Parade of Menorahs for Hanukkah Shares Light in Dark Times
(Sam Gurwin, Dec. 9, 2021)
Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, and Birmingham, MI – The beautiful Building of the Harry & Wanda Zekelman Campus in Oak Park was abuzz during the second day of Hanukkah. Cars were being lined up with large Menorahs (Candelabras) being put on top of them by Students of Lubavitch Yeshiva, International School for Chabad Leadership; State and Local Police Cars were at the head of this soon-to-be convoy that would span four cities. Young Men were greeting and handing out water bottles and doughnuts to people in the cars. Smiles and excitement were everywhere. This is the Hanukkah Car Menorah Parade 2021.
This celebration is a part of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights, and is a celebration of hope in the face of overwhelming odds, and bringing light to this world.
“The message of Hanukkah is about spreading light” says Schneur Deren, Parade Coordinator of Chabad-Lubavitch Chanukah Outreach, the organizers of this student-led Event in Oak Park, Michigan. “It may be a dark world but we all have a small light inside of us. The idea of Hanukkah is that we light the Menorah and the Menorah inside of us- and when we are lit , we light our friends and the whole world will be one” said Mr. Deren.
The students gave instructions to go forward to the next check point- where doughnuts and water bottles waited. It is customary on Hanukkah to eat food associated with oil- Potato Pancakes cooked in oil, Latkes and Doughnuts- Doughnuts were given out. The one jug of oil lasting 8 days is a miracle and oil-cooked food is a reminder of that.
Oakland County Times tagged along with Bob Levy of Southfield and three Chadbad Leadership students for the joyful ride through the cities that ended in Birmingham. Our SUV waited with the other 120 automobiles to start this Parade.
“I think it’s great” said Mr. Levy.
The Parade Organizers wanted 120 cars because in 1973 the leader of the Chabad Lubavitch Movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson or known as The Rebbe, was trying to get public Menorah Lighting to be allowed in the New York State-area to spread the miracle of God and his light. The Rebbe also started the Hanukkah Menorah Parades. This year is the Rebbes’ 120th Birthday (he passed away 25 years ago) and the Students wanted to dedicate this Event to his Memory. “In light of what The Rebbe had spoken of so many times- To bring the light of Hanukkah to everybody that we can possibly reach.” said Mendel Zaklikovsky, one of the students helping out.
This year’s parade would travel through Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Birmingham. Police officers along the route were helping by escorting and blocking major intersections. Some of the officers even had Menorahs on their Cars.
Student Shmuel Eisenbach was all smiles. “We are sharing the light” Shmuel said. The Student-led Event took about a month to prepare-building the Menorahs and organizing the logistics of it. “We are spreading the light as Jews and showing we can overcome” said Participant Rena Roetter from her Minivan Window.
Soon the Ccnvoy began. Our fellow cars and trucks were beeping their horns in celebration. Several cars like ours had our windows down in the cold evening air and loudly playing Hanukkah music- our Car chose Eli Marcus’s “Hanukkah Dance” hour long Youtube Mix.
Along the route some people from houses and businesses came out to look and wave. The students in my vehicle said “Happy Hanukkah” to the people we passed on the street. Everyone seemed to enjoy the love.
For more things to do, visit the Oakland County Times Event Page!
Thank you to Jim Shaffer & Associates Realtors for sponsoring this section!
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