GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Hanukkah begins Sunday evening and members of theChabad House celebrated at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids.
A giant menorah was lit to commemorate the first day of the holiday. The Grand Rapids Jewish community gathered and celebrated by dancing, eating, and mingling. Rabbi Yosef Weingarten says that the giant menorah has been featured in Calder Plaza every Hanukkah for over 20 years.
The menorah will be lit everyday at Calder Plaza for eight days except for Friday. Friday is Shabbat, which forbids Jews to light a fire from sunset Friday evening to Saturday night, so the menorah will be lit Friday before the sun sets.
Rabbi Weingarten says that Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will be lighting the final candle on the final day of Hanukkah, December 13.
