13 hours Ago By Catherine Morrison
Share this Story : Menorah lighting ceremony at city hall marks the start of Hanukkah Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Menorah lighting ceremony at city hall marks the start of Hanukkah The ceremony was led by Rabbi Chaim Boyarsky, who said the menorah’s job is to 'bring light to a world that went dark.' Get the latest from Catherine Morrison straight to your inbox Sign Up Author of the article: Catherine Morrison Published Dec 25, 2024 • 2 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.
Dozens of people gathered outside of city hall on the afternoon of Dec. 25 to light a menorah and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Photo by Catherine Morrison / Postmedia Article content Dozens of people gathered outside of city hall on the afternoon of Dec.
25 to light a menorah and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Held by the Rohr Chabad Student Network of Ottawa, the event marked 50 years since the first public menorah was lit at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in 1974. The ceremony was led by Rabbi Chaim Boyarsky, who said the menorah’s job is to “bring light to a world that went dark.
” Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others.
Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.
Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content “We know today there’s so much hatred and people are trying to shy away from standing loud and proud for their Jewishness,” said Boyarsky, who spoke in his speech the “atrocities” of Oct.
7, 2023, also sharing a story of a boy who was kidnapped by terrorists but escaped. “The menorah is a symbol of Jewish pride to stand loud and proud for the Jewish people.” Attendees chatted and ate donuts in front of the lit menorah while many other people used their holiday Wednesday to skate on the Rink of Dreams.
Ottawa city Coun. Stéphanie Plante lighting the menorah. Photo by Catherine Morrison / Postmedia Rideau-Vanier Coun.
Stéphanie Plante lit the 12-foot menorah and told the crowd that, while things “have been difficult,” they had allies, including herself. “It’s important for me around the holiday season to kind of try to touch base with every group I can,” Plante said before the ceremony began. “I have a very diverse ward.
” Boyarsky said that even when there’s darkness, “we have to be the menorah.” “We have to be the light to always defend values of freedom, of prosperity, of Jewishness and be inclusive,” Boyarsky said. An eight-day holiday, Hanukkah began on the same day as Christmas this year for the first time since 2005.
According to a news release from the Finkelstein Chabad Jewish Centre, Ottawa’s menorah is “one of over 15,000 large public menorahs throughout the world, including notable menorahs in front of the White House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Great Wall of China, and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.” Dozens of people gathered outside of city hall on the afternoon of Dec.
25 to light a menorah and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Photo by Catherine Morrison / Postmedia Ottawa city councillors Stéphanie Plante and David Hill with Rabbi Chaim Boyarsky. Photo by Catherine Morrison / Postmedia Ottawa city Coun.
Stéphanie Plante taking a selfie with attendees. Photo by Catherine Morrison / Postmedia Recommended from Editorial Ottawa shelters offering dinners and gifts for residents over the holidays Ottawa weather: Cold and cloudy on Christmas, Hanukkah Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Menorah lighting ceremony at city hall marks the start of Hanukkah Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion.
Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments.
Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending Frustrated Porter passengers stuck 2 1/2 hours on YOW tarmac Local News OPP worried about condition of driver who left Highway 417 crash scene Local News Levac: My best photos of Ottawa in 2024 show the city's growth and grit News It's anybody's guess when Linus Ullmark will return to Ottawa Senators net Ottawa Senators Ottawa shelters offering dinners and gifts for residents over the holidays News Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local Savings.
