Menorah Fire Truck Parade

The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, in conjunction with Chabad of Upper Montgomery County, paraded through Gaithersburg, Maryland, with a four foot Menorah perched on the front of Rescue Engine 33.

The parade drove throughout town, handing out dreidels and chocolate Chanukah Gelt.

“Chanukah is the Festival of Lights,” remarked Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum of Chabad, and who is also the Chaplain at the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. “This is a wonderful way of spreading the light and joy of the holiday.”

At seven locations throughout Gaithersburg, crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the fire truck parade. Each stop was met with parents and children eager to see the fire trucks. The parade also made a stop at Chabad’s Chanukah Wonderland, a two week center of holiday activities.

There were over 700 people throughout the six stops. As the trucks pulled up to each stop Rabbi Tenenbaum handed out Chanukah Gelt and Dreidles, while bochurim from the Yeshiva in Baltimore danced in the streets and juggled fire.

The parade ended at the Chabad Center on Route 28 where Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett lit the Shamash of Chabad’s nine foot outdoor Menorah and Rabbi Sholom Raichik, Director of Chabad of Upper Montgomery County, lit the Menorah.

Following the Menorah lighting there was a Chanukah party and the crowd of over 150 people ate the traditional Latkes and Jelly Doughnuts.

Rabbi Sholom Raichik then presented Mr. Leggett with a painting.

The parade was arranged in part by Eric Bernard, president of the Fire Dept. and Lenny Chornock, Deputy Fire Chief.