Bris Avrohom lit up the hearts and souls of 28 million of travelers in New York and New Jersey with 140 menorahs, and in the spirit of Chanukah one new candle was added each day. Full Story, Photos
In 1986 Bris Avrohom received a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (in honor of the 6th Annual Dinner of Bris Avrohom), to publicize the miracle of Chanukah and that the job of Bris Avrohom is to light up the darkness of the night in the spirit of Chanukah, by adding just one more candle each night.
Since then, Bris Avrohom has continued to add more and more Menorahs all over the Metropolitan area. This year with the darkness of the pandemic and with all the social distancing and masking guidelines we thank G-d managed to put up Menorahs whilst adhering to the Health Department protocols.
The rabbis and staff of Bris Avrohom began the menorah installations from the beginning of month of Kislev and thank G-d with cooperation from local authorities and their staff, they all worked tirelessly to ensure that the light of the Menorahs will be sparkling and the people will not miss the spirit of Chanukah.
More importantly, Elected Officials as well as CEO’s and Presidents of Corporations expressed their gratitude to Bris Avrohom and their own staff that were on the front lines ensuring the placement of the Menorahs.
The following is a few statements of appreciation and gratitude from various Elected Officials:
Mr. Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ, personally thanked Bris Avrohom “for lighting the Menorah at the World Trade Center Oculus, for spreading the light at multiple Port Authority locations as well as for lighting up the tunnels, that even at the beginning of the tunnel there is already a light shining.”
Mr. Kevin Corbett, President & CEO of NJ Transit: “By lighting the Menorah at Newark Penn Station the Menorah serves as a beacon of light for all the travelers on the New Jersey Transit Trains.”
Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy at the Menorah Lighting on Zoom with Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky expressed his appreciation to his long-time friend, “for being instrumental through working tirelessly that even this year a Menorah ceremony will still take place.”
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal standing at the Bris Avrohom 12ft menorah in Fair Lawn expressed his thanks and appreciation “towards the great vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe for publicizing the Menorahs stating that he is in awe reading the Rebbe’s biography.”
Hillside Chief of Police Vincent Ricciardi at the lighting of the 500lb ice Menorah in front of Bris Avrohom Center in Hillside, said, “even in a cold and dark night the lights of the menorah are bringing forth warmth and light.”
Bris Avrohom Rabbis gave out hundreds of packages of Chanukah kits, thousands of individually wrapped doughnuts, brochures, and Chanukah gelt to children throughout all 8 days of Chanukah.
Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky expressed their appreciation to all the staff of Bris Avrohom: Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, Mrs. Bella Chernishov, and Mrs. Mindy Tabaczynski.
Rabbi Kanelsky wished the community (that when our sages say Haneiros Hallalu – that the lights of Chanukah will never be extinguished), so to may the lights of Chanukah burn through the darkness of Golus and speed up the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. Wishing everybody a healthy and bright winter.
Bris Avrohom has curated a special selection of our most unique Menorah Lightings igniting a spark of light, hope, and faith to Millions of Jewish Hearts and Souls.
Congregation Shomrei Torah Ohel Yosef Yitzchok Bris Avrohom Center in Hillside with Mr. Danny & Jason Kahane
Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, & Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky
Cheder Yaldei Menachem with Mr. Danny Kahane, Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, and the Cheder children
World Trade Center Oculus PATH Train with Ms. Jessica Mills, Mrs. Clarelle Degraffe – GM of PATH, Mr. Rick Cotton - Executive Director of Port Authority NY/NJ, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and Mr. Ben Feldman (Chief of Staff to Port Authority Chairman O’Toole), and Port Authority Police – 140,000 VPD
Newark Penn Station (L-R): Kevin Corbett (President & CEO of New Jersey Transit), Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Moshe Kinderleher, & NJ Transit Staff – 65K VPD
Upper Level GWB over 1 Million VPD with Ken Sagrestano GM & the German & Gutkin Families – Sponsors
Lincoln Tunnel with 300K VPD – L-R: Rabbi Mendy Kanelsky, Hatzolah Members of Union City, Rabbi Boruch Lepkivker, Sponsor Mr,Yuri Libson, Gerard Lindenmeier (General Manager of Lincoln Tunnel), Mark Schaff (General Manager of Port Authority Bus Terminal), Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky
Outer Bridge Crossing with (L-R): Rabbi Mendy Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Sponsor Mikhail Kipnis and family, Bridge Management: Catherine Brittel and Donna Lebourne, and Captain Steven Yablonsky - 60,000 VPD
EWR Headquarters with (L-R): Mr. Frank Radics (far left), Rabbi Mendy Kanelsky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, sponsor Mr. Leon Roitberg, General Manager James Gill, and Sarah McKeon - Deputy General Manager
EWR Headquarters with (L-R): Mr. Frank Radics (far left), Rabbi Mendy Kanelsky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, sponsor Mr. Leon Roitberg, General Manager James Gill, and Sarah McKeon - Deputy General Manager
NJ State Homeland Security with Director Jared Maples and Deputy Director Andrew Campi
Goethals Bridge Eastbound: L-R: Rabbi Mendy Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Sponsor Mr. Tuvia Greisman of Modway, Bridge Management: Catherine Brittel and Donna Lebourne, and Captain Steven Yablonsky - 80,000 VPD
Phil Rizzutto Park with 15,000 VPD – L-R: Sponsor Felix Kanchik and Family (Livingston), Union County Manager Edward Oatman, Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados, Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai and Shterney Kanelsky, Union County Freeholder Angela Garretson, Union County Deputy Manager Amy Wagner, Union County Sheriff Pete Corvelli, Union City Councel Bruce Bergen (Far Right)
GWB Bus Terminal with Sponsor Abe & Rivky Lemmer – 40K VPD
EWR Terminal A with Manager Nadin Ibrahim & Sponsor Mrs. Chanie Hoffer - 25,000 VPD
Jersey City Hall with Mayor Steven Fulop, Sponsor Mr. Nir Eshed, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, & Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker
PATH Train Journal Sq. with GM Clarelle DeGraffe, Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, and Port Authority Police – 85,000 VPD
EWR Terminal B with Mr. Frank Radics, Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Sponsor Mr. Chaim Cillo, & ELAL Security Manager Mr. Ron Tal - 40,000 VPD
In front of the Hudson County Courthouse with County Executive Thomas DeGise, Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, and Attorney Michael Kaizer
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo with Elected Officials and Sponsor Mr. Bob Kuchner
In front of Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn with Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Mrs. Elke Zaltzman, Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, and Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky
LGA Terminal A & Hangar 7C with General Manager Tony Vero, Deputy General manager Christina Callahan, and staff – 20,000 VPD
23. City Hall of Elizabeth with (L-R): Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Mayor of Elizabeth Christian Bollwage, and Rabbi Dovid Wilansky
Bergen County Courthouse with Sheriff Anthony Cureton, sponsor Mr. Ronnie Stern, and Chaplain Itz Frankel
Morre-Tec Inds. RT 22 WB – 25,000 VPD - Sponsor Mr. Lenny Glass
Avenel Train Station with Mr. Alan Schall - 6K VPD
BA Ice Menorah with (L-R): Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Mr. Michael Miller, Hillside Chief of Police Vincent Ricciardi, Rabbi Mordechai & Shterney Kanelsky, Mrs. Chaya Kanelsky, & Mrs. Sarah Wilansky
Office of Senator Thomas Kean and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz
Garden State Pkwy Union Toll Plaza with Sponsors Bennish and Guigue Families – 35,000 VPD
Newark Airport Entrance with Mr. Frank Radics - 100,000 VPD
Bergen County Clerk John Hogan
Union County Manager’s Office with (L-R): Union County Sheriff Pete Corvelli, Union County Manager Edward Oatman, and Deputy Manager Amy Wagner
University Hospital in Newark, NJ with Dr. Shereef Elnahal President & CEO and Rabbi Dovid Wilansky
NPTC with Business Owners Mr. Leon and Mrs. Polina Roitburg
NY Penn Station with Rabbi Dovid & Rabbi Boruch Wilansky– 85,000 VPD
NJ Bayonne Marine Terminal with Manager Stephan Pezdek and Port Authority Employees
Bat Sheva Chaya Esther Mikvah with Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky
Bris Avrohom of Jersey City – Congregation Sons of Israel with Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker
NEW LGA Terminal B with LGA staff– 24,000 VPD
Union City Hall with Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky & Sponsors Mr. Lenny Glass and Mr. Aaron Kopstick – 7,000 VPD
Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City with Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Rabbi Yakov Krief, and Mall Security – 25,000 VPD
Jersey Gardens Mall with Rabbi Yakov Krief and Israeli Mall Salesmen – 40,000 VPD Linden City Hall
Linden City Hall with (L-R): Sponsor Mr. Gerald Bertram, Mayor Derek Armstead. Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, and Rabbi Joshua Hess
Secaucus Junction NJ Transit with Rabbi Dovid Wilansky and NJ Transit Employee – 45,000 VPD
Teterboro Airport with GM Maria Sheridan
Turtle Back Zoo with Essex County Executive Divincenzo, Zoo Employees and Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz form Chabad of West Orange – 15,00 VPD
EWR United Terminal C with Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky and Vinnie Dalbo – 25,000 VPD
Bayonne Bridge with Port Authority Staten Island Crossing Officials
City Hall of Orange with Rabbi Dovid Wilansky and Sponsor Emanuel Klein & Family
Office of Union County Sheriff Pete Corvelli
Cheder Yaldei Menachem with Hillside Fire Engine
Cheder Yaldei Menachem learns about Chanukah
Lincoln Park of Jersey City with Rabbi Boruch Lepkivker – 50,000 VPD
42nd Street Bus Terminal with GM Mark Schaff – 240,000 VPD
Fair Lawn City Hall with Rabbi Avrohom Engel, Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, & Mayor Kurt Peluso
New Jersey Turnpike Exit 13 & Exit 13A with Rabbi Dovid Wilansky – 80,000 VPD
Auto Holding RT 22 WB -25,000 VPD – Sponsor Mr. Anatoly Rybner
Elmora Ave Triangle Square Sponsored by Absolute Plumbing – 15,000 VPD
Mana Fine Art, Jersey City with Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Mr. Nir Eshed, and Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky
Moishes Moving – 12FT Menorah overlooking the Holland Tunnel, NYC Bound
Radburn Station in Fair Lawn, NJ with Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman
BTSS Company in Brooklyn with Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky and Business owners Mr. Gene Slavin and Mr. Anatoly Tobiyash
Shoprite of Elizabeth, NJ with Rabbi Dovid & Mrs. Sarah Wilansky
Trenton Train Station with Rabbi Mordechai and Mendy Kanelsky and Station Staff
Valley National Bank with Richard Bhagwandass, Assistant Branch Manager
G&A Commercial Seating with (L-R): Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Mr. Yuri Libson, and Mr. Felix and Mrs. Lina Kanchik
Office of Assemblyman Jamel Holley
L&M Art Gallery with Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky and Mike Sorotkin
Bayway Liquor with Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky and Jo the Manager
Parkwood Auto Mall in Elmwood Park with Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and Vadim Chipovitsky and Steven Chipovitsky
Turtle Back Zoo Marina with sponsor Mr. Michael Edelman
George Washington Bridge Headquarters with the German, Lemmer, and Gutkin Families
Wow such amazing work