Light Of Hope, Miracles Spreads At Station

A bright and symbolic flame of ​“tradition” and a ​“brighter day” was passed among generations during rush hour at Union Station at the onset of the third night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

The occasion was a menorah lighting ceremony Tuesday evening. Dozens of New Haveners participated with the hope to illuminate the world and help ​“tomorrow become a brighter day.”

The ceremony — organized by Dina and Rabbi Mendy Hecht and sponsored by the Sachs family, Cherry Hill Construction, Chabad of Downtown New Haven, and Park New Haven — was hosted on the second floor of Union Station.

The group gathered to light a community menorah that will join the 13,000 public menorah lightings around the world, Hecht said.

The crowd began the evening enjoying music from violist Nissen Weisman and saxophonist Yehuda Russell while having conversation and munching on donuts and other finger foods.

The ceremony ended with an intergenerational passing of the flame to light four candles of the menorah.

Rabbi Hecht shared a quick recap of the story of Hanukkah: A Greek-Syrian king ruling over Israel over 2,000 years ago tried to force the Jewish people to adopt the Greek culture. In rebellion, the Jewish Macabees’ soldiers defeated the Greek army ​“against all odds.” When returning to the holy temple, the soldiers ran into the ​“original supply-chain problem”: They had enough oil for one day’s worth of lighting the menorah. Yet the oil supply lasted for eight days.

Rabbi Hecht encouraged the group to bring their menorahs and light to the world.

Eleven-year-old Lily Wittenstein described Hanukkah as a part of ​“who I am, what I believe in, what I celebrate, and the story of my ancestors.”

The yearly celebration gives Wittenstein, who is in fifth grade, a sense of pride, she said. ​“I am reminded to embrace my heritage and history.”

“However the story of Hanukkah also reminds me that many groups continue to be discriminated against here in New Haven, across the country, and around the world,” she said. ​“I am compelled to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. I am encouraged to be an activist in my own community and an advocate around the world.”

Wittenstein added that the holiday is a reminder that ​“a world should’ve learned from its ancient mistakes.” 

“When I reflect on the story of Hanukkah, I see that standing up to injustice is possible,” Wittenstein said. ​“It takes a lot of determination, but if you truly believe in what you are doing, you can make a difference, just like Judah and the Macabees did.”

Mayor Justin Elicker said the Tuesday ceremony was his third menorah lighting event since the holiday started Sunday night. He described the eight day commemoration as a celebration of a miracle.

“I think it’s about symbolism around life, because in today’s world, there is a lot of darkness around us,” Elicker said. ​“And one point of light can extinguish thousands of points of darkness. I’ve seen not just one but so many points of light throughout these past two years that I’ve been mayor. In the way that our community supports each other. In the way that our community rejects forms of hate and comes together.”

“We can and must bring our luminous brilliant selves out there to the world and actually make a difference,” he said.

Watch the full ceremony here.