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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

LU's First Ever Outdoor Menorah Lighting Ceremony

LU celebrates its first outdoor menorah lighting ceremony, thanks to Chabad
On December 10, for the first time in Lehigh University's history, an outdoor menorah lighting ceremony was conducted at Asa Packer Campus in recognition of Hanukkah. Over one hundred people, most of them students with Chabad at Lehigh, celebrated what is also called the "Festival of Lights."

Before three candles were lit atop a 12' high menorah strategically located next to the flagpole at the center of the campus, Rabbi Zalman Greenberg explained why he loves Hanukkah. "No speeches, no synagogue, no sermons, no fasting. All in all, its just a beautiful holiday," he explained.

As his son Menny, age 5, danced by the flagpole, Rabbi Greenberg also related the miracle of this holiday. Some say it is a temple lamp that shined brightly for eight nights though it only had enough oil for one. But to the Rabbi, the real miracle is that a "band of a few Jews" was somehow able to defeat the world power of that time.

Instead of celebrating that victory with a symbol of war or military glory, Greenberg notes that Jews celebrate with a menorah, a "sign of light, a sign of goodness. That is the greatness of the holiday."

Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, who established Lehigh Valley Chabad, was also on hand for the brief lighting ceremony. It was followed by music, doughnuts, latkes and kosher Dunkin' Donuts coffee!
Mandy Freedman (L) who came from Brooklyn, poses with Chabad LV Rabbi Yaakov Halperin

Alex Lass, President of Lehigh Chabad, with Rabbi Zalman Greenberg

Mussie, age 4 1/2, dances with Emily Gallin

Menny, age 5, dances during ceremony

You can see more pictures here.
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14 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 3:00 AM

    I beleive the Romans eventually won.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bernie O'HareDecember 11, 2012 at 3:06 AM

    ... and looked at what happened to the poor bastards.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Baruch LannerDecember 11, 2012 at 3:29 AM

    Shalom Bernie! despite your unapologetic atheism your blogs about the more uplifting aspects of various religions makes this Jew quite proud to be a regular reader of your blog.
    @3:00am, Rome collapsed to due it's unchecked culture of depravity and paganism. The Jewish people are stronger than ever and will remain the apple of God's eye from now until the end of days when man returns to eden.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 6:44 AM

    What a great guy Rabbi Halprine is.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 9:46 AM

    If there is a god, we are all of equal value.
    All humans, all creatures, great and small.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    Wait, are you saying one people are "the Apple of God's eye"? That's pretty offensive and it's no wonder why many people are turning away from religion.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bernie O'HareDecember 11, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    10:52, Every religion I know thinks it has the inside track to God, so to speak, with the possible exception of Buddhism. That's understandable. It's only when religions start killing each other, as they often do, that this becomes a problem.

    It was a beautiful event, and quite an honor just to be there.

    I turned into a Jew today. Unfortunatelty, it wears off at 3 PM.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 3:14 PM

    Beleive me, the Jews don't want you. You are not what they had in mind being the "chosen people".

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    This is a lot of fuss for the eighth most important Jewish holiday. The Christmas-izing of an obscure holiday is weird.

    In this light, I wish you all a belated Happy Immaculate Conception of Mary. Let's party.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    Every religion I know thinks it has the inside track to God

    Yet they never seem to find their stance hypocritical or cynical.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 4:28 PM

    ......and there you have it. One of the many problematic features of religion that keep us apart rather than bring us together.

    " We are just a little bit special."

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bernie O'HareDecember 12, 2012 at 6:36 PM

    "n this light, I wish you all a belated Happy Immaculate Conception of Mary. Let's party."

    Well played.

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownDecember 18, 2012 at 4:15 AM

    Nice photos!

    -DiscountLightingSale.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. CornellFebruary 6, 2013 at 8:51 AM

    Thanks for such a wonderful blog!! I love your photos. In those pictures you look like Santa clause with a black beard. Just kidding!!

    ReplyDelete

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