Giant Menorah touring North Queensland
Tropical menorah
Every night of the eight-day holiday the travelling Menorah will reach a different location along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. The ceremonies, organised by Chabad-RARA of North QLD Rabbi Ari Rubin, will feature the traditional foods and activities and following the menorah lighting ceremony, many will dance, sing and eat the night away.
Kicking off the Chanukah lightings are events in Kuranda and then Cairns. Following that there will be parties every day of the eight day holiday in Ayr, Townsville, Bowen, Airlie Beach Innisfail and Mackay.
“The menorah serves as a symbol of North Queensland’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G‑d freely, openly, and with pride. Specifically in Australia, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution. ”Said Rabbi Rubin
“I want my kids to grow up with pride in their Jewish heritage and a feeling of equality and self-confident as an Australian” said Shira David Stern, Kewarra Beach who is looking forward to attending the public menorah lighting. “Chabad RARA’s Chanukah menorahs are arguably one of the most important developments to help my child’s education. I wish they had this where I went to school.”
This year brings added significance as the world marks 50 years since the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson initiated the Mitzvah Campaigns, a historic undertaking that brought Jewish observance and celebration to the streets, laying the groundwork for public menorahs and the worldwide Hanukkah campaign that he set into motion in 1973.
“The message of Chanukah is the message of light,” added Rabbi Rubin. “The nature of light is that it is always victorious over darkness. A small amount of light dispels a lot of darkness. Another act of goodness and kindness, another act of light, can make all the difference.”
Today, the unprecedented public display of Hanukkah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the Australian practice and awareness of the festival. North Queensland’s menorah’s are part of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message
Throughout the whole Rural and Regional Australia, Chabad of RARA will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public Menorah Lightings in 16 locations.
For more information about Hanukkah and a local schedule of events visit chabadnorthqueensland.com/Hanukkah
