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Rabbi leads 25th annual Madison menorah lighting; mayor, state senator and sheriff attend
Summary
A community menorah lighting in Madison drew the mayor, council members, State Senator Buco and Morris County Sheriff Gannon for an evening of prayers, a children's performance and remarks urging religious freedom and peace.
Rabbi (speaker S1) opened the 25th annual Madison menorah lighting on the town green, welcoming families and officials for an evening of music, blessings and a communal prayer for peace. The event featured brief remarks from the mayor and State Senator Buco, a children's performance of "I Have a Little Dreidel," and a blessing led by the rabbi.
The rabbi, who said he had "just got back from Israel just a few weeks ago" on a solidarity trip, framed the ceremony as an expression of hope and resilience after recent violence in the region. "On one hand, the people in Israel are weary," he said, "but on the other hand, there's a tremendous amount of resilience and a tremendous amount of strength." He closed his remarks by leading the crowd in a traditional prayer for peace.
The mayor (speaker S2) spoke on behalf of Madison, noted the seasonal context near the winter solstice and identified several officials in attendance, including Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and council members John Forte and Bob Landrigan. "On behalf of Madison, I just wanna wish everyone a very happy Hanukkah," the mayor said.
State Senator Buco (S3) offered a short blessing to the crowd. "Tonight, let's let the light shine. God bless you," he said. Morris County Sheriff Gannon (S5) praised the event's founder and framed the sheriff's office role as protecting religious freedom: "We not only stand with you, we stand in front of you," he said.
Ceremonial elements included Councilwoman Aura Dunn lighting the shamash and the rabbi inviting local resident Mark Novak to join the lighting. The rabbi also invited children to sing; a child led the group in a rendition of "I Have a Little Dreidel." After the readings and prayers, participants recited "Shalom" together.
Organizers closed the program with refreshments — latkes, donuts and hot cider — and offered extra menorahs to attendees preparing for the home observance. The gathering concluded with the rabbi's final blessing and collective recitation of "Shalom."
