Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel and Nechama Tiechtel, co-directors of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, hosted the annual menorah lighting event Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library to celebrate Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights.
The 2024 Lawrence Community Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Event ceremony included lighting candles on a 9-foot-tall menorah and a special appearance of “drenorah,” or a drone carrying a menorah, according to Rabbi Tiechtel.
This year’s event marks Lawrence’s 18th annual celebration, a number significant to the Jewish community known as “chai,” meaning “life” in Hebrew.
Rabbi Tiechtel said celebrating Jewish culture and the significance of the number 18 is essential to spread joy amid an increase in antisemitism.
“It symbolizes the idea that we are going stronger and brighter … an even stronger sense of light and life within our community,” he said. “We live in a time where there is so much darkness, sadly, so we have to do everything we can to bring light into this world.”
This year also marks 50 years since the first recorded public menorah lighting in the United States, which took place in 1974 at the Philadelphia Liberty Bell, according to a news release ahead of the event.
Rabbi Tiechtel believes it is important to recognize how widespread the celebration of Hanukkah has become since then.
“The fact that today, 50 years later, there are thousands of menorah lightings all over the United States is a testament to strength and power of positivity and light,” he said.
Celebrations continued after the menorah lighting ceremony, including food and beverages, holiday music, raffles, activities for children and more.
When asked about their favorite parts of Hanukkah, many adults in attendance recalled lighting the menorah and spending time with their families, while children mentioned eating Jewish delicacies, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and playing games.
This year, Hanukkah started at nightfall on Dec. 25 and will end in the evening of Thursday, Jan. 2.
Hanukkah Rocks, featuring Benjamin Cartel & Friends, is set for Saturday, Dec. 28 at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Doors open at 5:30 and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Find ticket info at this link.
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Nathan Kramer (he/him), a multimedia student journalist for The Lawrence Times since August 2024, is a junior at Free State High School. He is also a video editor for Free State’s student publication, where he works as a videographer, photographer and motion designer. See more of his work for the Times here.
