Menorah Lighting To Celebrate Chanukah In New Milford

Information via Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut

NEW MILFORD, CT — This Chanukah, Northwest Connecticut is seeing a surge in families public displays of the holiday and Jewish identity, with many more individuals planning to light their menorahs in visible places, such as their doors or windows. The region’s public Chanukah gatherings expect a larger than usual crowd this year in a strong statement of Jewish pride and confidence.

It’s a fraught time for the Jewish people, with war in Israel, and with American Jews facing a major rise in antisemitism. While in the past, prior to Oct. 7, many Jews’ response to frightening developments of antisemitism may have been to hide their Jewishness, the post-Oct. 7 Jewish communal response has bucked all precedents. Jews are choosing instead to celebrate their identity this Chanukah with more
confidence and resolve.

Chabad of Northwest Connecticut is organizing public Chanukah menorah lighting events with a massive menorahs at 11 separate locations (schedule below). The events will feature entertainment for all ages as well as hot drinks and traditional Chanukah donuts.

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, launched the Chanukah awareness campaign 50 years ago, in 1973—in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War in Israel—and in the half-century since, the “Festival of Lights” has revitalized widespread observance of Chanukah and brought it to the mainstream. The Menorah, and indeed Chanukah—with its universal message of freedom of the human spirit, freedom from tyranny and oppression, and of the ultimate victory of good over evil—has as a result become a part of American culture.

“The Rebbe taught that not only is celebrating Chanukah a vital part of Jewish life–where it has become a potent point of light and Jewish pride and confidence for American Jews in the fight against darkness and antisemitism–but also represents key American values, namely those of liberty and independence,” said Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach. “The holiday of Chanukah underscores the fact that American culture has been enriched by the thriving ethnic cultures which contributed very much, each in its own way, to communal life, both materially and spiritually.”

Litchfield
Chabad Jewish Center
69 West St.
Sunday December 10
3:00 pm

New Milford
New Milford Hospital
21 Elm St.
Sunday December 10
7:30 pm

Oxford
Market 32 @ The Quarry
140 Main St,
Thursday December 7
4:30 pm

Sharon
Sharon Hospital
50 Hospital Hill Rd.
Sunday December 10
6:15 pm

Southbury
Southbury Green
775 Main St. South
Tuesday December 12
5:00 PM

Torrington
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
540 Litchfield St.
Sunday December 10
5:00 pm

Waterbury
Columbia Boulevard & Corner Randolph St.
Thursday December 7
5:15 pm

Waterbury
Waterbury Green West Main St.
Monday December 11
6:15 pm

Waterbury
Waterbury Hospital 64 Robbins St.
Monday December 11
4:30 pm

Waterbury
St. Mary’s Hospital 56 Franklin St.
Monday December 11
5:30 pm

Wolcott
Wolcott Green Center Rd.
Tuesday December 12
7:00 pm