Celebrating Hanukkah 2013 in the Five Towns

Arriving much earlier than usual and occurring concurrently as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, begins Wednesday at sundown.

This year, the Chabad of the Five Towns and the Chabad of Hewlett have numerous events planned, including the lighting of the largest menorah on the south shore. During the holiday, the Five Towns Chabad will also have the Hanukkah Experience at 88 Cedarhurst Ave. (see flyer for full details)

Nightly menorah lighting at Andrew J. Parise Park:

The Chabad of the Five Towns will light the large menorah every night of Hanukkah at 6 p.m. The lighting will occur at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. See the flyer above for each night’s menorah lighting leaders.

Hewlett menorah lighting:

The Chabad of Hewlett will host a menorah lighting on Friday at 3:45 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Merrill Lynch parking lot at the corner of Broadway and East Rockaway Road.

Hanukkah concert:

Following that night’s menorah lighting, the Chabad of the Five Towns will host a concert with Avrami Cohen on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cedarhurst park.

Hanukkah on Ice:

A new annual tradition in Hewlett that both children and adults love, the Hewlett of Chabad will host a lighting at the Grant Park ice skating rink on a menorah that is carved out of ice on site. There will also be games, raffles, crafts and snacks.

Light up Rockaway:

A new event this year on the last night of Hanukkah, the Chabad of the Five Towns will host a menorah lighting at 248 Rockaway Turnpike (across from Lowes). There will be live music from Shmuel Jacobs, latkes and donuts. Kids will get free glow in the dark gifts.

Last night of Hanukkah in Hewlett:

The Chabad of Hewlett returns to the Merrill Lynch parking lot for the last night’s lighting. There will be music, crafts, dreidels, latkes and gelt. Participants will receive their own menorahs.