Historic First at Space Center

Upon the backdrop of the Space Mirror Memorial, an historic first took place – A Menorah Lighting at John F Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida.

With the early arrival of Chanukah this 2013, the annual sister city event linking Cocoa, Florida and Beit Shemesh Israel took place this week.

In the presence of representatives from Beit Shemesh Israel, Cocoa Florida, as well as other public officials including Florida Senator and President of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation Thad Altman, two candles were kindled by Rabbi Zvi Konikov, director of Chabad of the Space & Treasure Coasts.

For the visiting Israeli Delegation and Beit Shemesh representatives, the historic lighting also served as a 10 year memorial for Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut who died along with the six other astronauts aboard STS-107 Columbia in 2003.

Special thanks goes out to the staff at the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for helping to make this possible as well as Pat Hickman, Jeff Fishkin and Ron Shelton, Chairman of the Cocoa – Beit Shemesh sister cities for the Beit Shemesh – Cocoa sister city program.