how happy people were when he approached them and how much more meaningful the event was because of that, the sense of unity was amazing like never before. Gan Menachem Kiddie Korner mom, Sharon Garson, came to the park with her daughter Lilah and said, “my daughter had a terrific time at the Chabad’s Chanukah party. She loved celebrating with songs and dancing in the park and of course, the hot cocoa was a special treat!”
Rabbi Eliyahu and Shaindy Raskin organized a block Chanukah party for their Tzedek Society, which services the young Law students of Brooklyn Law. The cold and wind did not stop Rabbi Eliyahu from mounting the lights on the Menorah and making sure the students feel what Chanukah is all about.
“I thought the event was a great way to safely engage members of the Brooklyn law Jewish community in a quick and fun way. I also loved that my mother got to attend, and she got to see the amazing community that I am proud to be part of,” said law school student Maxine Wiesenfeld about the event. “The event was intentionally outdoors and blocked off the street so there was ample room for a social-distant outdoor menorah lighting,” reported Rabbi Eliyahu Raskin.
Rabbi Eliyahu’s parents, Rabbi Aaron L. and Shternie Raskin, senior Shluchim of the Chabad Lubavitch of Brooklyn Heights, attended the event as well as Rabbi Yossi and Chaya Eliav, who are now the new Shluchim of Chabad of Pratt and Clinton Hill (HADAS).
Devora Leah Shernofsky, the event coordinator, said that she was amazed at how many students showed up and brought friends. Hot coffee sponsored by Cup of Joe’s was served as well as donuts from Gombos Bakery and World of Chantilly.
Rabbi Eliyahu concludes, “It was so incredible to bring light and joy to the students during these uncertain times. Our goal is to be a home away from home for the Jewish Students in the Brooklyn Area. However, due to the current situation, we cannot host a large group of students in our home, so we had to bring the Joy of Chanukah to our students right outside their dorm. The students were so happy to walk out onto the street and get some fresh coffee, donuts, and even take a menorah kit for their dorm room. We had police protection as well and everyone felt safe and enlightened.”
Devora Leah Shernofsky added that, “it’s such an honor to be working for the Chabad Law Students under Rabbi Eliyahu Raskin. This Chabad is full of such genuine people. The event was so beautiful to see it all unfold with our main mission of showing Jewish pride for the college students. The students felt very touched that they got to have a Chanukah party right outside of their apartment. Students took a break from their studying to enjoy fresh coffee and a donut to celebrate the holiday of light during these dark times.”
About 6 Menorahs were put up during all the days of Chanukah in various locations in Downtown Brooklyn to spread the miracle of Chanukah.
A Menorah was placed in front of Congregation B’nai Avraham brownstone building in Remsen street, another was placed by the promenade entrance, Cobble Hill Park, and other local sites, some were even in collaboration with other Chabad houses, like Chabad Air.
No matter where you were, there was a Menorah reminding you it is a special time. The Chabad Menorahs were functioning as lamplighters, a wake-up call to get out of the darkness instilled upon us with Covid-19 and onto the light, 8 days of cleansing into a miraculous victory.
The tallest of all was of course the 30ft Grand Menorah. Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin gave a moving Dvar Torah each night as the honorees lit the candles. This year Rabbi Raskin’s voice was heard inside the houses, inside hallways, and inside our hearts with the help of technology- live on Zoom. The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s legacy was apparent to all of us as we saw how the use of technology spread the Chanukah miracle inside our homes, our local parks, and communities. Covid-19 brought us physically apart but closer at heart, as was written on our social distancing sticker.
For more information, visit www.Heightschabad.com
