By COLlive reporter
For most kids (and adults), Chanukah is a time for latkes, donuts, gifts, gelt and colorful candles. This year, a new element was added for the children and parents of 20 families in Hong Kong.
The third night of Chanukah brought a new way to celebrate as nearly 50 people fanned out across Hong Kong to spread the true message of our Chanukah lights.
From Lantau to Repulse Bay and from Kowloon to Central and the Midlevels, light stations were set up and over 2000 bracelets with the message of “Light up the world with Kindness” were distributed to passersby.
The response from the recipients of these bracelets and the participants in this events was truly beyond our expectations, says Mrs. Goldie Avtzon, Chabad Shlucha in Hong Kong and the organizer of the initiative.
Each light station was equipped with a pull-up sign, a large supply of rubber bracelets in English and Chinese and light up bracelets and hats for the station “managers.”
The event grew out of a simple discussion at a Kiddush lunch at Chabad a few weeks ago. The discussion was about another event held in Hong Kong where the local community shared their festival with passersby.
“If they can do it, we can do it too,” Avtzon said. “We will share our holiday with the message of light and kindness.” A WhatsApp group was quickly put together, details were discussed, supplies ordered from China and within a week we were ready to “hit the road.”
Hong Kong is the perfect type of place to do this type of event, they said, as the weather is mild and it is very urban which leads to a lot of pedestrian traffic throughout the city.
Idan Sheynhaft, a parent of two of the children who took part in the initiative, said: “The highlight of it came when my son explained about the campaign to a random lady and she was so excited that she just asked to hug him.”
Na’ama, another woman who took part in the event, walked into a supermarket a few days following the event and the cashier recognized her and proudly showed her the bracelet that she was still wearing.
When one random recipient asked “What is the cost?” Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon, Head Shliach of China, responded “A minute of your day to think of how you can make the world a better place through your acts of kindness.”
“We look forward to taking this project to the next level next year by doubling the number of stations and quadrupling – at least – the number of bracelets that will be distributed,” he said.
Chabad of Hong Kong looks forward to sharing this event with other Chabad Houses around the world and helping others making this happen in their communities. For more info, email goldie@chabadhk.org.
love the idea!! thank you!