While Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, may be a bit different this year due to the pandemic, the lights will shine forth as brightly as ever. Chabad of Orange County, headed by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, is hosting a variety of events – outdoors in-safety as well as virtually from the safety of one’s home.
Chanukah begins this year on Thurs. evening, Dec. 10 and concludes the evening of Fri., Dec. 18. The events sponsored by Chabad are open to all.
Chanukah Light Live! (on Zoom)
On Thurs., Dec. 10 at 6 p.m., Chabad invites the community to light the menorah together on the first night of Chanukah. The virtual Zoom event will be a live interactive Menorah lighting ceremony with treats, songs, music and ventriloquist Chuck Field. Chabad is offering a free Chanukah Gift Bag to be enjoyed together on the Zoom. The bag will be filled with doughnuts, latkes, clay dreidel craft, chocolate coins, candy dreidel and more. This event (as well as the gifts bags) is free of charge. Gift bags will be available for pickup. To reserve a gift bag and a spot on the live Zoom event, visit www.ChabadOrange.com/zoom.
Drive-In Chanukah Experience
On Sun., Dec. 13 at 5 p.m., Chabad will hold a Drive-In Chanukah Experience. The event will offer an interactive Chanukah celebration and will include a Menorah lighting ceremony, a fire show and live concert by local teen Duvy Burston. hot latkes, fresh doughnuts (Chanukah traditions) as well as souvenirs brought to each car by dreidel mascot. This event is free of charge, but registration is required. COVID health guidelines will be followed. To register visit www.ChabadOrange.com/DriveIn.
Chanukah Resources
With many events curtailed and many people isolating, Chabad will help families bring the light and celebration of Chanukah into their homes with virtual and at-home resources. Families can pick a free box of candles at Chabad. Chabad’s got some menorahs, too.
Also, Chabad encourages the community to post photos of their Chanukah lights on social media with the hashtags #ShareTheLights and #ChabadOrangeLights. Each night of Chanukah, Chabad of Orange County will enter participants using both hashtags into a raffle for special Chanukah prizes.
For more information visit www.ChabadOrange.com/mychanukah; call 782-2770, or send an email to info@ChabadOrange.com.
Jonathan, 5, of Warwick, learns how to safely light the Menorah at Chabad Hebrew School.
