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Manchester Shines Brighter on Chanukah
Throughout the eight day holiday, thousands participated at L’Chaim Chabad’s Chanukah events throughout the city.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of ... wood? Dozens of kids enjoyed making their own wooden spinning tops and Chanukah sand art, at one of the many Chanukah events arranged by L’Chaim Chabad over the eight day long “Festival of Lights.”
Menorahs shone brightly at Sainsbury’s and Tesco and various prominent locations throughout the city. The grand celebration at Tesco, attended by the mayor, featured an ice menorah lighting, a juggling show, carnival rides and the beloved dreidel mascot.
Chabad’s Chanukah programming catered to the entire Jewish community, from residents at five senior centers who enjoyed Chanukah performances by children’s choirs, to Toddlers in the “Little Chefs” program who decorated their very own donuts.
L’Chaim’s Mommy and Me treated kids and moms to a musical party with Aunty
Chavivah, and the Beenstock Nursing Home hosted a Chanukah play session for the elderly at the nursing home. CTeen families joined the Chanukah fun with ice skating trips, as well as a donut decorating event which followed a party at the JS restaurant. Fathers and sons also enjoyed donut decorating at the Holy Law Synagogue after listening to Chanukah insights. CTeen boys later enjoyed a post-Chanukah Shabbaton in Leeds.
Dozens of L’Chaim volunteers fanned through Manchester to visit senior homes, businesses, residences and shopping centres to distribute, menorahs, candles, dreidels, donuts, chocolate coins, Chanukah guides and plenty of holiday cheer. “You gave me reason to live," said one resident at a senior center. Back again this year, by popular demand, was the Yeshiva’s travelling Chanukah theatre. The show enthralled more than 2,000 parents, teachers and kids at Manchester’s Jewish Day Schools.
The message of Chanukah, that light will always prevail over darkness, is a
universal one, and L’Chaim ensured it was spread throughout the city through their public menorahs and the five car-top menorah parades that made their way through different parts of the North of England. People of all backgrounds and affiliations joined in the mission, adorning their personal cars with bright menorahs. Thousands saw and heard the menorah-topped cars and jovially cheered and hooted as they passed.
Volunteers also spread outside of Manchester, to Southport, Stoke, York, Peak district, Shropshire and Leeds to share the Chanukah message with these isolated communities. For many, it is the only Jewish interaction they have all year.
This year, the added light of Chanukah also brought with it the launch of Chabad
of Manchester City Centre with a chanukah party hosted by LSH. Nick Freeman, the acclaimed “Loophole Lawyer,” and Sir Howard Bernstein entertained the one hundred plus crowd in the spinningfields section of the Manchester City Center.
Much like the light of the menorah, the effect of L’Chaim chabad’s Chanukah efforts are immeasurable. thousands participated in the parties and events, leaving the Manchester Jewish community feeling the warmth and meaning of the festival.
