Chabad Of Roosevelt Island Celebrates Chanukah With Public Menorah Lighting Tonight At Rivercross Lawn - With Latkes, Dreidels And More Treats Too

The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island hosted their 18th annual Public Menorah Lighting ceremony this evening celebrating the third night of Chanukah at the Rivercross Lawn

After the Menorah Lighting, those attending enjoyed hot latkes,

 

received dreidels

 

and other treats.

Happy Chanukah.

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Join The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 9 At Rivercross Lawn - Pass The Latkes Please & A New Chanukah Song From The Maccabeats

Tonight is the first of eight Chanukah nights.

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting for the 3rd Chanukah Light on December 9 at 6:30 PM at the Rivercross Lawn.

 Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other treats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

CBS New York reports on how Chanukah is being celebrated this year

and the Maccabeats have a new Chanukah song.

Happy Chanukah Roosevelt Island. 

UPDATE 12/8

Happy Happy Chanukah and sending you all love! Have a great eight crazy nights! pic.twitter.com/a5MAtprHvN

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) December 7, 2023

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Join The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 24 At Rivercross Lawn - Pass The Latkes Please & Chanukah Songs From The Maccabeats And Adam Sandler Too

Tonight is the first of eight Chanukah nights and the Roosevelt Island Menorah on the Rivercross Lawn

is now lit.

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting for the 7th Chanukah Light on December 24 at 6:30 PM.

Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other  ttreats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

Mayor Eric Adams wishes NYC a Happy Chanukah

and here's a history of the Chanukah holiday.

Enjoy some Chanukah music from the Maccabeats

and Adam Sandler.

Have a great Chanukah and thinking of you all pic.twitter.com/WysxQpMZmA

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) December 18, 2022

Happy Chanukah Roosevelt Island.

UPDATE 10:25 PM - Elton Johnukah from Six13 is pretty good too.

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Join The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 4 At Rivercross Lawn - Pass The Latkes Please & Chanukah Songs From The Maccabeats And Adam Sandler Too

At its core, Hanukkah recounts a story at the heart of the human spirit — one that is inherently Jewish and undeniably American. From my family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a Chanukah Sameach, a Happy Hanukkah!

— President Biden (@POTUS) November 28, 2021

Happy #Hanukkah, New York City!

pic.twitter.com/bcGiehjmXi

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 29, 2021

Tonight is the first of eight Chanukah nights.

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting for the 7th Chanukah Light at the Rivercross Lawn on December 4 at 6:30 PM.

Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other  ttreats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

The Maccabeats celebrate with a new 2021 Chanukah song

and A Latke Recipe.

Also, enjoy Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song.

Happy Chanukah Roosevelt Island.
UPDATE 11/29 - A little Chanukah history.

Happy Hanukkah From Roosevelt Island - No Outdoor Public Menorah Lighting This Year, But Spin The Dreidel, Pass The Latkes, Adam Sandler Sings And A Bit Of History Too - UPDATE 12/11 Menorah Put Up Today

Our city has never needed to celebrate light and faith more than this year. Happy Hanukkah to all the New Yorkers celebrating! pic.twitter.com/nNDobGYxFV

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) December 10, 2020

From our family to yours, happy Hanukkah! May this season of celebration bring you light and joy out of darkness. https://t.co/eN7J1QSIJY

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 10, 2020

As Hanukkah begins, Jill and I send our warmest wishes to everyone celebrating in the United States and around the world. We know things look a little different this year, but we hope these next eight nights are filled with family, love, and light. Chag Sameach!

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 10, 2020

Happy Hanukkah from Roosevelt Island. 

Unfortunately, there in no outdoor Hanukkah Menorah Lighting on the Rivercross lawn this year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

{UPDATE 12/11 - Chabad of Roosevelt Island put up a Hanukkah Menorah at the Rivercross lawn today.}

 

{Back to 12/10 story.}

 

We can still enjoy spinning the dreidel

 

and tasty latkes

with the Maccabeats singing group.

Yum. 

Always fun to hear Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song too.
  

And here's info on history of Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah.

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Join The Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday December 8 At Rivercross Lawn - Pass The Latkes Please & Spin the Dreidel With The Maccabeats

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Annual Family Public Menorah Lighting for the 7th Chanukah Light at the Rivercross Lawn

on Saturday evening December 8 (6:30 PM):

Come together to celebrate Jewish pride!

Enjoy hot latkes, hot drinks, music, dreidels and other  ttreats.

For more information contact nechama@RIjewish.org

Happy Chanukah from Roosevelt Island

and the Maccabeats. Have fun spinning the dreidel



and enjoy the Latkes.



Yum.

History of Chanukah here.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Family Public Chanukah Menorah Lighting Saturday Evening December 24 - Music Dreidels, Hot Drinks, Donuts & More - Watch A Hamilton Hanukkah Video With The Maccabeats Too

The Chabad Lubavitch of Roosevelt Island invite you to the Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony in front of Blackwell House this Saturday, December 24:

Please join us for the annual Roosevelt Island Family Public Menorah Lighting Saturday Evening, December 24th.

 The 1st Chanukah Light 7:00 PM in front of Blackwell House Music!!

Dreidels!!

Hot Drinks!!

Hot Latkes!!

Doughnuts!!

A Gift for all!!

Chanukah Gelt!

For more info please contact 212-652-5660 or Nechama@RIJewish.org

Here's the Maccabeats Chanukah song for 2016 - A Hamilton Hanukkah.



Happy Chanukah!

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - First Night Celebrated With CANorah Menorah Candle Lighting At Tram Plaza And A Latke Recipe From The Maccabeats

Earlier this evening, Chabad Lubavitch of Roosevelt Island Rabbi Zalman Duchman celebrated the first night of Chanukah by lighting a CANorah Menorah at the Tram Plaza.

A CANorah is a Chanukah Menorah made out of food cans. After the eight night of Chanukah, the food  cans will be donated to the needy together with the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA).

Roosevelt Island photographer Irina Hage of Irina Island, shares these photos 



from tonight's Chanukah CANorah Menorah Lighting Ceremony.

Celebrate Chanukah with the music of The Maccabeats





and Matisyahu.



Also, the annual Public Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place 6:30 PM Saturday, December 12 at Blackwell House.

More information on the Chabad Lubavitch of Roosevelt Island available at their web site.

You're Invited To Help Build A Chanukah CANorah Menorah With Chabad Lubavitch Of Roosevelt Island Sunday December 6 At Tram Plaza Lawn - Your CANorah Food Cans Will Be Donated To The Seniors Center

The Chabad Lubavitch Of Roosevelt Island invite you to help build a CANorah at the Tram Plaza Lawn Sunday December 6 from 4 - 5:30 PM.

What's a CANorah you ask? Simple, it's a Chanukah Menorah made of donated food cans.

According to Nechama Duchman:

Join us in spreading the light this of Chanukah by helping build a CANorah (a Menorah made entirely from food cans)! All cans will be donated to the needy together with the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA).

You CAN make a difference!

Sunday, December 6th at 4:00pm at the Tram Lawn, bring along canned food that you would like to donate to the needy. Together, we will build the CANorah. The CANorah will stand proudly on the Tram Lawn for the 8 days of Chanukah and will then be distributed.

For more information or questions, please email us or call us 212-652-5660.

Also, the annual Public Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place 6:30 PM Saturday, December 12 at Blackwell House.

More information on the Chabad Lubavitch of Roosevelt Island available at their web site.

Scenes From Roosevelt Island Menorah Lighting Ceremony And Kids Bring Chanukah Smiles To Seniors Center - Salvation Army Brings Christmas Cheer To Coler Hospital Residents Too

Roosevelt Island resident Nechama Duchman shares these photos and report:

Here are pictures from the Menorah Lighting on Saturday night

and from the Senior Center on Wednesday.

My son Mendel and his third grade class from Brooklyn brought Chanukah smiles to the Senior Center with song,

game and treats.

Also, last Wednesday the Salvation Army



paid a visit to Roosevelt Island's Coler Hospital to spread some Christmas cheer to its residents.

Roosevelt Island Chanukah Menorah Lit Tonight - Adam Sandler Celebrates Chanukah Too

The Roosevelt Island Chanukah Menorah was lit earlier today in front of Blackwell House.

Always fun to hear Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song. Here it is.



More Chanukah songs from post earlier this week.

Happy Chanukah!

Happy Hanukkah From Roosevelt Island and The Maccabeats, Matisyahu,The Shlomones And A Texas Dreidel Song - First Ever Thanksgivukkah Tomorrow Too

Image from The Thanksgivukkah Buzzfeed Video

Happy Hanukkah from Roosevelt Island. Tonight is the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. The Roosevelt Island Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place this Saturday November 4 at 6:30 PM in front of Blackwell House.

Image From RI Jewish

Enjoy some Hanukkah music with the Maccabeats,



Matisyahu



The Shlomones,



and the Dreidel song with a Texas twist.



This year, Hanukkah overlaps with Thanksgiving to



 create Thanksgivukkah:

In 2013, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving for the first time time in history, and the last time for another 70,000 years. No, that is not a typo. This historic confluence between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the Jewish-American experience and give thanks for the ways religious freedom makes America great for all of us....

Live Science adds:

... The reason for this year's rare alignment has to do with quirks of two calendars, the Gregorian and Jewish calendars. Much of the world follows the Gregorian calendar, which has a 365-day year based on the Earth's orbit around the sun, with leap years every four years. The Gregorian calendar was implemented by Pope Gregory to keep Easter in line with the season it was originally celebrated in.

But the Jewish calendar, which was created more than 2,000 years ago, follows the waxing and waning of the moon. That calendar has 12 months of roughly 30 days each, which works out to a bit more than 354 days in a year. As a result, the Jewish year creeps earlier and earlier relative to the Gregorian calendar. But many Jewish holidays, such as Passover, are tied to seasons such as spring....

Happy Hanukkah, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Thanksgivukkah to you.

A Chanukah Visit To Roosevelt Island Senior Center With Songs, Games & Treats - Also, Technion's Robotic Rube Goldberg Menorah Lighting Machine

Roosevelt Island resident Nechama Druchman reports

Happy Chanukah!!

Yesterday, my son Mendel and his friends came to the Senior Center

Image From Nechama Druchman

to bring Chanukah cheer with songs,

Image From Nechama Druchman

game,

Image From Nechama Druchman

latkes and treats for all.

 Image From Nechama Druchman

Everyone had a great time!

Also, students at the Technion Israeli Institute Of Technology, Cornell NYC Tech's partner in the new Roosevelt Island Applied Sciences & Technology school, show us how to light a Chanukah Menorah with a Rube Goldberg machine using Robots, helium and anything else they can find.



Probably wise that Mendel and his friends did not try anything like this at the Roosevelt Island Seniors Center.

Roosevelt Island Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony Saturday December 8 In Front Of Blackwell House - Enjoy Chanukah Song From Matisayahu And Dreidel Song With A Texas Twist

Roosevelt Island Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony takes place Saturday, December 8 at 6:30 PM in front Blackwell Plaza. There will be music, Hot Latkes, Doughnuts, Hot Drinks and Chanukah Gelt.

Here's a Chanukah song from Matisyahu

You Tube Video of Miracle - Matisyahu Hanukkah Song

and the Dreidel Song with a Texas twist.

You Tube video link is here.

If you are in the mood for some Chanukah food, the NY Times asked in a recent article:

 ... every year I wonder: Is there something different I can make that still says Hanukkah? Two new excellent cookbooks can help answer that question: “The Mile End Cookbook” (Clarkson Potter, 2012), which the Bernamoffs co-wrote, and “Jerusalem” (Ten Speed, 2012), by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. The books exemplify two current trends in Jewish cooking: Ashkenazi Brooklyn hipster (in the Bernamoffs’ case, by way of Montreal), and cross-cultural, vegetable-based Israeli. Both volumes have recipes for classic latkes, but the overlap pretty much ends there....

and shows how to make potato latkes.  

Eat up.

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island and The Shlomones, Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, The Maccaabeats and Matisyahu - Let's Do The Rocky Hora Chanukah Dance

Happy Chanukah from Roosevelt Island. The Roosevelt Island Chanukah Menorah joins the Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree and Holiday lights to brighten up Blackwell House Plaza.

Enjoy some Chanukah songs from The Shlomones,

You Tube Video The Rocky Hora Chanukah Song

Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert,

YOu Tube Video of Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert Sing Hanukkah Songs

The Maccabeats and

You Tube Video of The Maccabeats - Candlelight - Hanukkah

Matisyahu.

You Tube Video of Miracle - Matisyahu Hanukkah Song

If you want more Chanukah songs take a look at these oldies but goodies from Adam Sandler and the Dreidel Song with a Texas twist.

Merry Christmas And Happy Holidays To All On Roosevelt Island and Around The World - Hope You Are Having A Great Day

Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Card

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all on Roosevelt Island and around the world.

You Tube Video Of Springsteen's Merry Christmas Baby

Hope you are having a peaceful and enjoyable day.

You Tube Video Of Ramones Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)

Here's something for those who eat Chinese food on Christmas and go to the movie theater too. A funny satirical video.

You Tube Video Of Chinese Food On Christmas

I wish you all peace, love and understanding.

You Tube Video of Elvis Costelo's Peace, Love and Understanding

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town For The Annual Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Tonight & Tomorrow The Roosevelt Island Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony Will Take Place - Can't Take All This Excitement!!!

Roosevelt Island Reindeer Card

Can Roosevelt Island residents take any more excitement this week? First, there was the re-opening of the Tram and later this evening comes the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Blackwell Park

Image of 2009 Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas Tree At Blackwell House Plaza

with a visit from the Big Man In The Red Suit - Santa Claus

Santa Clause Arrives For 2007 Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Photo by Alexis Villafane

From RIOC:

You are cordially invited to join the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation at the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The festivities will take place at Blackwell Plaza on Friday, December 3rd at 7 PM.  Santa will make a special appearance to receive wishes from the Roosevelt Island Community. Join our musical guests as they lead the audience with up-beat carols and a dance-inducing live performance.  Warming winter treats such as hot cider and hot chocolate will also be served.  Kids can look forward to small holiday gifts and a photo with Santa.

Bring your holiday cheer for a celebration you would not want to miss!

More holiday excitement to enjoy Saturday with the Roosevelt Island Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony.

 

 There will be Music, Hot Latkes and donuts, Hot Drinks, Dreidel’s and Chanukah Gelt and Gifts for everyone starting at 6:30 PM.

Image of Roosevelt Island Chanukah Tram At Riverwalk Landing

My head is spinning from so much Roosevelt Island excitement!!!!!

You Tube Video Of Hannukah Lights

Hopefully, will know soon weather the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards will be available for sale this year.

Last, but not least, here's Neil Diamond's version of Adam Sandler's classic Chanukah Song



and Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming To Town.

UPDATE 2:25 PM - CNN reports on the lack of good Chanukah songs:

 Face it: Good Hanukkah songs are hard to come by.
For decades, school children performing in holiday concerts have droned on about that dreidel, dreidel, dreidel they've made out of clay....

but here's a new one from the Maccabeats
 

Happy Chanukah From Roosevelt Island - Enjoy The Dreidel Song, Texas Swing Style

Image of Roosevelt Island Chanukah Tram At Riverwalk Landing

Happy Chanukah.

Here's my favorite rendition of the Dreidel Song - Texas swing style.

You Tube video link is here.

I believe there is a Roosevelt Island Menorah Lighting Ceremony this Saturday in front of Blackwell House.

More Chanukah songs from earlier posts here including from Adam Sandler and Matisyahu.

Happy Chanukah - Roosevelt Island Menorah Lighting Ceremony Tonight At 6 PM In Front Of Blackwell House

You Tube Video of Adam Sandler's The Chanukah Song (Part 3)

A Chanukah Menorah Lighting ceremony will take place tonight starting at 6 PM in front of Blackwell House. Come join your neighbors for some hot drinks, latkes, donuts and music.

As to the holiday of Chanukah or Hanukkah, the NY Times writer David Brooks has a great article about it's origins and meaning. I highly recommend it. An excerpt:

Tonight Jewish kids will light the menorah, spin their dreidels and get their presents, but Hanukkah is the most adult of holidays. It commemorates an event in which the good guys did horrible things, the bad guys did good things and in which everybody is flummoxed by insoluble conflicts that remain with us today. It’s a holiday that accurately reflects how politics is, how history is, how life is...

Now For Roosevelt Islanders in Texas or a Texas State of Mind wherever you may be - enjoy the Dreidel song.

You Tube Video of the Dreidel Song Texas Style

UPDATE - 6:45 PM - The Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation will also be holding a Chanukah Party and Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Sunday December 13 (4 - 6 PM) at the Rivercross Community Room - 531 Main Street.
RIJC Chanukah Flyer_5770-1

Have Some Chinese Food On Christmas With A Heaping Portion of Peace, Love & Understanding

Something for those who eat Chinese food on Christmas and go to the movie theater too. A funny satirical video.

You Tube Video of Chinese Food on Christmas

For everybody this Holiday Season, let us remember these immortal words from Elvis Costello:

What's so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?

You Tube video of Elvis Costello's Peace, Love & Understanding