Grand Menorah Brings Cheer to CU Students

Over a hundred students and community members left the Grand Menorah Chanukah Celebration on CU’s campus full of Chanukah cheer Wednesday night.

Chabad Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm and Hillel Director Hanan Nayberg organized the event together to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. The two spoke to the crowd to begin the event.

They were joined by CU Provost Russ Moore, who lit the giant menorah for the annual public celebration. He was surrounded by students, professors and local families. After the prayers, the crowd sang traditional Chanukah songs and ate latkes and jelly donuts. The event was brief; it lasted for less than an hour.

Chabad has also been giving out menorahs and candles to students so that they can light their own menorahs during the holiday.  Rabbi Wilhelm and others were also distributing Chanukah Gelt.

For some students at the University of Colorado, it is their first Chanukah away from their families. For others, it is their fourth or fifth.  Students said that the event provided them a way to celebrate the holiday, especially since freshman are not allowed to light candles in the dorms.  Alex Weisbart, an 18-year-old freshman communications major, said that she came to the event so that she could celebrate the holiday:

It was a way to celebrate, when I’m not at home,” Weisbart said.

She also said that she did not mind not being home for the holiday.

It’s a great Jewish community at CU,” she said. “I haven’t been widely involved, but I like it when I go.”

Dan Sherman, a 17-year-old freshman anthropology major, said that he was also excited to be at the event, which he went to after friends brought him.

I love Chanukah,” Sherman said. “I’ll miss my family, but I have a place to go, so I’m happy.”

Ty Scholl, a 19-year-old sophomore integrative physiology major, is not celebrating his first Chanukah at school, but he said that he would miss his family.

It’s weird and sad not being home,” Scholl said. “But there’s such a great Jewish community, so it’s a great place to celebrate.”

Text of the remarks by Rabbi Wilelm and Lera Yavich, along with more pictures, are here.

Missed the Grand Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration?

Don’t miss Chabad’s Chanukah festivities, Friday, December 3, 2010. Light your own menorah while enjoying appetizers at 4:00 pm. Shabbat services are at 4:30 pm. Shabbat and Chanukah Dinner is at 5:00 p.m.  Chabad is located at 775 17th St., which is on the corner of Cascade Avenue and 17th Street.

Don’t miss Hillel’s Chanukah Shabbat, Friday, December 3, 2010. Services are at 6:00 pm and dinner is at 7:00 pm. Hillel is located at 2795 Colorado Ave., which is on the corner of Colorado Avenue and 28th Street.