Hanukkah community celebrations to be held in Rockland this week
ROCKLAND — Two Hanukkah events are planned in Rockland, both at the Community Menorah at Mildred Merrill Park.
A brief lighting ceremony in celebration of the first night of Hanukkah will happen this Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m., Adas Yoshuron Synagogue will hold its annual Hanukkah party.
Adas Yoshuron Synagogue posted a Facebook message on Friday, Dec. 16, seeking help moving the Menorah to the park:
“We could really use some help setting the Community Menorah back up in its new location. Do you, or anyone you know, have equipment or some extra hands willing to help dig a hole for the menorah? It requires a hole 4’ deep, and about 6” wide.
Please share any suggestions for help in the comments below, via Messenger, or send an email to: programming@adasyoshuron.org.
In response to some criticism as to why the Menorah was initially placed at the Ferry Terminal this year, Rockland Main Street, Inc’s David Gogel provided the following statement on Friday, Dec. 16:
Rockland Main Street raised funds to purchase the menorah last year and requested permission to have the AY [Adas Yoshuron] building committee install the menorah. This year with the area blocked we spoke with the City about finding another visible area on Main Street where we could install the menorah. When we shared our visibility concerns and the new suggested area we didn't hear any feedback that members of AY were unhappy with its location. Again this was coming from a place of not wanting the menorah to be overshadowed and blocked. Last night was the first I heard that members of the AY Board and Community were upset with the location. Since receiving that email I have already requested and received permission to relocate the menorah back to MMP and have communicated that to the AY Board and offered to volunteer my time tomorrow to join the group that will be moving the menorah.
