Hundreds at Chanukah Hakhel in Brisbane City

After the past three years of Covid and inclement weather, preventing ‘Chanukah in the City’ from being celebrated in the Brisbane city centre, this wonderful celebration came back to the City with in full force this year.

In honor of Shnas Hakhel, a most beautiful Chanukah celebration took place on the first night of Chanukah, attracting hundreds of individuals and families to Brisbane’s City Centre, at Queens Gardens Park, where a beautiful large Menorah was proudly erected in the corner of the Park at a prominent city intersection for the lead-up, and duration of Chanukah.

The event has been staged in various Brisbane City locations, since the Rebbe first called for Menorah lightings in public spaces, and it has evolved into Queensland’s largest annual Jewish event.

Chanukah in the City is supported by the Brisbane City Council and the Qld Government and is a project of Chabad Brisbane.

The magnificent Menorah was designed and built by G James Glass and Aluminium in loving memory of the late Joe and Pearle Saragossi OBM, great philanthropists, whose legacy is being graciously perpetuated by their family.

The MC for the event was David Boyar, CEO of ChangeGPS, who introduced the children to come up to the stage to recite the 12 Torah Pesukim, to the great delight of their parents, family members and the whole community.

Speakers on the evening included a Chanukah message by Rabbi Levi Jaffe, Director of Chabad Brisbane and Rabbi of the Brisbane Synagogue, State Minister Hon Mark Furner MP, representing the Queensland Government, and Libby Burke, representing the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies.

Noga Erlbaum, a dedicated communal activist, was honoured with the lighting of the large Menorah, which was followed by a dramatic fire show and lively music and dancing, by the Byron Bay based Shai Shriki Band, which compelled everyone to join in the exciting Chanukah spirit.

The spirit of the event was enhanced by two amazingly energetic Yeshivah Gedolah Shluchim from Melbourne, Avremel Feldman and Mendy Kramer, who were instrumental in helping many people put on Tefillin, distributing Menorahs and candles and other Mivtzoim, in addition to injecting much Simchah into the event.

The success of the event was thanks to the many dedicated and committed communal volunteers who, year and year, come out in force in support of this most wonderful event, which attracts more people every year, from all walks of life.