A crowd gathered at Chabad-Lubavitch of Berks County Wednesday night to celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah.
The goal of Wednesday’s event was simple.
“Bring light into darkness,” said Rabbi Yosef Lipsker, leader of the Muhlenberg Township organization. “That’s what we want to do. It’s a holiday for the masses and not meant to be celebrated behind closed doors.
Hanukkah began on Sunday at sundown and ends Dec. 6 at sundown.
Wednesday night’s event was more than a celebration of Hanukkah, Lipsker said. It was an opportunity to bring the community, of all faiths, together.
“There are not physical wars, but there is a battle out there and the battle is fierce.” Lipsker said. “A lot of negativity and a lot of sides and a lot of people having trouble getting along with their own families, and that’s something we want to change with positive feelings and positive attitudes.”
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Traditionally this event is held at the Berkshire Mall, but because of the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, it was decided it would be held outside at the Chabad center.
“We always try to do things especially since COVID,” Lipsker said. “We want to bring the community out even more than before because it’s so difficult to find a balance.”
Lipsker pointed out that events such as Wednesday’s mean more now than before the pandemic.
“Everything has been a challenge but everything has meant so much more,” he said. “I’m spending time with my mother, and to me, we took it for granted a year and half ago. She was sitting alone and people dropping things off at her door.”
“Everything has brought her a lot of excitement and enthusiasm,” Lipsker said.
Wednesday’s event featured magician Joshua Jay, special kids program, crafts, holiday treats and more.
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians in 170 B.C. Jews light candles each night of the festival.
Saturday night a grand menorah lighting and concert will be held at the Chabad center, 2320 Hampden Blvd., as Hanukkah nears its conclusion. That event begins at 5 p.m.
City officials will gather with members of the Jewish Federation Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate Hanukkah on the corner of Fifth and Penn Streets and light the city’s menorah. The city’s tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.
Source: Berkshire mont
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