Make TBO Your Home Page| Subscribe To The Paper| Advertise With Us| Contact Us| Login| Edit Profile| Register
Suncoast Pinellas News
Email
Print
Get Ready For Hanukkah On Ice
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: December 1, 2007
PALM HARBOR, Fla. - PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Next weekend, a chill of Hanukkah will be in the air and Westfield Countryside Mall will be warmed with freshly fried potato pancakes and singing of traditional holiday songs.
Chabad of Pinellas County will illuminate the ice rink inside the mall with a free Hanukkah on Ice Celebration.
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights begins this year at sundown on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
The holiday is a celebration of miracles and faith. Around 165 B.C.E. a group of Jewish freedom fighters, the Maccabees, victoriously reclaimed the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.
When the rabbis prepared the temple for Hanukkah, the Hebrew word meaning rededication, they found only enough purified oil to kindle the holy menorah for a single day. Miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days, as a symbol that miracles do happen to those who keep the faith.
During the week of Hanukkah, Sunday evening, Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Chabad will hold a Hanukkah on Ice Celebration at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy at Westfield Countryside Mall.
"Nonstop action and activities will provide a creative and educational Hanukkah celebration," said Rabbi Levi Hodakov, Chabad youth and program director.
"What could be more delightful than a combination of sparking ice and a dazzling Hanukkah menorah," he added.
"We want to bring the spirit of Hanukkah alive for everyone, he said. Last year, in its first celebration at the mall, around 400 people attended. This year many more are expected.
The program begins at 5:30 p.m. with open skating around a giant 9-foot-tall inflatable menorah, against a background of contemporary Hebrew music and traditional holiday songs.
At 6:30, everyone will participate in the lighting of the grand menorah by Rabbi Shalom Adler, director of Pinellas Chabad, a Lubavitcher Hasidic congregation.
"This year admission will be free. No one should have to stay at home and not celebrate Hanukkah due to lack of funds," Rabbi Adler said.
Traditional Hanukkah latkes or potato pancakes, doughnuts, drink and chocolate Hanukkah gelt, the Yiddish word for money will also be available.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
