Festival of Lights comes to City Hall

"One of the beauties of Westmount is that we like to celebrate everything," Mayor Karin Marks told a few dozen people, including many children, who turned up for the event on the second day of Hanukkah.

As such, she added, the City likes to celebrate all holidays as its residents come from a wide variety of backgrounds. "Some people who are Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah, some people who are Christian and celebrate Christmas, and many others, and we like to represent all of them."

For years now, city officials have been sponsoring a ceremony for the lighting of the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum, and inviting representatives of Westmount's two synagogues, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim and Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, to participate.

"Yesterday began Hanukkah, but tonight the miracle begins," said Rabbi Leigh Lerner, spiritual leader at the temple. He recalled how according to the Hanukkah story, the Maccabeans discovered a small amount of oil to last one day in their temple, but it ended up lasting eight.

Following the lighting of two candles on the menorah outside city hall by Assistant Rabbi Yonah S. Berman and Rabbi Lerner, the crowd headed over to the Shaar, where there were activities and crafts for all ages. There were dreidels and gelt for all, and kosher snacks were served, including donuts, juice, clementines, mini-latkes and coffee.

Assisted by Rabbi Berman, Oliver Quon, a young Westmounter, did the honours lighting an antique silver menorah that was set up where everyone had gathered in the Metcalfe Room at the Shaar.

Among the children enjoying some of the traditional games and creative activities played during Hanukkah were twin brothers Ethan and Liam Barer of NDG. Later, Rabbi Berman animated a quiz game related to Hanukkah, projected on-screen with PowerPoint. A winner was chosen at the end.