Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Hanukkah began on the evening of Sunday, November 28 and will conclude the evening of Monday, December 6.
Rabbi Moshe Dubinksy of the new South Lake Chabad hosted a festive outdoor Chanukah celebration to welcome the first night of the Jewish Festival of Lights with their family, friends and community. Special appearances and presentations were made by the new Clermont City Manager Brian Bulthuis and Clermont Mayor Tim Murry. Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson and Lake County Deputy Sheriff Evan Rosenstein. This is the first of many future South Lake Chanukah celebrations to help celebrate the diversity within the community. About 250 people of all ages from diverse backgrounds attended this Clermont Waterfront Park Pavilion event.
The Chanukah Story recalls the victory of a weak Jewish militarily and people who defeated the Syrian Greeks who had overrun ancient Israel. The Syrians sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life and prohibit religious freedom. They also desecrated and defiled the Temples and the oils prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily and weekly services.
Rabbi Dubinsky greeted those attending the celebration stating, “Happy Chanukah! Today, I want to encourage each of you to light up a heart to kindle the flame of the human spirit to give somebody to which the sun has set some new hope, inspiration, love and charity! The Rabbi explained how Chanukah is the Festival of Light, which recalls the victory of freedom in the Holy Land for the Jewish people more than 2100 years ago. He added, “We celebrate with every Jew in the world rekindling our menorahs during the eight days of Chanukah as a symbol of triumph with freedom over oppression, spirit over matter and light over darkness.” His wife, Chavi Dubinsky noted, “We are very excited to help celebrate Chanukah in such a grand fashion. As proud Jews, we really hope to light up Lake County and to help share Jewish pride while celebrating our ancestry and traditions.”
This Chanukah celebration was fun and festive. The Clermont Fire Department’s hook and ladder truck dropped chocolate Chanukah Gelt prizes for all of the young children. Gili’s, a Kosher food truck from Jacksonville, served traditional Israeli and Jewish foods. A giant 9-foot Hanukkah Menorah was lit and the entire audience sang Chanukah songs including ‘Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel’, ‘Maoz Tzur’ and ‘Oh Chanukah’.
The ceremonial Menorah lighting was followed by the ‘African High Flyers’ as an acrobatic group seen on ‘America’s Got Talent!’ TV show. Mayor Evelyn Wilson and the City of Groveland hosted an event at Lake David Park for the second night of Chanukah this year. These free events were open to the entire community.
The public display and lighting of Chanukah Menorahs has become a symbol of Jewish cultural, tradition and religious life. Clermont’s menorah was one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower and the Kremlin to help people of all walks of life learn about the holiday traditions and stories.
Chabad of South Lake County is a non-profit organization serving the needs of the Jewish Community at large. They offer Jewish education, outreach, special events and social service programming. For more information, contact Rabbi Moshe Dubinsky, Chabad of South Lake at 352-717-4119, Email: Info@JewishSL.com, visit JewishSL.com and https://www.facebook.com/Jewishsouthlake/.
