State College celebrates Hanukkah with car parade, menorah lighting at Penn State

CDT staff reports

The State College and Penn State communities celebrated Hanukkah on Sunday with a car menorah parade and public menorah lighting at Old Main.

About 80 people attended the event, held on the fourth night of the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. The event featured music, hot latkas, gelt and hot chocolate, and complimentary Hanukkah menorahs and candles were distributed for participants to light at home.

Chabad of Penn State has organized a public menorah lighting for more than two decades, but this year’s event had special significance as Jews across the globe worry about the Israel-Hamas war and a rise in antisemitism.

“Unity is what makes a strong community, ” Rabbi Hershy Gourarie of Chabad of the Undergrads at Penn State said in a written statement. “This is a time for us to tune in to this, because together we can accomplish great things. There is no greater display of the literal light it is in our power to bring into the world than to gather together and light the menorah. This is what the world needs right now.”

Twenty-five cars took part in the Menorah Car Parade Sunday in downtown State College before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah at Old Main.
Twenty-five cars took part in the Menorah Car Parade Sunday in downtown State College before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah at Old Main.
The Menorah Car Parade travels through downtown State College on Sunday before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah at Old Main.
The Menorah Car Parade travels through downtown State College on Sunday before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah at Old Main.
Rabbi Nosson Meretsky of Chabad of Penn State addresses the crowd before Sunday’s lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights at Old Main.
Rabbi Nosson Meretsky of Chabad of Penn State addresses the crowd before Sunday’s lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights at Old Main.
State Rep. Paul Takac addresses the crowd Sunday before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.
State Rep. Paul Takac addresses the crowd Sunday before the lighting of a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.
Ezra Nanes, State College’s first Jewish mayor, lights a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah Sunday on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.
Ezra Nanes, State College’s first Jewish mayor, lights a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah Sunday on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.
Sarah Strent, president of Chabad of Penn State, lights a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah Sunday on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.
Sarah Strent, president of Chabad of Penn State, lights a 6 foot tall public Jewish Hanukkah menorah Sunday on the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, hosted by Chabad of Penn State, at Old Main.

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