2010

Gunther Aron stood proudly beside the giant Chanukah menorah in Santa Fe, N.M. With hundreds of people, a mixture of Jewish residents, Mayor David Coss and other city officials, and staff members of the local Chabad-Lubavitch center, looking on, he made the traditional blessings and lit the candles corresponding to the fifth night of the Festival of Lights.

Blankets and fridges dispatched from the Chabad-Lubavitch run Yad B’Yad charity in Lod, Israel, made their way north to the fire-ravaged Carmel Forest as part of a relief package for the thousands of families displaced in the country’s worst natural disaster in modern history.

Jewish residents of Commack, N.Y., kicked off Chanukah festivities with a grand menorah parade organized by Chabad-Lubavitch of Mid Suffolk. (Photos: Joel Blitzer)

An Israeli Chanukah celebration would not be complete without the traditional jelly-filled fried donut, but until recently, Israeli backpackers in Vietnam went without the oily, sugary concoction.

Every Chanukah, college students around the world can count on their campus Chabad House to electrify the holiday with menorah lighting ceremonies, parties and dreidel spinning contests, galore.

As Israelis embark on the arduous task of rebuilding homes and lives after their country’s worst natural disaster in modern history, those who lost loved ones in last week’s Carmel Fire are receiving extra attention in the midst of their mourning.

Jewish residents of Moscow took to the Kremlin to usher in the eight-day holiday of Chanukah, challenging the subzero weather to put a damper on their spirits.

Nightly Jewish celebrations are taking place in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, an annual layover point for thousands of Israeli backpackers making their way through Asia.

It’s become almost commonplace for hundreds of thousands of people to attend grand public Chanukah menorah lightings in metropolises and in front of statehouses dotting the American landscape. But the first such ceremony, in Philadelphia’s Old City in 1974, included less than a handful of Jews.

South Florida basketball fans got a taste of Chanukah this week as Jews from all over the Miami area flocked to American Airlines Arena the light the first candle on the menorah and celebrate Jewish Heritage Night.

This Chanukah, Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton Beach has a lot to celebrate.

Jewish culture’s in the spotlight at Concordia University this Chanukah, and in a departure from past campus events, it’s a favorable spotlight.

Outgoing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Jewish leaders from across the state to celebrate the eight-day holiday of Chanukah from the steps of the state capitol.

As Israeli fire crews, backed up by a multinational team of tanker aircraft and rescue services, worked the last remnants of a blaze that by Sunday had charred more than 12,000 acres, the 17,000 people displaced by the country’s worst natural disaster in modern history turned to the formidable task of piecing their lives back together.

Jewish Floridians saw continuity in their state government Monday during a symbolic Chanukah menorah lighting ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee.

From Bangkok to Brooklyn to the Brandenburg Gate, global menorah lightings reflected each region’s special flavor, but each issued a far-reaching, universal statement of tolerance, togetherness and unity.

Jacob Lew, who as director of the Office of Management and Budget is the highest-ranking Jewish official in President Barack Obama’s White House, ushered in the eight-day holiday of Chanukah Wednesday night by lighting the National Menorah. (Photos: Baruch Ezagui)

Hours before the onset of the Jewish Sabbath, fire crews from more than five nations continued to fight the blaze and citizens mourned the death of 40 prison service staff whose bus was overtaken by quickly-moving flames.

With tensions escalating on the Korean peninsula, Jewish soldiers stationed throughout South Korea are celebrating Chanukah thanks to care packages distributed by the Aleph Institute, a Chabad-Lubavitch organization that serves the needs of Jewish military personnel, prisoners and their families.

The Australian state of New South Wales’ top legislative leaders hosted a public Chanukah celebration at Parliament House in advance of the eight-day Festival of Lights.