MALKY LOWINGER

YES, WE CAN! his own menorah because of this, it would make the whole thing “It’s all about pirsumei nissa,” explains Rabbi Eli Kornfeld of Hunterdon County, worthwhile.” New Jersey. “Spreading the miracle is an important part of the mitzvah.” Energized and delighted with the response to the Pizza Menorah, That’s why Rabbi Kornfeld and his team begin meeting in the summertime to Rabbi Hodakov is looking forward to this year’s theme — he hopes to brainstorm menorah ideas. Over the years they’ve built menorahs out of bowl- build a Falafel Menorah. How does he plan to pull that off? MENORAHS ing pins, chocolate coins, Lego, and ice. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the “can “We’re still figuring it out,” he laughs. menorah” that he built back in 2013. “It was the world’s largest can menorah,” he says. “We used 5,000 cans of food and it measured eighteen feet long and about L’CHAYIM MENORAH ! ON THE seven feet tall. Of course, it was a completely kosher menorah.” Buckhurst Hill is a small town just outside of London where Rabbi The massive can menorah was a great idea, but building it was structurally Odom Brandman is the local . “The Lubavitcher challenging. Rabbi Kornfeld enlisted the aid of an architect. “The most difficult ,” he says, “always encouraged making a big deal of Chanukah. part,” he says, “was that we were dealing with a tremendous amount of weight — Its message is so relevant today — encouraging pride in our Judaism, 5,000 cans are unbelievably heavy. So you can’t just start stacking cans or they’ll fighting assimilation, and reminding people of their Jewishness all come tumbling down. You have to do it properly, alternating small and large through the public menorahs that we put up.” circles of cans to get the proper balance.” So when he opened his Chabad Center, “One of our first projects MENU The menorah was carefully constructed by a team of volunteers and even more was a public menorah that we built in the center of town and a big impressively, none of the cans were glued together or attached with any tools or Chanukah event that become the talk of the town.” Did you know that you can light your gadgets. It was then lit during a candle lighting ceremony that evening with the Afterwards, the local community is invited to join the Brandmans at help of a local Congressman and Assemblywoman and a cheering crowd of on- a smaller Chanukah celebration indoors. To keep things interesting, Menorah and eat it too? Just ask the lookers. Afterwards, the cans were donated to local food pantries in New Jersey. there’s always an original menorah on site. “Over the years, we’ve done chocolate menorahs, a doughnut menorah, a pearl menorah, people who live in Clearwater Florida, PASS THE PIZZA, PLEASE ! and a lava lamp menorah. We’ve also created a menorah out of recy- Irvine California, Hunterdon New Jersey, Located in Pinellas County, Florida, the city of Clearwater is about a five hour cled cell phones.” drive from Miami. It’s a lovely area with lots of pristine beaches. One of those No doubt the most memorable menorah, as far as adults were and Bruckhurst Hill England. The Chabad beaches, says Rabbi Levi Hodakov, is the setting for what was probably the concerned, was the whiskey menorah Rabbi Brandman built several world’s first Pizza Menorah. “We tossed around ideas,” says Rabbi Hodakov, “and years ago. He used sixty-five liters (almost eighteen gallons) of representatives in these areas have gone somehow the concept of pizza came up. The challenge, of course, was how to seventeen-year-old single malt scotch donated by the Tullibardine out of their way to make the traditional implement it.” distillery. “I had been on a tour of the distillery,” he says, “and the Luckily, he was able to enlist the aid of Jim Stilwell, a local contractor who, says management had been so helpful and accommodating. They were as menorah lighting ceremony both unique the Rabbi, “is very patient with us and puts up with all our mishugasim.” We built excited as us about making that menorah really special.” the entire menorah in the shape of a slice of pizza and painted it in red, the color The whiskey menorah stood six feet tall and was lit on top with tea and delicious! of pizza sauce. We made about fifty individual mini pies of pizza and covered lights. The whiskey arrived in a cask and was poured directly into the Leave it to Chabad Rabbis all over the them with saran wrap. Then we attached them to the nine-foot high menorah clear plastic tubing menorah which was designed with a tap at the base.” Later that day, they hosted a huge ceremony on Clearwater beach. base. At the end of the evening the whiskey was poured into small world to bring the concept of edible Rabbi Hodakov is determined to minimize bal tashchis so he made sure to send bottles which were taken home as souvenirs and larger bottles which menorahs to a whole new level. They the individual pies home with his guests. “That’s why we wrapped them in saran were auctioned off to raise funds for the Chabad Center. wrap,” he explains. “So people could take them home and save them for another spend endless hours dreaming up day.” MASTER OF THE MENORAH The goal, says Rabbi Hodakov, “is pirsumei nissa, plain and simple. This is how About 500 Jewish families and 1,000 Jewish students reside in the original ideas and then implementing we show the community that Yiddishkeit could be fun and exciting. Our hope is vicinity of Irvine, California which has three Chabad houses. Fortu- them to build oversized and often that they walk away from these programs with a greater appreciation and that nately, they’ve got Rabbis like Elly Andrusier to keep it exciting. they go home at night and light their own menorahs.” Rabbi Andrusier considers himself an expert on unique menorah elaborate menorahs that can be enjoyed Over the years, the Clearwater Chabad has constructed menorahs out of cookies, ideas. “We are known for a lot of the world’s firsts and many shlu- jelly beans, gumballs, chocolate lentils, and more. Aside from the creative chim call me for advice,” he says. both spiritually and gastronomically. energy involved, “there’s also a lot of hard work and schlepping.” But this Rabbi The first year, says Rabbi Andrusier, “was the hardest. We did an ice wouldn’t have it any other way. The way he sees it, “If even one person lights cream menorah using 2,500 pounds of ice cream. We had to get a mold and then find an ice carver who would agree to work with it. I finally the event.” The cupcakes were later presented before judges who decided on found somebody in a local hotel who would do it. It took about five hours their favorite. and he had to work in a big freezer.” Why put all that effort into building creative edible menorahs? “The basic Being in California presented its own set of challenges. The event took place idea is to generate excitement,” he explains. “This is California and we have in an outdoor mall and of course the ice cream began to melt eventually. “It to be cutting edge. A menorah-lighting ceremony can instill a lot of Jewish was a big tircha,” Rabbi Andrusier remembers. “but it drew a lot of public pride.” attention.” Half the fun is building the menorah, and that is usually done in a public The next year they did a doughnut menorah, which was considerably area like a mall. It presents its own opportunity for curious onlookers to easier. “I designed an eight-foot tall skeleton-shell menorah out of thin stop and speak to the Rabbi. “The doughnut menorah took several hours to metal pipes,” the Rabbi remembers. “Then we slid 600 donuts over it. To build and lots of people were coming by to watch us assemble it.” add a little kick, we invited the Jewish police officers to come join us eating Rabbi Andrusier is always on the lookout for the next big idea. Years ago, a doughnuts.” party and a spin were enough to keep the people engaged. Not After that he did a jelly bean menorah, a gumball menorah, a hot pretzel me- anymore. “The next generation has become desensitized. They’ve seen it all. norah, an apple menorah, a popcorn menorah, and a cotton candy menorah. So we need to give them an extra incentive to come out of their homes.” Then he did a lollipop menorah and a cake pop menorah, both of which were Also, he admits that he’s spoiled his community who are always expecting “a huge hit.” something bigger and better. “We have to be very creative and very, very One of his best menorahs was the cupcake menorah, which was designed current,” he says. When we did minions, hundreds of people stopped by and with a variety of four uniquely flavored cupcakes. “That was a beautiful said ‘Wow!’ ” menorah,” says Rabbi Andrusier. “It was made with five hundred cupcakes This year’s theme? Rabbi Andrusier won’t divulge the details. But he tells us and stood nine feet tall. It involved twelve hours of baking, but it created a that, “it’s going to be all about slime and emojis.” tremendous buzz and excitement. It definitely brought a lot of attention to