Published: Dec 29, 2016 12:00 AM
It was a picture of perseverance on Tuesday night, when it took Rabbi Sholom Deitsch nearly 20 minutes to light a giant menorah that had been temporarily placed in the courtyard of Edmond Town Hall.
The rabbi, co-director of Chabad of Ridgefield, welcomed a few dozen people, and reminded them of the importance of their gathering.
"We continue to celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah," he said, " in which one small candle lasted eight nights, because 2,000 years later there still seems to be some darkness that takes place in many of our lives, and in many communities that surround us."
While Rabbi Deitsch fought against a light breeze and lamp wicks that did not want to hold a flame for him, recorded music was played and children scrambled for a few minutes to collect pieces of foil-covered chocolate being dropped from a ladder extended from Hook & Ladder's ladder truck.
Around 6:20, the rabbi smiled: the giant menorah's shamash, or center candle, and four candles had been lit in honor of the fourth night of Hanukkah.
The December 27 event was presented by Chabad of Ridgefield and Hadassah of Greater Newtown/Danbury.
While Rabbi Deitsch fought against lamp wicks that did not want to hold a flame for him, recorded music was played and children scrambled to collect pieces of foil-covered chocolate being dropped from Hook & Ladder's ladder truck. (Bee Photo, Hicks)
Alicia Brown, left, president of Hadassah of Greater Newtown/Danbury, had some help preparing the chocolates for The Great Chocolate Gelt Drop, from Ava Lopes, center, and Madeline Marks. (Bee Photo, Hicks)
Rabbi Deitsch pauses for a moment, while the crowd in the courtyard mingles and socializes following the lighting of the menorah Tuesday evening. Before lighting the menorah, the rabbi had encouraged those in attendance to go home and light their own menorahs, "to ignite the spirit and to bring the spiritual light, the happiness light, into your homes, and continue on, giving the message to your neighbors and your friends." (Bee Photo, Hicks)
(Bee Photo, Hicks)
Children scrambled for foil covered chocolates that were dropped from the ladder of a fire truck Tuesday. Organizers lived up to their promise that a Great Chocolate Gelt Drop would feature chocolates raining from above. (Bee Photo, Hicks)
A Giant Menorah Lighting event was held in the courtyard of Edmond Town Hall on December 27, the fourth night of Hanukkah. Presented by Chabad of Ridgefield and Hadassah of Greater Newtown/Danbury, a few dozen people gathered for the early evening event. Rabbi Sholom Deitsch lit the menorah, which held oil lamps to serve as candles. Hook & Ladder firefighters Tom Cassin, Jr, and David White climbed out onto the ladder of Truck 114 in order to drop gelt, foil-covered pieces of chocolate, to children in the crowd. Latkes and donuts were also served. (Bee Photo, Hicks)
Rabbi Sholom Deitsch lights one of the candles on a giant menorah placed temporarily in the courtyard of Edmond Town Hall on December 27, the fourth night of Hanukkah. "Even though it's a tiny candle," he told those gathered around him, "it has the power to penetrate the darkness ... it has he power to ignite our personal lives." (Bee Photo, Hicks)
