Chabad of SE Morris County invites everyone to its annual Menorah Lighting Ceremonies, which will take place during Hanukah in Madison, East Hanover Florham Park, and The Chathams. Music, hot refreshments, and a special children’s raffle for Jets Memorabilia will accompany each Menorah lighting.

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum will light the Menorah at the annual Madison Menorah Lighting on Monday, December 14th at 6pm. The Menorah is located across the street from the Hartley Dodge Memorial building on Kings Road at the Madison Train Station. Refreshments following the lighting will be served in the new Madison Police and Fire Building.

The Township of East Hanover will once again include a menorah in its holiday display, located in front of Town Hall at 411 Ridgedale Ave in East Hanover. All town residents and businesspeople are invited to join the Mayor and local town officials in the lighting of the menorah on Tuesday, December 15th, at 6pm.

The Borough of Florham Park will once again include a menorah in its holiday display, located in front of the Town Hall Gazebo at 111 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. All town residents and businesspeople are invited to join the Mayor and local town officials in the lighting of the menorah on Wednesday, December 16th, at 6pm.

The Chatham’s Menorah Lighting will take place at the Gazebo in Firehouse Plaza on Fairmount Ave. in Chatham Borough on Thursday, Dec. 17th at 6pm. Residents of both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township are invited to join the Mayor and local town officials in this annual celebration.

In addition to the annual Public Menorah Lightings, Chabad of SE Morris County will Host a Hanukah Party on Sunday, December 13th from 4pm-7pm at its Center at 42 Park Ave. in Madison. The party and will feature the kindling of the Menorah, an Ice Cream Bar, Hot Latkes, music, and a special program for children.

Hanukah, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of the few against the many, the weak against the mighty and the righteous against the wicked. The festival also commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, during which only one day’s supply of oil for the Temple Menorah miraculously lasted eight full days.

Traditional foods of this holiday are potato pancakes called "Latkes," they are served with applesauce or sour cream and "sufganiot" or jelly doughnuts. Both of these delicacies will be served at the menorah lighting.

This year the first night of Chanukah is Friday evening, December 11th. It is celebrated for eight consecutive nights with the lighting of a nine-candled menorah. Eight of the candles are the same height; the ninth stands taller, and is called the "Shamash," or the leader candle. The Shamash is used to light the rest of the candles. On the first night the Shamash lights one candle, on the second night two, etc. until all eight candles are lit on the last night of the holiday.

"The Menorah represents the light and strength that we need to overcome the challenges we encounter in our everyday lives. Every person is like a candle, we each have the ability to brighten the world", said Rabbi Shalom Lubin, Director of the Chabad Center.

The Menorah Lightings are a project of Chabad of SE Morris County, a Jewish outreach, educational and social service organization located at 42 Park Ave. in Madison. For more information regarding the Menorah lightings, or for a list of upcoming events, programs and classes, please call (973) 377-0707, or email info@chabadcares.com