Happy Hanukkah: Menorah Lighting In Madison On Sunday

MADISON, NJ — Hanukkah is upon us. And although this year it may mean virtual dreidel games or only removing your mask when latkes are ready, that won't stop Chabad of SE Morris County from celebrating.

The Chabad center will hold several local menorah lightings, including one in Madison. The Madison lighting will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday across the street from the Hartley Dodge Memorial building on Kings Road at the Madison Train Station. Kings Road will be closed to allow for proper social distancing.

All are invited to the lightings, but people must socially distance and wear masks. Click here to participate on Zoom.

“In these difficult days of pandemic," said Rabbi Shalom Lubin, Director of the Chabad Center, "we look to the menorah as a symbol of light and hope, as we pray for the strength that we need to overcome the challenges we encounter in our everyday lives. Every person is like a candle, we each have the ability to brighten the world."

Hanukkah takes place this year from Thursday night until the evening of Dec. 18. Here's Chabad of SE Morris County's schedule for menorah lightings:

• Madison: 5 p.m. Sunday (fourth night of Hanukkah), across the street from the Hartley Dodge Memorial building on Kings Road at the Madison Train Station.
• Chatham: 7 p.m. Sunday, the gazebo in Firehouse Plaza.
• Florham Park: 6 p.m. Tuesday (sixth night), in front of the gazebo at 111 Ridgedale Ave.
• East Hanover: 6 p.m. Wednesday (seventh night), in front of Town Hall.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.

The Jewish holiday gets celebrated on eight consecutive nights, which each involve a lighting of the nine-candle menorah. Eight of the candles are the same height, but the ninth — the "shamash," or leader candle — stands taller. The shamash is used to light the rest of the candles.

On the first night, the shamash lights one candle, then two on the second night, etc. until all eight candles get lit for the last night of Hanukkah.

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