Menorah Lighting Brings Light, Music and Coffee to Kulick Center
(C. Proxmire, Photos by Debra Young, Dec. 24, 2014)
The darkness on the lawn of the Kulick Community Center was dissipated a bit on Tuesday night as Ferndalians and visitors gathered to light the last electric candle of the 13 foot menorah that had been put up last week.
The spirit of Hanukkah is about letting the light of love and acceptance shine, and placing a menorah at the center was an expression of this love for Rabbi Herschel Finman who went through the application process with the City and Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo of Chazzano Coffee who sponsored the display.
Lanzkron-Tamarazo, who is also a cantor at Congregation Beth Shalom, led the group in traditional Jewish songs, before treating guests to Chazzano Coffee and tea.
“It was a joyous experience last night at the Menorah celebration,” he said. “There were approximately 50 people who attended. My wife, Lisa, and our three children assisted me with leading Hanukkah songs and there were lovely words of wisdom spoken by Rabbi Finman and his wife, as well as our mayor, David Coulter. I greatly appreciated that the city council allowed this piece of religious freedom to be expressed at the Kulick Community Center.”
Mayor Coulter was happy to share in the festivities. “When Rabbi Finman first called me he said he thought a menorah could be could be a powerful symbol, especially to young Jewish people, that Ferndale was a welcoming and accepting place. That’s my hope, too, tonight all throughout the year,” he said.
This is the first year in over a decade that religious symbols had been displayed on City property. The legal aspects of this were fleshed out at the Dec. 15 City Council meeting, and in January City leaders expect to work on crafting an ordinance that would provide a framework for those who want to apply to have their symbols shared.
“When seen, [this] lets the viewer understand that this neighborhood, where the menorah is, is one of tolerance, freedom, liberty, the pursuit of joy and justice,” said Rabbi Finman during the application process. The day after the ceremony he thanked those involved on Facebook, and wrote “Good things happen in Ferndale.”
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/15/ferndale-approves-menorah-display-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/15/ferndale-to-vote-on-13-menorah-display/
For a glimpse at a Hanukkah parade in Oak Park, Royal Oak and Berkley see:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/19/chabad-lubavitch-chanukah-parade-shares-light-through-oak-park-royal-oak-and-birmingham/
NOTE: Chazzano Coffee is a sponsor of The Oakland County 115 News Hub. However this is not a paid story.