The temperature in NY was in the 40’s and outside Brooklyn’s Prospect Park thousands gathered to rejoice at NY’s Largest Chanukah Celebration and Menorah Lighting.
The annual festivities, sponsored by Chabad of Park Slope, began with a brilliant concert featuring acclaimed Jewish artist Yehuda Green. The CEO of Investors Bank, Mr. Kevin Cummings distributed gifts to the children and was honored with lighting the Shamash Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah.
“From Pittsburgh to Poway to Jersey City they may try to destroy us, but this public Chanukah celebration shows them, and the rest of the world, that we will not budge,” said Rabbi Shimon Hecht, Director of Chabad in Park Slope. “We will continue to shine the light of Torah and illuminate this darkness”.
NY’s Senior Senator Chuck Schumer was honored with making the three brochos and lighting the first candle of the largest menorah. Proudly holding his granddaughter in his hands, he expressed his admiration for the event, commented on the overwhelming crowd size, and proclaimed that oppressive dictatorships must end.
Adding to the miracles of Chanukah, Paul, a Jew from Washington diagnosed with a terrible disease of the bone marrow who had his life saved through a bone marrow transplant, was introduced for the first-time to his donor, Ehud, from Queens. This life-saving match, transplant and meet-up was done through the remarkable work of Gift of Life.
Mrs. Susan Zaber who came from Manhattan Beach just to join the festivities commented, “The music was uplifting and the program so meaningful. This made my Chanukah.”
Hundreds of menorahs and candles were distributed with the assistance of local bochurim.
thank you Rabbi Hect for making a nice concert with yehuda green he was amazing i had a nice time