Menorah Parade Lights Up New York City

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shimi Kutner

A record large parade of 35 Mitzvah Tanks and 250 Car Menorahs drove around New York City Monday night, sharing the message and light of Chanukah.

The Mitzvah Tank Organization, which began planning and strategizing for this year’s Menorah Parade months ago, was pleased with the great success of this year’s parade.

“We set out to make this year’s parade the largest and most successful ever, 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.”

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 all anash and their families 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 Detective First Grade Vinny Martinos, Officer Mike Baratta and Officer Taisha Skyers for their assistance in making the parade possible.

Special thanks to the newly appointed 71st Precinct Deputy Inspector Tito Romero for personally attending the Parade and ensuring that all went smoothly.

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.

Shmuli Shuchat Command and Control (the man behind it all)
Moshe Zalman Vorovitch – Groups Dept.
Y.B. Abramowitz – Ground Control
Dovid Gold – Drivers Dept./Supplies
Mendy & Yossi Hirsch – Menorah Parade Coordinators
Benzi Sudak – Supplies Dept.
Mendel Willhelm – Drivers/ Dispatch Dept.
Berel Fireshtain – Shluchim Dept.

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

The parade was organized by the Mitzvah Tank Organization, under the auspices of Lubavitch Youth Organization. “The Menorah Parade is a wonderful way of bringing the spirit of Chanukah and the light of Chanukah ‘to the people’ as the Rebbe wants,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director, Lubavitch Youth Organization and Chairman, Mitzvah Tanks Organization.

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