Chabad of Cape Ann invites all to join them at the Barletta Park Visitor information shed on Sunday, December 18 at 4:30 PM for a Menorah Lighting and Chanukah celebration.  All are welcome to join in this program for all ages, with music, doughnuts, and latkes.

Chabad will ignite a public 9-foot Hanukkah menorah erected in downtown Rockport, followed by a community-wide celebration on December 18, the first night of the eight-day holiday. The menorah lighting ceremony will include music, Hanukkah-themed refreshments, such as latkes and doughnuts, and children’s activities.

The Menorah lighting is part of the worldwide Hanukkah campaign, an initiative launched by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 1973. The campaign highlights and encourages the central theme of the holiday — publicizing the story of the Hanukkah miracle.

“The message of Hanukkah is the message of light,” added Rabbi Avremi Raichik. “The nature of light is that it is always victorious over darkness. A small amount of light dispels a lot of darkness. Another act of goodness and kindness, another act of light, can make all the difference.”

Today, the unprecedented public display of Hanukkah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the American practice and awareness of the festival. Rockport’s menorah is one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message

Throughout the North Shore, Chabad will be presenting dozens of Hanukkah events and celebrations. For more information about Hanukkah and a local schedule of events visit Chabadcapeann.com/chanukah