Chabad Hosts Community Chunukah Celebration

Chabad of Moorpark's annual community Chanukkah celebration took place Sunday and this year featured a menorah made with recycled bottles.

The use of recycled materials on the menorah helped to shed light on the Recycle With Bravery project, the recycling effort of Avery Sax, 12, of Moorpark. Sax, who has an inoperable mass in her brain, has started a recycling nonprofit to make a difference in the world. Her current goal is collecting a million bottles and cans.

“This Menorah is the ultimate display of joy and unity,” said Devorah Heidingsfeld, organizer of the event. “The holiday of Chanukah is a festival of a historic victory and celebration for all times, highlighted by the kindling of Menorahs each night of the holiday. Yet it also contains a universal message for people of all faiths—that ultimately, good will triumph over evil, freedom over oppression, and light over darkness.

The Chanukah event also featured a magic show, raffles, arts and crafts, a moon bounce, latkes and donuts.

Chanukah is the eight-day Jewish "Festival of Lights." This year, it began the evening of Dec. 8.

Each evening at sunset an additional candle is lit to commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem some 2000 years ago. 

“The message of Chanukah,” explained Rabbi Shimy Heidingsfeld, executive director of Chabad of Moorpark, “is one of hope in the face of extreme adversity. It’s a message with broad appeal to everyone who believes in religious freedom and that faith and determination can triumph against even the most overwhelming odds.”