Let there be light, let there be understanding...

Chanukah 2019-2020

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Town of Hudson December 2020 annual lighting of the Chanukah sculpture- menorah was attended by less than 10 people, Rabbi included.

In contrast, the previous year, pre-pandemic 2019, over 100 people attended the menorah lighting. It was also the year the Town of Hudson inaugurated a new sculpture-menorah commissioned by Mayor Jamie Nicholls and created by artist Marcel Braitstein et al.

The event turned out to be an astounding social and cultural success! The crowd that gathered was of all ages, faiths, diverse customs and degrees of religious observance, Jewish people included. Even God got invited. “Thank God that we are here, tonight, together, in Canada for a Chanukah celebration under the banner of the Town of Hudson Festival of Lights,” said Elaine Steinberg in her opening remarks.

The event was organized by our Gannaiden ‘swat’ team in conjunction with an ad hoc citizen group headed up by Hudson Town Counsellor Helen Kurgansky. Advertised as a 5-6 pm family activity, hustle bustle drove the mood. Upon arrival, everyone was served drinks, food, as they cruised and schmoozed the room; while songs and the story of Chanukah blared-on at a nearby media education set up. Children played dreidel, (spin the top) ate junk candy, got light-up jewellery and ran a high-spirited dance-off contest right up until it was time to go outside to light the first candle on the menorah.

Throughout the program guests were offered choices of participation, language, technology, ritual and traditions.

And, if latkes (potatoes pancakes) are a measure of success, we ran out at 300 latkes in under a half hour. Our Family of Friends volunteer James Armstrong was the key player.

The 2020 Chanukah party marked a watershed moment in the history of the Town of Hudson. The event marked one decade (10 years) of an annual menorah lighting event on the property of the Town of Hudson. Noteworthy is this fact: that for a child born in 2010 or after in Hudson, seeing a large candelabra lit up on the holiday season, is a NORM.

Rabbi Nachum Labkowski lighting the Sculpture-Menorah.