By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Chabad at the Shore held its annual menorah lighting Sunday, Dec. 18 with Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport proclaiming the miracle of the duct tape.
The annual celebration of Chanukah, called the Festival of Light, held in front of the Chai Center on Atlantic Avenue, drew dozens of families to enjoy the lighting of the menorah, singing by the Children's Choir, and some hot chocolate and doughnuts.
The rabbi told the crowd that the menorah, made of PVC pipe, fell down earlier in the week and broke into many pieces. Members of the congregation worked diligently to piece it together using silver duct tape, which led Rabbi Rapoport to proclaim it was the miracle of the tuck tape, which brings light to a dark place.
The word Chanukah means to rededicate yourself. The message of Chanukah this year is that we can put the pieces back together and make the world bright again, he said.
Jewish tradition holds that King Antiochus persecuted the Jewish people, forbidding them from observing their religion until the freedom fighting Maccabees revolted and reclaimed their temple, which had been ransacked by the Syrian army. When they attempted to light the menorah, they discovered the sacred oil had been defiled and there was only enough oil for one night. They lit the menorah anyway, and miraculously, the oil lasted eight nights.
Today Jewish people everywhere celebrate Chanukah by lighting a candle on each night of the eight-day festival of light. They use the center candle on the menorah, called the shamash, to light one more candle each evening.
Mayor Beth Holtzman urged those present to be like the shamash - the candle in the center of the candelabrum.
Give of yourself, she said. Be a leader not a follower and go forward, leading with your heart.
To make the holiday more exciting for the children, the rabbi invited a 9-foot tall guest to the celebration.
A brightly lit dancing Mega Chanukah Robot, emerged from the side of the stone building and tossed gelt - gold foil wrapped chocolates - to all the children.
Have a happy and joyous Chanukah, the robot said.
The excitement continued as those gathered entered the Chai Center to view and vote on the menorahs the children fashioned from common household items, such as colored markers, bottles of paint, dinosaur figurines, bottles of nail polish, and even a McDonald's Happy Meal.
Of course, the Chanukah celebration would not be complete without the sweetest treat of all jelly doughnuts fried in the precious oil, symbolizing the miracle of Chanukah.
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