A New Twist On A Chanukah Celebration

The construction of a giant 7 foot tall Menorah will highlight the annual Burlingame Menorah lighting sponsored by Chabad of the North Peninsula. Children and adults are invited to participate in building this 5,000 piece, state-of-the-art Lego Menorah. Festivities begin at 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 2nd, 2018.

For the Chabad, the "Lego Menorah" was a new twist on an annual tradition for the group. The Menorahs lighting will mark the 16th time since 2002 that Chabad of the North Peninsula has ushered in the holiday in a very visible way on Burlingame Ave. In past years, they've crafted menorahs of ice and built one with cans of food and one of coins to give to the poor. This year the event will also include a live music performance, imported snow for the kids to play with, Jelly doughnuts, Latkes and more.

“We are always looking for new ideas to keep the kids on the edge of their seats. The Lego Menorah was perfect,” said Rabbi Yale Spalter, rabbi at the Chabad center. “The uniqueness of the Menorah is what the child remembers. Not only are we trying to give the children a unique and exciting Chanukah experience; we are teaching them that Judaism is fun and exciting.” Spalter hopes that these exciting programs will make an everlasting impression on the children and will give them positive feelings towards Judaism in their adulthood.

This year the Chabad center has also organized its second annual Menorah lighting event at the skating rink in Central Park in San Mateo, on Sunday night, December 9th.

The Chabad center will also be organizing the Maccabee Makerspace as part of it’s Kids in Action programs, on the morning of December 9th (10 AM-12 PM). Anything is possible in our Maccabee Makerspace. Filled with tools, recyclables, and building materials, this teamwork-building workshop brings kids and families together for total imagination domination. Make a spinning robot dreidel, a jumbo s’more menorah and more.

And they will be partnering with The Home Depot to offer a pre-Hanukkah Menorah Workshop at 2001 Chess Dr in S. Mateo on Sunday, November 18 from 2:30-4:00. Participants will receive a workers apron and then craft their own unique menorah from wood and a host of other supplies available at The Home Depot. Parents accompany their children, and there is no charge for attending.

The holiday is one of the most popular among Jews because of what it represents: A monumental struggle and miraculous survival for the soul of Judaism. It's eight days mark the length of time a one-day supply of oil lasted in the holy temple in Jerusalem more than 2,300 years ago. The Syrians had desecrated the ancient temple in hopes of stamping out the practice of Judaism. But the oil lasted long enough for the Maccabees to repair and rededicate the temple. In commemoration of the miracle, Jews around the world light the Menorah as a symbol of light and liberty.