‘Better, brighter world’: 16th Annual Menorah Lighting highlights Greeley’s support of Jewish community ...Saudi Arabia

The lighting of a center candle on a large menorah ignited an annual Chanukah Celebration on Monday evening in downtown Greeley.

The 16th annual Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration brought all religious backgrounds together to celebrate the eight-day festivities of Chanukah, or Hanukkah, which started on Dec. 25 and runs through Thursday.

The free event, organized by the Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado, the city of Greeley and the Greeley Downtown Development Authority, featured the lighting of the giant menorah, Jewish holiday music and latkes, all accompanied by a sermon from Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik.

Despite windy conditions, community members and leaders successfully lit six candles on the menorah, starting with the center candle called the shamash, which is Hebrew for “helper” or “attendant.” Once lit, the shamash is used to light the other candles on the menorah.

Gorelik, tying in his witty humor to light up the crowd, discussed the difficulties faced in the Jewish community last year with heightened antisemitism.

Although still encountering “evil-doers,” the world has seen glimpses of light with people standing up to eradicate evil, Gorelik said before the menorah lit up. He added that this fits with the message of Chanukah: Jewish people overcoming their “overwhelming” enemies

Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C. when a small group of Jewish fighters won a revolt against the Greek army. The group had a tiny supply of oil that was only expected to keep their temple’s menorah lit for one night. Miraculously, the oil stayed lit for eight days, long enough to reclaim the temple.

The annual celebration focuses on more than just the Jewish people’s courage, extending to their friends and supporters who want to see “goodness prevail in the world.” That’s what Gorelik has felt in Northern Colorado.

“I can tell you that over the last year and a half, I’ve had so many people reach out,” he said. “The love and support that the Jewish community has received up here in Northern Colorado is wonderful, while other parts of the country have gone absolutely mad with antisemitism. Northern Colorado largely has been so supportive and so strong in their clarity of understanding the difference between good and evil.”

Greeley Mayor John Gates attended his 16th and final lighting ceremony as mayor, joined by City Council Members Tommy Butler, Melissa McDonald, Johnny Olson and Dale Hall.

“It’s always an honor to be at the menorah lighting,” Gates said. “Next time, I’ll have to come as a spectator.”

Other community leaders who braved the cold, windy conditions to participate in the festivities included Greeley Police Chief Adam Turk, Greeley Fire Chief Brian Kuznik, University of Northern Colorado President Andy Feinstein and former City Manager Roy Otto.

Feinstein gave a brief speech about his excitement to celebrate the holiday with the community, giving thanks to Gorelik for spreading “peace and kindness” each year. Accompanied by Feinstein, a University of Northern Colorado student studying to earn a doctorate in music represented the Jewish student body and helped light the menorah.

“I just want to thank the city of Greeley, the leadership and the people, for supporting the Jewish community,” Gorelik said. “And not just the Jewish community, but supporting goodness, supporting light. It means a lot to me, because I think together, we create a better and brighter world.”

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