Passage To Enlightenment
Date: December 10, 2010
Section: News
It was quite a sight, almost surreal-approximately 100 vehicles of all types driving parade-style, sporting menorahs on their roofs and Chanukah-themed signs, from Yeshivat Rambam in Upper Park Heights to McKeldin Square at the Inner Harbor. That's exactly what happened last Saturday night, Dec. 4, when Chabad of Park Heights and Chabad Lubavitch of Downtown Baltimore, in conjunction with other Chabad groups across the metropolitan area, held "Saturday Night, Lights!" At McKeldin Square, about 600 attendees enjoyedmusic, latkes, jelly doughnuts and hot drinks, while Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake helped light the chanukiah.
Rabbi Levi Druk of Chabad Lubavitch of Downtown Baltimore said his group plans to erect a permanent chanukiah at the site for next year's festivities and is now accepting submissions from local artists. "We're hoping this will be a big start for future Chanukah events," he said.
"We're excited that our community brought more Jewish life and lights to downtown Baltimore." At this year's event, Rabbi Druk said attendees were "just so enthusiastic and exuberant. Most major cities around the country and world have a menorah lighting, and people were excited to have it here in Baltimore."
The next day, Dec. 5, nearly 200 people gathered at the Reisterstown Sportsplex for a Chabad-sponsored "Chanukah On Ice" event. Latkes, doughnuts, and arts and crafts kept some visitors busy, while others ice skated to contemporary Chanukah music with holiday mascot Judah Maccabee. Five candles signified the fifth night of Chanukah on an 8-foot-tall grand menorah. A "fire and iceshow followed, by entertainer Philip DePalo, including fire-breathing, sword swallowing and bull whips on the rink.
He had the crowd standing there with their mouths wide open, said Rabbi Nochum Katsenelenbogen of Chabad of Owings Mills. People were excited to see Jewish tradition being expressed in a very fun, untraditionalway. -Alan H.Feiler, Lauren Geldzahler.
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