Virtual menorah lighting, scaled-back parade set in Pittsburgh to celebrate Hanukkah
Dark times need illumination.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, 1,000 homes in the Pittsburgh area will light the first candle on their menorah celebrating the opening of Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
They will do it virtually because of the pandemic.
“It is so important that people stay connected,” said Adam Hertzman, director of marketing for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, which is sponsoring the event. “This year has been so hard for everyone. The holidays are when people typically celebrate with family and friends.
“The idea that we can still gather while we are all so isolated is inspiring and we have hope because a vaccine is on the way. We will sustain that hope through this dark time of the year.”
The virtual event called “Chanukah 1000” will take place live via Zoom. There will also be food demonstrations and entertainment, including a ventriloquist.
Lighting the menorah will be done in unison and will include Mayor Bill Peduto from Downtown Pittsburgh.
“Light produces warmth and each day a candle adds to that light,” said Rabbi Elchonon Friedman of Bnai Emunoh Chabad in Greenfield, organizer of the parade sponsored by Chabad of Pittsburgh. “When it is cold and dark, we need a miracle. And the menorah shows that in the dreary place God is bringing light and warmth. We need to spread the light and make the miracle grow.”
The light will be spread safely at the annual menorah parade on Tuesday — the sixth night of Hanukkah.
The annual event will be shorter and not a festival like in past years. Cars with menorahs will line up at Rodef Shalom in Oakland/Shadyside and travel to Bnai Emunoh Chabad on Murray Avenue in Greenfield. There will be short ceremony, an outdoor menorah lighting at the end of the parade, a Hanukkah truck and LED juggling. Attendees can remain in their cars.
“We will be taking the light to the streets, so others can see it and realize we are all connected with God,” Friedman said. “We have to use the situation God has given us. Any small thing we can do, we should do it because people need to stay connected even if it has to be done virtually and from a safe distance with everyone staying in their cars.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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