13,000 at Chanukah Festival

The 32nd annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah festival took place on the 7th night of Chanukah, bigger and better than ever – and that’s saying a lot, since more than 10,000 people have participated each year since the event was moved to Gulfstream Park in 2007.

Police estimated the crowd at anywhere between 12,000-13,000, with 10,000 people on the main level, and 2-3,000 people on the second and third mezzanine levels. It was a Who’s Who of Community leaders in attendance, who participated in the Chanukah Festival and giant Menorah lighting.

A delegation from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office participating included Mr. Alan Berkowitz, Sgt Don Prichard, and Sgt Tomer Nader; from Hollywood came Mayor Peter Bober, from Hallandale there was Vice Mayor Anthony Sanders, and Commissioner Alex Lewy. COO of the Broward Jewish Federation Bruce Yudewitz took part in the Menorah lighting, as did the Consul General from Israel. Survivor Izzie Wolman joined in, along with media delegates Larry Blustein from the Sun Times, and Jewish Press Columnist Shelley Beneviste.

Lighting the seven candles were community leaders Bernie Friedman, Jeff Rubenstein, David Schottenstein, Paul Sussman, Alon Ossip, the Mendal brothers, Ronnie Cons and Rabbi Abraham Korf.

Musician Benny Friedman performed a live concert. His bestselling debut album “Taamu” was released in 2009 and has put him in high demand. Junior Jewish Star winner Yisroel Amar, Nosson Zand and Twin Chassidic acrobats from France were also featured. Other highlights included the lighting of Florida’s largest Menorah.

The event is produced and directed by Chabad of South Broward, leaders of Jewish education, outreach and social services. Over forty sponsors helped make the Mega Chanukah Event the success it was, along with Shluchim and staff members Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus, Rabbi Mordy Feiner, Aaron Kaufman, Adele Fisher, Yossy Kudan and Margaret Schor.

The Chaya Aydel Seminary distributed Chanukah Gelt, Dreidels and chocolate gelt to two thousand young boys and girls. COLlive.com carried a live broadcast of the event, provided by Chabad.org, live around the world, with tens of thousands tuning in on every continent, for a Chanukah experience that will last a lifetime.