Bronx House Menorah Lighting

Bronx House Menorah Lighting

By Robert Press

It was a cold Tuesday evening as the Bronx House Menorah ceremony was being held to mark the sixth day of Chanukah. On hand were Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr., State Senator Gustavo Rivera, outgoing Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, the Bronx House afterschool children, and close to one hundred local residents. Congressman Ritchie Torres was unable to attend as he was called to Washington. 

After the elected officials spoke on the subject of Chanukah, the ceremony was done by Rabbi Moshe Fuchs of the Sons of Israel Congregation. As Rabbi Fuchs was lighting the traditional candles the wind kept blowing out the candles, he had each of the elected officials hold a candle and everyone used their imagination that the candle menorah was lit as Rabbi Fuchs said the Chanukah prayers. Afterwards the electric Bronx House Menorah was lit by Bronx House COO Mr. Leon Davis.

Assemblyman John Zaccaro speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

 

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

 

With the wind blowing out the lit candles, Rabbi Fuchs had each elected official hold a candle as he said the Chanukah prayers. He asked everyone to use their imagination to see six candles lit on the menorah. Deputy Inspector Kentish Commanding Officer of the 49th Precinct stands in for Councilwoman Velazquez who had to leave. 

 

 

The almost one-hundred people from the neighborhood who came to see the Bronx House Menorah.

 

Children from the Bronx House afterschool program sing the Dreidel song.

Bronx House COO Leon Davis lights the Bronx House electric Menorah for the sixth day of Chanukah.