A bonfire burned brightly as people stood on the lawn in their overcoats and gloves, shivering in the cold afternoon air, Monday.
A man stood in front of the menorah, speaking of Hanukkah, as well as those who gave their lives serving in Iraq.
In this, the fourth year the menorah has been lit during a public ceremony at the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe, several community members took the opportunity to read the names of soldiers from New Jersey who were killed in battle in Iraq.
According to Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, who led the ceremony, those fighting in Iraq share something with the message of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish people freeing themselves from Syrian persecution and earning their religious freedoms from those who tried to convert them.
"(The soldiers and the holiday) are very similar in terms of freedom," Rabbi Zaklikovsky said. "The message of Hanukkah is freedom."
After a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers and the playing of taps, several members of the community, including Monroe Councilman Irwin Nalitt, lit the candles of the menorah to mark the second night of the holiday.
"We remember our fallen heroes who died for our freedom," said Harold Rosenblatt, a Monroe resident. "(Hanukkah) commemorates freedom for the Jews."
Martin Tyberg, a Monroe resident attending the ceremony for the first time, agreed that it was important to honor the soldiers in their fight for the nation's freedoms.
"The holiday is about freedom and victory over oppression," he said. "The United States soldiers are fighting for Iraqi freedoms."
According to Rabbi Zaklikovsky, the event is usually well attended, bringing in about 150 people to celebrate Hanukkah.
Following the lighting, guests were treated to festive holiday songs and a feast of jelly donuts and potato pancakes.
"It is an ongoing tradition in the Chabad movement that the menorah is a universal symbol," he said. "We should not hide freedom of religion."
A man stood in front of the menorah, speaking of Hanukkah, as well as those who gave their lives serving in Iraq.
In this, the fourth year the menorah has been lit during a public ceremony at the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe, several community members took the opportunity to read the names of soldiers from New Jersey who were killed in battle in Iraq.
According to Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, who led the ceremony, those fighting in Iraq share something with the message of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish people freeing themselves from Syrian persecution and earning their religious freedoms from those who tried to convert them.
"(The soldiers and the holiday) are very similar in terms of freedom," Rabbi Zaklikovsky said. "The message of Hanukkah is freedom."
After a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers and the playing of taps, several members of the community, including Monroe Councilman Irwin Nalitt, lit the candles of the menorah to mark the second night of the holiday.
"We remember our fallen heroes who died for our freedom," said Harold Rosenblatt, a Monroe resident. "(Hanukkah) commemorates freedom for the Jews."
Martin Tyberg, a Monroe resident attending the ceremony for the first time, agreed that it was important to honor the soldiers in their fight for the nation's freedoms.
"The holiday is about freedom and victory over oppression," he said. "The United States soldiers are fighting for Iraqi freedoms."
According to Rabbi Zaklikovsky, the event is usually well attended, bringing in about 150 people to celebrate Hanukkah.
Following the lighting, guests were treated to festive holiday songs and a feast of jelly donuts and potato pancakes.
"It is an ongoing tradition in the Chabad movement that the menorah is a universal symbol," he said. "We should not hide freedom of religion."
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