Hanukkah Celebrations & Eats on Long Island
Celebrate the Festival of the Lights with menorah lightings and festive events including a menorah parade. Scroll below for top rated latke's!
Things to know about Hanukkah:
- Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusualem. The Maccabees built a new menorah. At first they worried that they would not be able to light their new menorah, but they searched and searched, until at last they found one tiny jar of oil – enough to light the menorah for just one evening. The Maccabees knew that it would be at least eight days before they could get more oil, but they lit the menorah anyway. To their surprise, this little jar of oil burned for eight days- hence the Festival of Lights!
- Candles are lit each nite to celebrate the miracle of oil lasting for eight nights
- The miracle of oil lasting eight days is always celebrated in traditional food that are eaten such as latkes and jelly donuts- scroll for Top Rated Latkes
- Lacking exact English equivalents to the Hebrew sounds led to the many spelling variations we see today: Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, Chanukkah. Did you say that five different ways? In English, the different spellings don’t affect the pronunciation. So when writing Happy Hanukkah, have no fear, pick your favorite.
Menorah Lightings & Special Events
12/3- Kings Park- Chamber of Commerce- Lighting of Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony
12/5- Dix Hills- JWC Pre Chanukah Paint & Sip Night
12/7 - Huntington- Grand Menorah Lighting, juggling show, live concert with Toby Tobias ...
12/7 - Commack - Chabad of Mid-Suffolk - Gelt Drop
12/7 - Merrick - Grand Menorah Lighting, hot latkes, meet Dreidelman, live dj, doughnuts..
12/7- Long Beach - City Menorah Lighting with various organizations- Lighting of LI's largest menorah, glow in the dark parachuting dreidels, great chocolate gelt drop...
12/7- Plainview - Plainview Synagogue Chanukah Menorah Parade - car top menorah parade, gelt drop, maccabee photo op, crafts ....
12/7 - Port Washington- Chabad of Port Washington - "Spread the Light" Menorah lighting event @ Bar Beach featuring fireworks, giant LED walls ...
12/7 - 12/14 - Syosset - Community Menorah Lighting - Join Rabbi Jay Weinstein from Congregation Simchat HaLev every day of Hanukkah at 4:00pm to light the Community Menorah in front of 50 Jackson Avenue.
12/8 - Chabad of the Beaches- Chanukah Dinner
12/9 - Patchogue- Annual Menorah Lighting
12/10- The Chai Center of Dix Hills & Chabad of Mid-Suffolk - Grand Menorah Car Parade & Chanukah Party Concert
12/10- Islip- Chabad of Islip - Chanukah on Main Street - grand menorah lighting, the great big gelt drop...
12/10- Manhasset- Chabad of Manhasset - Chanukah Festival
12/10- Jericho- Milleridge Inn - hosted by Rabbi Krivisky - Menorah lighting, jelly donuts and dreidels...
12/10- Long Beach - City Menorah Lighting with various organizations- Chanukah on Ice - Fantasy face painting, pizza, watch the sculpting of the ice menorah, build your own LEGO dreidel
12/10- Plainview - Chadad of Oyster Bay - Chanukah Fire Fun! - giant menorah lighting, holiday foods & pizza, festive music and entertainment by Robert McEntree- magician, mentalist & stunt artist
12/11- Islip- Chabad of Islip - Comedy Chanukah Social, menorah lighting, drinks, and more
12/11 - Smithtown - Chabad of Mid-Suffolk - Chanukah - A Festival of Lights - benefit event
12/13 - Commack - Suffolk Y JCC - Suffolk County Shine a Light on Antisemitism Menorah Lighting - entertainment & giveaways..
Catering for Hanukkah at Home
Treats
Top Rated Latke's!
Bonus - Irving's World Famous Pastrami - serves up sandwiches in deep fried knishes
