CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The largest-ever celebration of Hanukkah on the U.S. Virgin Islands kicked off Monday and continues nightly through tomorrow, helping thousands across St. Thomas celebrate the millenia-old Festival of Light, celebrating the triumph and transformation of darkness and challenge into light and positivity.
Staffed by 12 Chabad-Lubavitch young rabbis from across the mainland, this energetic effort comes as islanders rally in prayer and good deeds for community leader Henya Federman, who directs the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center of the Virgin Islands with her husband, Rabbi Asher Federman.
Henya Federman is on life support following a tragic accident that took the life of the Federmans’ infant daughter. But the Federman family — along with the island’s Jewish community who sorely miss their beloved leaders — have vowed to share the beauty of this Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”) in a greater and brighter way than ever. (Rabbi Asher and their children accompanied Henya to the mainland where she remains hospitalized).
In the midst of his incredible personal anguish and pain, Rabbi Asher arranged for a cadre of young rabbis to come to the islands and help lead a swath of Hanukkah events; provide anyone in need of one — a personal menorah kit for home kindling; and share Hanukkah spirit and song with local residents, vacationers and tourists across St. Thomas as well as on St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island.
In addition to the public events, the young rabbis will be visiting the homes of community members for impromptu Hanukkah celebrations, lighting the menorah and distributing Hanukkah menorahs, guides, donuts and other Hanukkah supplies.
Five of the young rabbis are heading all-day outreach to the thousands of island guests arriving on the newly-renewed cruise ship tours.
The students have also placed public menorahs at some 15 locations across the islands, including Mountain Top, Main Street, Yacht Haven, the airports in St. Thomas and St. Croix, Havensight, hotels and more.
Three menorahs placed atop cars, and one on a boat, will further share the holiday spirit throughout St. Thomas.
The events throughout Hanukkah will culminate in Chanukah 1000, which is expected to be the largest Jewish event in the history of the Caribbean Islands. The event will take place at the Fort Christian Parking Lot on Dec. 25 at 5:00 p.m. and will feature Hasidic rapper Nissim Black (see attached flyer). This gathering has added significance this year as Jewish communities worldwide mark the year of Hakhel, a once-every-seven-years biblical tradition that sees Jewish gatherings focused on unity, Torah learning and practice. In St. Thomas, the gathering will also serve as a time for communal prayer and support for Henya Federman and her Family.
More on Nissim Black here and here.
The VI public celebration of Hanukkah joins with thousands of other locations across the globe, as part of the global Hanukkah initiative launched in 1973 by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. The islands’ prayers and good deeds in merit of Mrs. Henya Federman — beloved to all who know her — similarly join thousands of Jewish communities worldwide who have launched new initiatives of unity and good deeds in prayerful hope that she will be granted a speedy recovery from On High.