Community celebrates 1st day of Hanukkah at special menorah lighting in Squirrel Hill

Each of the nine towers represented a candle in the menorah.

And each of the towers was built from dozens of cans of vegetables and fruit.

Green beans, diced potatoes, yams and corn. Pineapple, plums, tomatoes and chick peas.

And atop one branch, sat a flame, representing the first night of Hanukkah, celebrated on Sunday.

“There’s no greater way to bring light into the world,” said Rabbi Yisroel Altein, of Chabad of Squirrel Hill.

Altein presided over the lighting of the “Can-orah” on Sunday at the corner of Beacon Street and Murray Avenue.

“We celebrate one night at a time, one candle at a time ... to teach us two important messages,” Altein told those gathered for the event. “Number one, never suffice with what we did yesterday for today. Every single day we must increase in the light and the warmth and the mitzvahs we do.”

Mitzvahs are good deeds.

“And secondly, the menorah teaches us we don’t only keep the light for ourselves but as we increase, we put the menorah on the outside in order for everyone to celebrate and benefit, as well.”

Chabad of Squirrel Hill has made the menorah out of canned goods in years past, as well. With a traditional menorah set behind it, the location at a well-traveled intersection ensures it will be seen by hundreds of people every day, Altein said.

It’s an innovative way to help the community, he said. The canned goods, which were donated by Giant Eagle, as well as others in the community at local drop-off points, were collected by Our Giving Kitchen and will be given to the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry.

Altein called it a double mitzvah because the menorah will both give light and benefit others by providing them with food.

The Hanukkah festival will continue Monday with a menorah lighting at the City-County Building Downtown and on Tuesday with a parade of cars decorated with menorahs. The parade will end at Schenley Plaza with music and treats.

Rabbi Stanley Savage, who retired after serving at Beth Jacob Synagogue Downtown, was excited to attend the menorah lighting Sunday.

“It’s a community event,” he said. “I get to see old friends I don’t get to see.”

Rebecca Hine, who lives up the street from the menorah, said she and her friends had been seeing the signs for the event for a few days.

“It’s fun. It’s rare to have a community celebration,” she said. “It’s kind of nice.”

Rabbi Mordy Rudolph, the executive director of Friendship Circle, said he was happy to partner with Chabad of Squirrel Hill for the event.

Friendship Circle shared space in its facility with the synagogue to get ready for the program and provide a place to cook. In addition to passing out menorahs, Chabad provided latkes and doughnuts.

“The whole idea of Hanukkah is spreading light,” Rudolph said. “The more you can do to add light, the better.”

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, who lit the menorah, said the light represents kindness, morality and goodness.

“In a world like we live in today, the message is to bring more light,” he said.

One additional candle is lit on each of eight nights.

“Start with one. You do one, and somebody else will do another,” said Rosenfeld, who leads the Lubavitch Center. “That’s the message of what this holiday is all about. It’s to make a better world for all of us.”