Chanukah celebrated in Tolland with menorah lighting on town green
Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky said every candle in the menorah represents the souls of those present.
“What we are doing tonight is not just lighting the menorah, we are lighting our internal candles,” Wolvovsky said. “We want to make sure that when we go home tonight, we carry with us the message of Chanukah. The message of Chanukah is that every single one of us has a flame within. Every single one of us has a soul. We can learn from the menorah that we can light the entire area.”
Wolvovsky, who is based in the Chabad East of the River in Glastonbury, goes on an annual menorah lighting and celebration tour of several towns during Chanukah, and stopped in Tolland on Dec. 20, the third night of Chanukah.
Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley and Fire Chief John Littel lit the shamash, or servant candle.
“I’m so happy that the rabbi invited me to join you all today,” Foley said. “I’m so glad you welcomed me and the chief. Anything we can do to help you, we are here. Thank you for making us feel welcomed. I’m absolutely flattered, as is the chief, to be here.”
While the word Chanukah means “festival of lights,” Wolvovsky said the literal translation of the word is “dedication,” “inauguration,” or “education.”
“It’s so important to pass on our traditions to the next generation and we need that now more than ever,” he said. “We’re coming together here on the town green - various backgrouds, various families, various religions. What we have in common is, we are all dedicated to decency and to goodness.”
Among the meanings of the menorah, Wolvovsky said, is to publicize goodness and thank God for all of the miracles in our lives.
After the menorah lighting, Wolvovsky rose above the green, with help from a crane truck (courtesy of ARTfx Signs of Bloomfield), and dropped gelt (chocolate coins) from the sky to celebrators below.
Wolvovsky said this year’s “Chanukah tour” which also included Glastonbury, Coventry, and Ellington, was very well attended.
“It’s been beautiful - extra energy,” he said. “I think there are people who normally don’t come who came out this year. I’m not really sure why, but we’re grateful for that. I think it’s beautiful for people to come together, especially when the world faces so many challenges. Just like the flames of Chanukah represent the triumph of light over dark, goodness over negativity, we can do that in our own lives.”
For more information, visit www.chabader.com.
