FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 17, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
NE Queens Chabad celebrates Hanukkah with menorah lighting
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e Bay Terrace community joined
Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky from Chabad of
Northeast Queens for a socially distant
Hanukkah celebration and lighting of a
giant menorah on the upper level of the
Bay Terrace Shopping Center on Sunday,
Dec. 14.
Before the celebrations began, Rabbi
Blesofsky reminded everyone to adhere
to the COVID-19 protocol of maintaining
Free Synagogue of Flushing hosts menorah-lighting ceremony
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
A small group of community members
representing diff erent faiths came
together to celebrate the second night of
Hanukkah and light the second candle
of the menorah of the Free Synagogue of
Flushing, on Friday, Dec. 11.
Rabbi Jeff rey Gale, spiritual leader of
the Free Synagogue, led the menorah
lighting ceremony, while the synagogue’s
executive director Alan J. Brava sang two
traditional Hanukkah hymns. John Choe
of the Religious Society of Friends and
board member of the Flushing Interfaith
Council had the honor of lighting the second
candle.
Choe, who also is a candidate for
New York City Council, was happy to
join Rabbi Gale and the congregation
to celebrate Hanukkah. He dedicated
the ceremony to serving the community
and making sure that those suffering
had the support to lift themselves
up. He gave a special dedication
to his friend and mentor, Justine
Eisenberg, who died of COVID-19 at
the age of 103.
“Th is Hanukkah, I’m going to be dedicating
my life to be serving people like
Justine did, who allowed us to do what we
can do today,” Choe said.
Th e Free Synagogue of Flushing was
established 103 years ago and welcomes
people regardless of their ethnicity, faith
or sexuality.
a social distance and wearing a face
mask. Th e rabbi had been apprehensive
about holding the annual event, which is
in its 26th year, because of the pandemic.
But then he thought of the miracle of
Hanukkah and what it represents, which
is overcoming darkness.
“When we are challenged, exactly at
that time, we overpower with extra light,”
Blesofsky said. “So instead of canceling,
we have to shower the community with
more love, more light and more warmth.”
He added that he was excited to see that
more people had turned out than expected
. “We have to realize that there is an inner
strength that each one of us possesses that
is way stronger than any adversity that we
might encounter,” the rabbi said. “When
we realize that we all have a soul, that there
is a part of us that is godly and supernatural,
we can overcome every- t h i n g ,
and that is especially powerful
this year.”
Steve Schwartz, whose
father Lenny Schwartz passed
away from COVID-19 in June
and for whom the the menorah
lighting was dedicated
to, had encouraged Rabbi
Blesofsky to hold the ceremony
despite the diffi cult
circumstances.
“Th ere was no ands,
ifs or buts. Of course,
we’re going to do it. And
of course, we are going to
come,” Schwartz said. “And
look at this crowd coming
out here tonight. I’m so
honored to be part of this
neighborhood. I’ve lived
here for 30 years myself. I
love Bayside.”
Aft er the greeting of
the elected officials,
including New York
City Council member
Paul Vallone, state Senator John Liu and
state Assembly member Ed Braunstein,
Rabbi Blesofsky climbed into a cherry
picker to light the menorah. Th e lighting
ceremony was followed by comedy juggler
Ned Gelfars who delighted the kids
juggling fi re torches and the adults
with his jokes. While Gelfars ensured
that everyone maintained a safe distance
during his juggling acts, attendees
enjoyed the traditional Hanukkah
doughnut and apple cider.
Longtime Bay Terrace resident Joan
Begun, who has lived in the neighborhood
for almost 53 years – and the lucky
raffl e winner of one of the $50 gift certificates
– has attended the Hanukkah celebration
since its inception.
“It’s a wonderful thing that he brought
all those people out,” Begun said. “It’s
been a terrible year for everybody; it’s an
extraordinary year.”
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
/WWW.QNS.COM
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