Chanukah at the Beach

Hundreds of men, women and children from the West Coast, Cape Town, across South Africa and holiday makers from Europe, Australia and the USA joined together with Chabad of Blouberg West Coast in Cape Town to launch the festival of Chanukah.

In the picture-perfect setting of Dolphin Beach with picturesque views of Table Mountain, the community gathered for what has become an annual tradition since the inception of Chabad in the Table View area four years ago. While the crowd enjoyed the delicious food stall where the felafels and hot dogs were flying like pancakes (excuse the pun) and the “Chabad Booth”was wrapping the dads in Teffilin, the children had a chance to “let it all go”on the jumping castles and live their dreams in the drivers seat of the Cape Town Fire Department.

The event was opened by Rabbi Asher Deren who welcomed the hundreds of people who gathered at the site and then introduced DA City Councillor Ian Neilson on behalf of the City of Cape Town who shared his excitement at partaking in the Chanukah event for the forth year in a row. The councillor was followed by the Jumbo Mumbo acrobats from the V & A Waterfront who had the crowd enthralled with their talented acrobatic feats and fire escapades.

As the sun began to slowly set on the horizon, Rabbi Mendel Popack, founder of Chabad in Cape Town over 32 years ago, adressed the assembled on the beauty of the moment and how our adding light to the world is our response to the darkness of those who attacked the Chabad House in Mumbai.

After concluding his words of encouragment to the community he made his way over to Africa’s only 2m Ice Menorah that was glistening in the sun where it’s shimmering branches of solid ice were holding strong despite the stream of water dripping from the melting ice…

“Shehechiyanu…” “You have kept us alive to this time…” everyone joined in the singing of the final blessing as Chazan Barry Braun took over with a cantorial rendition of Maoz Tzur followed by lots of music and dancing led by Tyrone Lipman and crew for whirling horas and and holiday joy.

And as the sun finally dipped behind the Atlantic Ocean and the bright sky gave way to the dark night, bright flashes of light and sound lit up the sky as the most memorable fireworks show shot up from the beach lighting up the sky for miles around.

The music was pumping, the crowd was alive and as latkes and doughnuts were passed around for the way home, we came one big step closer to our goal of lighting up the West Coast.