Celebrating The Wonders Of Chanukah
By Michele Justic
Guess who I saw while walking down Central Avenue? Good old Judah HaMacabee—or as he told me to call him, “Hudie.” He told me he was helping out at Chabad of the Five Towns’ Annual Chanukah Wonderland. I asked Hudie how the Wonderland compares to the original Chanukah which he described as “a tough fight.” He said he enjoys helping out here because he gets to see the effects of that victory—the many Jewish children and their families enthusiastically practicing a Torah way of life. Out of curiosity, I asked how he got here. He said he brought his elephant and is thankful that Cedarhurst offers free parking in metered lots until January.
Hudie encouraged me to come in and meet some younger Wonderland enthusiasts. I had the opportunity to speak with a few families experiencing the wonderland for the first time. Hadassah Geisinsky, one of the chief organizers of the event and the Chabad of the Five Towns Youth Director said that the new location brought in more people than ever before as it attracted average Central Avenue strollers. Aviva Rosen of Cedarhurst brought her three children, ages ten though two, to Wonderland for the first time. She said that it’s nice to have a program like this. Though they had not seen everything yet, so far they enjoyed the edible parts of the program, namely the “make your own doughnut” and the “deca cookie.” Heidi Goldsmith of North Woodmere brought her two children, ages eight and two for the first time as well. They enjoyed the “Lego Land” and the computer games.
For a more seasoned view of the situation, I spoke with Ricki Fishbein, a Chabad regular who brings her children every year. She boasted that the event gets better every year as they add more activities, such as the “Olive Press Game Show.” She said that it shows the children that it is fun to be a Jew and that this is an important lesson.
With an introduction like that, I decided to take a look for myself. Indeed, Baby Gap, the previous occupiers of the space, never saw so many customers—even at a 50% off sale. Hundreds of children have already been entertained by the Oil Quest Adventure, face painting, crafts, the Jumping Dreidel Bounce, the Olive Press Game Show, the Chanukah video, bowling, computer games, Lego Land, candle making, make your own doughnut and make your own latkes. Hadassah happily says that many newcomers have also asked her about Chabad’s many other programs and have signed up for youth clubs as a result of their positive impressions from this event.
Of course, quality programming such as this comes only with hard work and dedication. Chabad thanks its tireless volunteers (actually, they are pretty tired—after all, they worked almost every day last week until 4 a.m.) for helping make it happen. The main organizers of this and other Chabad events are Rabbi Zalman and Rebbetzin Chanie Wolowik, Directors of the Chabad of the Five Towns, and Rabbi Meir and Rebbetzin Hadassah Geisinsky, Youth Directors of the Chabad of the Five Towns. All in all, Chabad of the Five Towns has produced this funhouse for twelve years.
Why all the hoopla about Chanukah? "It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition," said Rabbi Shneur Z. Wolowik, director of Chabad of the Five Towns. "In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place." Chabad’s other Chanukah activities include sculpting an ice menorah, public lightings in Cedarhurst Park and the offering of 4 foot menorahs for people to place on their lawns to help with “pirsum ha ness”
Chabad also thanks RKF Realty, National Management Corp., Mr. and Mrs. Ben Brafman, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Mandel, The Party Source, Supersol, in memory of Rivka bat R' Yisroel, AFL Computers, and Qcucumbers Café for helping keep costs down through donations of money, services or products.
If you’ve has the privilege of visiting the funhouse, it’s likely that your photo is now on the web at www.chabad5towns.com/album—sort through the hundreds of pictures to find your smiling face!