- January 20, 2025
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On the sixth night Chanukah, Monday, Dec. 30, Chabad of Palm Coast will light a public menorah at European Village, to be followed by community celebration.
The Chanukah Jewish Festival and Concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 5 p.m. In addition to the menorah lighting, there will be entertainment for all ages, including live music and dancing with Jewish pop singer Shuky Sadon, a petting zoo, face painting and balloons. There will also be hot drinks and a selection of traditional Chanukah foods.
In a press release, Chabad of Palm Coast said there has been a surge of public displays of the Chanukah holiday and Jewish identity this year,
"At this fraught time for the Jewish community, with war in Israel and American Jews facing a major rise in antisemitism, this year we are doing more to celebrate Chanukah with joy and Jewish pride,” said Rabbi Levi Ezagui of Chabad of Palm Coast. “The Menorah and Chanukah represent freedom of the human spirit, freedom from tyranny and oppression, and of the victory of good over evil.”
The festival is sponsored by Palm Coast Pharmacy and friends of Chabad. Throughout the state of Florida, Chabad-Lubavitch will be presenting dozens of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, ice menorah displays, car-top menorah parades, community gatherings, giant dreidel houses, Chanukah Wonderlands and more.
Additionally, this year's celebrations mark 50 years since the first public menorah was lit at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in 1974. Palm Coast's menorah is one of over 20,000 large public menorahs throughout the world, the press release states.
“Celebrating Chanukah is a potent point of light, Jewish pride and confidence for American Jews in the fight against darkness and antisemitism,” Ezagui said. "The celebration of Chanukah underscores the G-d endowed liberty that is at the heart of what America represents.”
European Village is located at 101 Palm Harbor Parkway. For more information about the festival, visit www.jewishpalmcoast.com/chanukah24.