In dark times, spread cheer at these Hanukkah menorah lightings in Morris and Sussex

William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record

Christmas decorations are going up around Morris County, and public menorah lightings in celebration of Hanukkah aren't far behind.

The Festival of Lights comes during an anxious time for the local Jewish community, amid deadly violence in the Middle East and rising reports of antisemitism across the U.S. Local rabbis say the holiday has taken on extra significance for the community this year.

"Our response to hatred of any kind must never be to cower or hide our faith," said Rabbi Moishe Gurevirz, who along with his wife, Mushkie, directs Chabbad of Morristown. "The story of Chanukkah is about the tremendous power of light to overcome darkness. We can have no better response to the negativity we encounter than to gather in even greater numbers and celebrate the light of the menorah in public."

Hanukkah (or "Chanukah" or "Hanukka" depending on one's preferred transliteration of the Hebrew name) celebrates the miracle of a one-day oil supply lasting for eight days after the Maccabean Revolt in the second century B.C.E.

Morristown Green

The Morristown Green's annual "Chanukah on the Green" ceremony is first up on the first night of the holiday, which this year runs from Dec. 7 to 15.

Sponsored by the Rabbinical College of America and its affiliate, Chabad of Morristown, festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include live musical entertainment, hot drinks and doughnuts, prizes for children and a basketball spinning performance by former Harlem Globetrotter Kenny "the Blenda" Rodriguez.

The highlight will be the illumination of a 14-foot-high menorah. The event is open to the public, free of charge and includes a free raffle.

Security will be present, the organizers said. More information is available on the Chabad of Morristown website.

Randolph

Chabad of Randolph is planning a 6:30 p.m. Chanukah party on Dec. 9 and a "Light Up Randolph" car parade at 2 p.m. on Dec. 10, leading up to its "Grand Menorah Lighting" event that same night, beginning at 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, 100 Calais Road.

The party takes place at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 26 West Hanover Ave. The parade will begin there, and will be led by the Randolph Fire Department. To participate or request the parade to pass by your home, visit the event website.

Live music, latkes and doughnuts will be in abundance at the 6 p.m. "Grand Menorah lighting," followed by a gelt drop. At 6:30 p.m., the celebration continues at the Chabad Center, with another menorah lighting and a movie night.

Chabad of Southeast Morris County

The Chabad of Southeast Morris County in Madison will host six public menorah lightings in its region over seven days:

  • Harding will go first with a 6 p.m. lighting on the first night of the holiday at Memorial Park on Village Road.

  • Next up will be a Dec. 10 ceremony at 5 p.m. in Madison, across from the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building at the Madison Train Station.

  • The Chathams will host a menorah lighting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Chatham borough firehouse plaza on Fairmount Avenue.

  • East Hanover Town Hall, 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at 411 Ridgedale Ave.

  • Florham Park Town Hall Gazebo, 6 p.m. on Dec. 12, at 111 Ridgedale Ave.

  • The Green Village menorah lighting in Chatham Township, 6 p.m. on Dec. 13, at Green Village Triangle across from the fire department.

Visit the Chabad event website for more information.

Morris Plains

The Chabad Torah Center will host its annual menorah lighting and gelt drop at 6 p.m. on Dec. 10 at 770 Speedwell Ave. The free public event includes doughnuts, drinks, latkes, music, a raffle and an "extreme variety show."

Parsippany

Parsippany will light its community menorah at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. Mayor James Barberio will host the event.

'Unacceptable': Bias incidents targeting Jews, Muslims soar since start of Israel-Hamas war

Mountain Lakes, Boonton and Denville

The Chabad Center for Jewish Life announced these local times:

  • Mountain Lakes, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. at Kaufman Park

  • Boonton, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. at Grace Lord Park

  • Denville, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. at Denville Town Hall

Sparta

The township will host its celebration on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m. at the Sparta VFW, 654 Main St., with a giant menorah lighting, music, family magic show, latkes and doughnuts, among other attractions.

Hopatcong

A menorah lighting will be held at borough hall on Thursday night at 6 pm.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com

Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris, Sussex menorah lightings: Where to find Hanukkah celebrations

Advertisement