Report and photos by Alex Gorokhov – GlattPhotography.com
F.R.E.E. of Brighton Beach’s annual grand outdoor Menorah Lighting drew hundreds of families and children and many other passersby in honor of the first night of Chanukah.
Despite the rainy weather, the record crowd gathered on Brighton Beach Avenue in front of Chase Bank to see the 29 foot permanent Menorah that stands there year-round finally lit.
Lubavitch bochrim from Crown Heights came to help the Okonovs with the overwhelming mivtzoim.
Joyous music and dancing right on the main avenue was accompanied by a performance by the popular Russian Jewish boys group M*Generation (a division of F.R.E.E.).
Mr. Sam Shpelfogel, a long time friend and supporter of F.R.E.E., was honored with lighting the first candle.
He was lifted on a con Edison cherry picker along with Rabbi Hershel Okonov, the shliach of Brighton Beach, who was sent out on shlichus by the Rebbe over 24 years ago.
Rabbi Okonov has organized a public Menorah Lighting in the overwhelmingly Jewish area for many years.
The popularity of the annual event stems from the significant symbolism Chanukah holds for Russian Jews to be free to publicly proclaim pride in their Judaism.
The F.R.E.E. Menorah proudly stands as an important part of the Brighton Beach landscape, recognizing the results of the Rebbe’s personal investment in assisting Jews who escaped to America from behind the Iron Curtain.
The crowd enjoyed the Chanukah festivities and doughnuts were distributed to all. Rabbi Hershel Okonov and his sons Rabbi Dovid and Rabbi Avremel Okonov, as well as his son Efraim Okonov gave out Chanukah gelt and dreidels to the children.
There will be a Menorah Lighting every night of Chanukah.
Rebbetzin Zlata. You as a wife and mother also deserve a lot of credits for amaizing work in Biggest Russian community
Dovid and Ruta! What a fantastic job! May you have much continued success!!
great to see you all working hard in brighton! looks like a very nice event!
lots of love, from buffalo
kvelt nachas up north… see you soon!
So proud of you guys! Keep up the amazing work!!!!!!!!
very proud of my husband and my boys,who are working so hard to spread and glorify idishkeit in brighton beach all these years,who do not give up in the hardest of times..looking good,guys!!!
I spot Rabbi Rabbi and Menny!!! Btw, absolutely LOVING the smurf hat!!!
Go 6th Brighton !!!
Thanks FREE. Now All Year Around Giant Menorah is Jewish Star of Russian Brighton!!!!
Reb Hirshel and Reb Dovid You are doing a Great Job for Russian Community. Happy Chanuka!!!
Its so like Hershel Okonov to build a permanent Menorah in the middle of the neighborhood, for those who know the area my dentist is there I see it from the train.. its like the Jewish symbol of Brighton!
Dear Reb Hershel,
Keep up your good work! Its nice to see you in action I remember the good old days when FREE just started… its great to see your going strong! Keep up your shlichus for Russian Jewry especially in Brighton!
and old friend.
p.s. great pictures, Alex!