Yesterday, for the first night of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yisroel Goldberg of Chabad Lubavitch of Rockland began the holiday celebration by driving with a menorah mounted on the roof of his car. He made stops at four ShopRite supermarkets, in New City, West Nyack, Tallman and Garnerville, where he lit menorahs inside the stores and wished shoppers a happy Hanukkah. He rushed to complete his task before sundown, as the first night of Hanukkah coincided with the Jewish Sabbath. For him, he said, a major part of Hanukkah was to publicize the holiday.
Toddlers sat in a circle at the Orangetown Jewish Center Nursery School yesterday, singing songs and eating latkes and doughnuts to celebrate the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
As part of the festivities, the 2- to 3-year-olds lit Hanukkah menorahs, said blessings and listened to stories from Jewish tradition, including that of Judah Maccabee and the miracle of the oil.
"He was a hero," said Sandra Borowsky, principal of the nursery, referring to the Jewish general who led a rebellion against the occupying Greek army in 164 B.C.
"We teach them about miracles and heroes through songs, through stories and through creative art experiences, " Borowsky said.
According to tradition, Hanukkah recalls the miracle of a single day's worth of consecrated oil that lasted long enough for temple officials to replace oil that had been spoiled when the Mount Zion temple was desecrated by Greek soldiers.
Celebrants light the menorah, which contains nine candles - one for each night of the holiday plus a special candle to light the others -during the eight nights of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights.
Yesterday, for the first night of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yisroel Goldberg of Chabad Lubavitch of Rockland began the holiday celebration by driving with a menorah mounted on the roof of his car. He made stops at four ShopRite supermarkets, in New City, West Nyack, Tallman and Garnerville, where he lit menorahs inside the stores and wished shoppers a happy Hanukkah.
He rushed to complete his task before sundown, as the first night of Hanukkah coincided with the Jewish Sabbath.
For him, he said, a major part of Hanukkah was to publicize the holiday.
"We are honored they are doing this to celebrate," Goldberg said of ShopRite. "By having menorahs in a public area, everyone can celebrate."
Hanukkah this year is especially important, Goldberg said, because the first and last days of the festival fall on the Sabbath. That makes it unusual and imparts a deeper meaning to the holiday.
