by Sabrina Pourghassemi
A Hanukkah menorah lighting celebration starting this weekend is promoting a multicultural holiday season in the city.
Watch: Learn more about the Jewish holiday
“The objective of the event is to unite and bring everyone together, to spread light and encourage the community to perform an act of goodness and kindness,” said organizer Rabbi Yitzchok Slavin.
Slavin started the tradition 14 years ago with only 50 people in attendance.
This year marks the 15th menorah lighting with almost quadruple the turnout.
Slavin says his motivation to organize the event was to spread the message of the holiday by sharing with the world freedom of religion and encourage people to celebrate their culture.
The celebration will take place at four locations over the next week, including Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton and Milton starting this Sunday in Mississauga.
A giant six-foot Hanukkah Menorah will be kindled to kick off the festivities.
The celebration will also include traditional Hanukkah foods, including latkes (potato pancakes), music, entertainment and a chocolate gelt drop from the top of a ladder fire truck.
“In order to attract more people and awareness, we put in a unique twist. We asked the fire department to send over ladder trucks and have them drop gelt chocolate coins to make it more exciting for the kids” said Slavin.
The event is sponsored by The Chabad Jewish Discovery Centre, established 10 years ago by Rabbi Slavin and his wife Sara Slavin.
At the centre they run a variety of programs for Jewish children, adults and families throughout Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton and Milton.
The Jewish community in Toronto is approximately 189,000 people.
“As a young person in the Jewish community it’s nice to see my culture being celebrated in the city” said Yarin Aranovich, a business student at Ryerson.
“Especially around the holiday season where Christmas is always the main focus, I appreciate any attempt from the community to celebrate Jewish holidays.”
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, is observed annually for eight nights and days starting on the 25th day of the month Kislev, November to December, on the Hebrew calendar.
“Being half Italian and half Israeli my parents each come from different cultures and religions,” said Alyssa Donoto, a Ryerson psychology student.
“I take pride in both and I think it’s great to see Hanukkah festivities becoming more publicly celebrated.”
The first menorah lighting celebration will be located at the Mississauga Civic Centre.
All events will be free and open to the public.
For more, check out some other multicultural events happening in Toronto this season, celebrating traditions from all over the world.
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