Chabad shines Chanukah light to Uptown
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Chanie and Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff brought Chanukah joy to hundreds in the Uptown area on the first night of Chanukah, Dec. 25.
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Galleria-area observance among hundreds in Houston area, thousands around the world
This Chanukah, the world witnessed a surge in public holiday displays and Jewish identity, More and more families and individuals lit their menorahs in visible places, such as in doorways or windows, and organizations went all out to share the light in public places.
On the first night of Chanukah, Wednesday, Dec. 25, Chabad of Uptown lit a public 9-foot menorah at Martin Debrovner Park, in the heart of the Uptown/Galleria area, in cooperation with the Uptown Houston District. The community celebration was one of dozens in the Greater Houston area that kicked off the eight nights of the Festival of Lights.
“As we navigate these challenging times, we’re reminded of the enduring power of Chanukah’s message: the triumph of light over darkness, freedom over oppression and faith over doubt,” said Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, director of Chabad of Uptown and program director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Texas.
The Uptown program featured a menorah-lighting and an array of entertainment for all ages, including a petting zoo, pony rides and a selection of traditional Chanukah foods and drinks.
Throughout Houston and the state of Texas, Chabad-Lubavitch presented more than 100 Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, concerts, car parades featuring car- and truck-topped menorahs, community gatherings, Chanukah children’s workshops and more.
This year’s celebrations carried an added significance as 2024 marked 50 years since the first public menorah-lighting at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in 1974. At that time, the public menorah was lit after the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, launched the worldwide Chanukah campaign in 1973 to build awareness and promote the observance of Chanukah.
Today, public menorahs and Chanukah displays have become a staple of Jewish cultural and American life, forever altering the American practice and perception of the festival.
This year’s Chanukah campaign was one of unprecedented light and joy. Chabad centers reached more than 8 million Jews in more than 100 countries. Uptown Houston’s menorah was one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs throughout the world, including notable menorahs in front of the White House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Great Wall of China and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
“Celebrating Chanukah serves as a powerful symbol of hope, Jewish resilience and unwavering faith in the face of adversity and antisemitism,” Rabbi Lazaroff emphasized. “This festive holiday reaffirms the Divine gift of freedom that America embodies, illuminating the importance of preserving and celebrating our shared values.”
This Chanukah, the world witnessed a surge in public holiday displays and Jewish identity, More and more families and individuals lit their menorahs in visible places, such as in doorways or windows, and organizations went all out to share the light in public places.
On the first night of Chanukah, Wednesday, Dec. 25, Chabad of Uptown lit a public 9-foot menorah at Martin Debrovner Park, in the heart of the Uptown/Galleria area, in cooperation with the Uptown Houston District. The community celebration was one of dozens in the Greater Houston area that kicked off the eight nights of the Festival of Lights.
“As we navigate these challenging times, we’re reminded of the enduring power of Chanukah’s message: the triumph of light over darkness, freedom over oppression and faith over doubt,” said Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, director of Chabad of Uptown and program director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Texas.
The Uptown program featured a menorah-lighting and an array of entertainment for all ages, including a petting zoo, pony rides and a selection of traditional Chanukah foods and drinks.
Throughout Houston and the state of Texas, Chabad-Lubavitch presented more than 100 Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, concerts, car parades featuring car- and truck-topped menorahs, community gatherings, Chanukah children’s workshops and more.
This year’s celebrations carried an added significance as 2024 marked 50 years since the first public menorah-lighting at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in 1974. At that time, the public menorah was lit after the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, launched the worldwide Chanukah campaign in 1973 to build awareness and promote the observance of Chanukah.
Today, public menorahs and Chanukah displays have become a staple of Jewish cultural and American life, forever altering the American practice and perception of the festival.
This year’s Chanukah campaign was one of unprecedented light and joy. Chabad centers reached more than 8 million Jews in more than 100 countries. Uptown Houston’s menorah was one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs throughout the world, including notable menorahs in front of the White House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Great Wall of China and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
“Celebrating Chanukah serves as a powerful symbol of hope, Jewish resilience and unwavering faith in the face of adversity and antisemitism,” Rabbi Lazaroff emphasized. “This festive holiday reaffirms the Divine gift of freedom that America embodies, illuminating the importance of preserving and celebrating our shared values.”
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