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Menorah Car Parade and Lighting comes to LI
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Photo credit: Handout | Cars with glowing menorah during the annual Menorah Car Parade in Merrick. (2008)
New menorah designsIt's a sight that warrants a double take — giant menorahs erected on the roofs of a Hummer, an antique car and a stretch SUV, parading down Hewlett Avenue in Merrick. That — and more — is the plan at tomorrow's annual menorah car parade organized by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick.
While the three lead cars will have mounted menorahs provided by the center, the remaining 70 or so vehicles in the parade will have menorahs and decorations created by the drivers.
"We're hoping to see some Thanksgiving-themed ones," says the center's Chanie Kramer. After all, this is the year of "Thanksgivukkah," as some are calling the unlikely intersection of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, and it won't happen again for 78,000 years.
"Both holidays are about giving thanks," Kramer explains. "We're thanking the Pilgrims, the Native Americans, celebrating a feast together. Hanukkah is thanking God for the great miracle to allow us to practice our religion in freedom."
THE PARADE
The event, now in its seventh year, begins at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick. The parade travels south along Hewlett Avenue to Sunrise Highway, heads east to Newbridge Road in Bellmore, then south to Merrick Road in Bellmore, west to Merrick Avenue, and north to the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station.
Last year, more than 70 vehicles joined the procession. This year's parade will include fire and ambulance vehicles and at least one menorah-topped antique car. Spectators will hear traditional music during the parade. And expect some surprises along the way.
"Last year, we had dancing rabbis," Kramer says. Clergy members riding in parade cars exited their vehicles at a certain point along the route and grooved to the music in the middle of the street, much to the delight of hundreds of spectators.
DANCING, LATKES AND GELT
Festivities at the Merrick LIRR station will include the lighting of a 12-foot menorah followed by doughnuts, hot latkes with fixings and beverages. Families will take home gift bags of chocolate gelt, a dreidel and a Hanukkah guide. And the rabbis will lead in celebratory dancing. Hint: They're known to pull members of the audience into the dancing circles.
Although elements of the celebration may seem zany, Kramer says there is great meaning behind all the festive trappings — and the public celebration is meant to draw a crowd. Says Kramer, "we want to get everyone out for the first night of Hanukkah."
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