Last night of Hanukkah marked with parade

The International Folk Dancers perform on Spanish Springs Town Square during Temple Shalom’s Hanukkah menorah lighting. 

The last night of Hanukkah was a time of celebration and prayer Thursday, as both Temple Shalom of Central Florida and Chabad Lubavitch of Ocala, The Villages and Tri County marked the end of the eight-night Jewish festival of lights in the community.

Temple Shalom held its second and final community menorah lighting Thursday afternoon at Spanish Springs Town Square. And similar to Sunday’s first menorah lighting at Brownwood Paddock Square, Temple Shalom Rabbi Zev Sonnenstein reminded those in attendance of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as the rise of anti-semitism around the world.

“What’s broken in the world can be fixed,” Sonnenstein told the hundreds in attendance Thursday. “And when we light the menorah for Hanukkah, it symbolizes a beacon of light for peace and stability in the world.”

There also was time for fun at Spanish Springs, with music from the Temple Shalom Choir and an appearance by The Villages International Dance Troupe, which performed several Jewish and Israeli folk dances.

Those in attendance also tried to put together what Sonnenstein called “the largest hora in the history of The Villages.” The hora is a type of circle dance popular within the Jewish community, and members of Jewish War Veterans; Jewish Singles of The Villages; Jewish Women South of 44; and Amazing Jewish Women of The Villages did what they could to make the circle as big as possible.

“We had quite the group hora Sunday at Brownwood, and we were hoping to top that at Spanish Springs,” said Susan Feinberg, marketing director for Temple Shalom.

Temple Shalom also brought back “Dreidel Man,” a man dressed as the spinning top played during Hanukkah. The rabbi also introduced a “Dancing Hannukiah,” or Hanukkah menorah.

“The Hanukkah menorah consists of nine candles — a helper candle in the middle and four candles on each side of the helper candle,” Sonnenstein said.

In addition, Temple Shalom members lit menorahs at all three town squares in The Villages nightly during the duration of Hanukkah, while every Villages recreation center featured Hanukkah displays with menorahs and notes on the festival’s history.

“We are thankful to The Villages community for allowing us to do this every year,” Feinberg said.

At Chabad House in Oxford, members and volunteers were busy attaching magnetic menorahs to vehicles Thursday afternoon ahead of the group’s Car Menorah Parade. The event typically happens in even-numbered years, but Chabad House Rabbi Yossi Hecht said it was important to hold a parade this year given what’s happening in the world.

“Now is the time to show our Jewish pride openly,” he said. “Now is the opportunity to bring light to the world and to shine that light on our community. It is pertinent to share that light and promote good.”

The menorahs featured LED lighting and large magnets that attached to vehicles without issue. After the installations were done, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office led the parade of around 25 vehicles from Chabad House into the Villages, where they would eventually drive around Lake Sumter Landing Market Square before finishing up at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Annex on the intersection of County Road 466 and Morse Boulevard.

“Tonight may be the last night of Hanukkah, but the message of Hanukkah can occur every day,” Hecht told those in attendance for a post-parade menorah lighting. “Bring messages of hope, joy and brightness to the world. This may be the last time to light a candle on the menorah until next year, but we can still do good deeds and bring kindness to all.”

The group also performed Hanukkah songs and enjoyed latkes and doughnuts, popular foods served during the holiday.

“We enjoy bringing the joy of Hanukkah to the community,” Hecht said.

Amazing Jewish Women of The Villages marked Hanukkah Tuesday with a celebration at Ezell Recreation. Around 160 people were on hand for a menorah lighting, a bake-off, games and fellowship.

Senior writer James Dinan can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5302, or james.dinan@thevillagesmedia.com.