Chabad at Lakeside a big hit
By ALAN SMASON
The Chabad Lubavitch of Louisiana organization, having experienced a difficult transition for its Chanukah event last year, regrouped and pulled out all of the stops for the 2013 presentation.
The Chanukah menorah is lit on the seventh night by Aaron Stross in front of Dillard's department store at Lakeside Shopping Center (Photo by Alan Smason)
Moving to Metairie for the first time to Lakeside Shopping Center in 2012, the planners were assigned to a small space in a little-used side entrance at the mall with a woefully inadequate sound system. Previous events with large turnouts had been held at the Riverwalk along the historic Mississippi River.
This year, however, the planning committee engineered a dramatic reversal, negotiating with the mall for the far more attractive space in front of Dillard’s department store in the main portion of the mall for the seventh night of Chanukah, December 3.
A powerful sound system provided by Ooh La La Music Company allowed attendees to hear more readily what the dignitaries were saying at the ceremony and the Paulin Brothers Brass Band provided traditional jazz and New Orleans music prior to the ceremony.
The show of support was especially significant because it followed what many have termed a “hate crime” in which tires of Chabad member vehicles were targeted in front of and adjacent to the home of Rabbi Yossie Nemes, the Chabad Center of Metairie director.
Amanda Trotenberg, the web editor of New Orleans CityBusiness served as mistress of ceremonies. Hot latkes prepared by Kosher Cajun delicatessen were served with traditional sour cream and apple sauce as well as salsa.
Dignitaries who spoke at the lighting of the Chanukah menorah included Jefferson Parish president John Young; Alan Franco, the former president of Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans; and Rabbi Zelig Rivkin, the head of Chabad Lubavitch of Louisiana.
Young talked about the large segment of the Jewish population that now borders along the West Esplanade corridor and how committed he is to its continued growth. Franco used the opportunity to emphasize other programs being offered by Federation, while Rivkin spoke about the significance of light to the celebration of Chanukah.
The religious portion of the program began at 6:15 p.m. A giant wooden Chanukiah, designed by Isak Borenstein of blessed memory, was lighted by Chabad member Aaron Stross and his son, while Tulane professor Yehuda Halper recited the blessings for the lighting ceremony.
Pre-ceremony entertainment from the Paulin Brothers Brass Band made the event a true New Orleans experience. (Photo by Alan Smason)
Prior to the ceremony, a kids area beyond the Starbucks located several yards away kept children entertained with an interactive computer dance game, a Legos board, dreidel spinning and face painting . Several prizes were offered in a raffle picked by random at the end of the night including stays at local hotels and a gift basket valued at $300 by Dillard’s.
Major corporate support for the event came from nearby Lakeside Toyota, represented by Bob Licht, while Cathy and Morris Bart were singled out as the largest individual supporters of the event from the Jewish community. No member of the Bart family was present this year.
Members of the planning committee this year included Rivkin, his son Rabbi Mendel Rivkin, Nemes, Rabbi Mendel Ceitlin, David Kauffman, Malkie Rivkin, Bluma Rivkin and Chaya Mushka Ceitlin. Kids area activities were coordinated by Cathy Trujillo, Libby Nemes, Hildy Naparstek, Devorah Weiss, Mushka Rivkin and Sara Rivkin. Rivka Kehaty maintained the donations for the Make-A-Wish Menorah.
