Menorah Parade Lights Up New York City

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Sholem Srugo, Menush Amit

A record large parade of 45 Mitzvah Tanks and 250 Car Menorahs drove around New York City Monday night, sharing the message and light of the holiday of Chanukah.

In these socially distanced and challenging times during COVID, the Parade took on new meaning, bringing joy and light to so many around the city.

The Mitzvah Tank Organization planned and strategized for this year’s Menorah Parade, adding extra precautions to keep everyone safe.

“We set out to make this year’s parade safe and successful, and thank G-d, we were able to accomplish that,” said Mordy Hirsch, parade director. “We were fortunate to be able to spread the light of Chanukah throughout the streets of New York City, uplifting thousands of people with the light and joy of Chanukah.”

“Thank you to Rabbi Laizer Avtzon for donating ten thousand masks for the Bochurim and people who enter tanks to wear,” Hirsch said.

Thanks to the efforts of Devorah Halberstam, honorary NYPD commissioner and community activist, an increased amount of NYPD Highway patrol cars were available to escort the parade. This in addition to a change in the parade route contributed to “the parade being much smoother this year,” said Moishe Schmukler, co-director of the Mitzva Tank Organization.

“The Mitzvah Tank Organization would like to thank each family that had a Menorah atop their car for participating in the annual Car Menorah Parade,” said Hirsch. “We also thank everyone who joined in the Rebbe’s call of Mivtzah Chanukah and persumei nisah.”

“The Mitzvah Tank Organization would like to thank our VIP’s who did a phenomenal job leading the parade through the streets of New York, as well as all the Mitzvah Tanks and tankistim,” Hirsch said.

The Mitzvah Tank Organization also thanked the NYPD Highway Patrol and the 71st Pct., especially Officer Mike Baratta and Officer Taisha Skyers for their assistance in making the parade possible, and for assistance with parking for the mitzvah tanks for the entire week of Chanukah.

The Mitzvah Tank Org. would like to thank all the Tankistim who dedicated themselves to make sure the Chanukah mitzvah tank project was a success.

“A Menorah Parade is the finest way to promote the Rebbe’s directives to bring the ‘light of Chanukah’ to as many people as possible,” said Rabbi Shmuel M Butman, director Lubavitch Youth Organization and Chairman of the Mitzvah Tanks.

“This years parade was dedicated to 2 very special people, Rabbi Chaim Meir Lieberman, who as a board member of Tzach always helped and played a vital role in all Mitzvah Tank Projects, and Hatomim Hakodosh Ari Halberstam whose love for the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim and Mitzvah Tanks was known and was the reason his friends made a special Tank Parade in honor of his 17th birthday,” organizers said.

“May we merit that this Chanukah we should all join in the greatest parade of all… to the Beis Hamikdosh now.”

Please give us your feedback and ideas at [email protected] or call the parade hotline at 718-804-0077 Ext. 129.

The Mitzvah Tank org would like to thank all the bochurim ho dedicated themselves to making sure the Chanukah mitzvah tank project was a success:
Chaim Levilev – command & control/ Project Director
Shmuly Shuchat – the man behind it all
Zalman Goodfriend and Tzvi Meir Spielman – Groups Dept
Yisroel B Abramowitz – ground control
Hershel Marozov –  drivers Dept. dispatch
Yisroel B Abramowitz and Ari Schmuckler – parade
Benzi Sudak – supplies Dept
Ari Schmuckler – schluchim Dept.
Zalman Goodfriend  and Tzvi Meir Spielman Ground control
Mendel Wilhelm – weekly tanks
The Mitzvah tank org is under the auspices of Lubavitch Youth Org.

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