ROCHESTER, NY – Wednesday is the first night of Hanukkah.
The holiday commemorates the victory of the Maccabee warriors and the miracle when the oil burned one night for eight days and nights on a menorah in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
People around Rochester celebrated the Jewish holiday with a community menorah lighting in Washington Square Park.
“Hanukkah is really about advertising, about taking up the message of religious freedom in the fight for good, and even when the fight seems difficult, it is against all odds, but faith in God will prevail for us and help us.” “Do the right thing,” said Rabbi Nechemia Vogel, director of Chabad of Rochester. “There’s something special about banding together with others and really putting this out there and telling the world that we’re proud of who we are.”
There will be menorah lightings every Hanukkah evening in the region. Below you will find a list of all dates and locations. Click here for more information.
Thursday, December 26, 4:30 p.m. – Fairport Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Fairport Village Hall, 31 S. Main Street, featuring city officials and music, latkes, donuts and gift bags for children.
Thursday, December 26, 6:30 p.m. – Henrietta Menorah lighting ceremony on the lawn of the Recreation Center, 605 Calkins Rd. There will be an indoor reception with music, latkes and donuts.
Friday, December 27 – Family Shabbat Hanukkah Dinner at Kessler Family Chabad Center, 1037 Winton Rd. In the South, services will be at 4:25 p.m., followed by a traditional Shabbat dinner at 5:15 p.m. For reservations, go to www.chabadrochester.com/signup or call 271-0330.
Saturday, December 28th – 7:00 p.m. – Brighton LED Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Twelve Corners Park featuring illuminated skydiving menorahs – featuring city officials, as well as prizes, raffles, latkes, donuts and gift bags for children.
Sunday, December 29th – 2:30 p.m. Grand Car Menorah Parade. 3:00 p.m. Menorah lighting ceremony at The Jewish Home, 2021 S Winton Rd., followed by the Car Menorah Parade with free car menorahs, Hanukkah flags and police escort. The parade loops around the Senior Jewish Life campus and then heads to the Pittsford Menorah Lighting Ceremony in the Pittsford Library parking lot featuring The Bills Mafia Menorah, a jumbo screen, hot cocoa, latkes and donuts.
Monday, December 30, 4:30 p.m. – Penfield Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Four Corners (Rte. 441 & Five Mile Line Rd.) featuring city officials and gift bags for children.
Monday, Dec. 30, 6 p.m. – Victor Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Victor Town Hall, 85 E. Main St., featuring city officials and music, latkes, donuts and gift bags for children.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. – Honeoye Falls Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Mendon Town Hall, 16 W. Main St., featuring city officials and music, latkes and donuts.