Families gathered to celebrate Chanukah at two community menorah-lighting events in Livingston, both held on the fourth night.

A communal menorah lighting was held at the Livingston Oval. Amid the large holiday display, an electric menorah and dreidel were set up near the town gazebo. As some in the crowd sipped hot chocolate and nibbled on Chanukah cookies, two local rabbis led the group as everyone recited the blessings on the menorah and sang Maoz Tzur together. Afterwards, the children were invited to come close to the menorah and spin around as the adults sang the traditional Chanukah song “Sevivon.”

The Rosenthal family—Mom Dana, Dad Alex, 3 ½-year-old Aubrey and baby Annabelle—were just one of the families at the town-sponsored event. “This is the first time we’ve come for the Chanukah lighting,” Dana said. “It was so nice to be a part of a community event for something we celebrate.”

At Kings Marketplace, fresh doughnuts from Gumbo’s Bakery in Brooklyn and hot latkes were offered as the market held its first Chanukah celebration just months after opening a kosher section in the store.

Representatives from the Friendship Circle—including Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum and Rabbi Yisroel Rosenblum—helped lead the program. Rabbi Grossbaum spoke about the importance of the holiday, and Rabbi Rosenblum gave a demonstration of how olive oil is made.

Livingston Mayor Ed Meinhardt, who lit the candles as shoppers and others looked on, said he hopes the menorah-lighting at Kings will become an annual tradition. “This is what’s great about living here,” he said. “We get to celebrate all the miracles together as a community.”

By Faygie Holt