Family, friends, and members of the community joined together at Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield, on Saturday Dec. 13, to construct a 12-foot LEGO menorah as part of their Hanukkah celebration. A multi-generation group of 150 people, ranging from babies to senior citizens, came together in the Ashner Auditorium for the Hanukkah festivities, which began with a joyful sing-along led by Rabbi Michael Feshbach with Cantor Marshall Portnoy at the piano, sporting his festive menorah hat. The fun continued when Cookie Feldman, Education Director, dressed as a latke (potato pancake), joined Cantor Portnoy in a rendition of “I’m a latke.” Attendees then played dreidel games while enjoying some appetizers from the colorful, giant grazing table. With anticipation, everyone gathered together to receive instructions from Stephen Schwartz and his son, Michael Schwartz, from Building Blocks Partnership, LLC, who provided the LEGO bricks and facilitated the construction of the giant menorah. Using 100,000 LEGO bricks in total, each group built their own large LEGO section for the menorah base. As the groups joined their creative blocks to form the menorah, Feldman narrated the build and sang “The Dreidel Song” with the children and their families.
As the colorful LEGO blocks were added and the giant menorah grew, Michael Schwartz used a ladder and placed the menorah top, added candles, and lit the menorah, much to the excitement of the group. Families took turns taking their pictures in front of the menorah as the celebration continued with dinner, featuring a latke bar, salad bar, and donut bar. Rabbi Feshbach said that they had last held this type of event 15 years ago, and “it was time to bring it back.”
Susan Sokalsky, Executive Director of Beth Israel, was happy to see the event return as well, saying, “It’s exciting and thrilling to see so many people come out and participate. Beth Israel prides itself on being a family of families and this is a perfect example of it.”
Beth Israel is the largest Reform Congregation on the mainland in South Jersey, with a long history in the area. Founded in 1890, the congregation first met in Atlantic City. The current sanctuary features the original stained-glass windows designed in 1913 for the Pacific Avenue location in Atlantic City, which was designed in the Greek Revival style. The windows were restored in 1985 when the congregation moved to their current Northfield home.
The congregation plans to continue to celebrate the Hanukkah holiday with a “Night of a Thousand Menorahs” on Friday, Dec. 19, with a family Hanukkah service to be held in the Gusti Engleberg Sanctuary at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring their family menorahs to “add your light to the shine!” Shabbat dinner in the Ashner Auditorium will follow services, complete with a latke bar, toppings, and salad bar. The event is for all ages and will include songs, games, candles, and celebration. While services are open to all, the dinner requires reservations. For more information about events or educational programs, call (609) 641-3600 or email: bethisrael@cbinorthfield.org.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
