Mayor of Morris Township Jeff Grayzel will retire in a few weeks. But on Thursday, he had another chance to step up, lighting the 14-foot menorah on Morristown Green.
“I sincerely believe that we have more in common than our differences as a people,” Grayzel said after his ride in a bucket loader.
“I really love celebrations that bring people together, to show how we celebrate the special differences we have that make our community the special place it is,” he said.
Morristown Police estimated 200 people had come for the hour-long Hanukkah celebration, which featured the basketball magic of former Harlem Globetrotter Kenny ‘La Blenda’ Rodriguez, and 3D glasses that made streetlights look like dreidels invading Mars.
As always, the donuts went fast.
The Rabbinical College of America and the Chabad Young Professionals from Morristown were hosts.
“We are very happy to see the participation of the whole community, Jews and non-Jews alike,” said the rabbi Moshe Herson, president of the Morris Township Rabbinical College.
He expressed his faith in God to eliminate the novel coronavirus from among us.
Rabbi Moishe Gurevitz Chabad said that Chanukah challenges people to illuminate the souls of those around us, a theme echoed by Levi Mintz, who dressed up as a dreidel for the occasion.
“God gave us a mission, that everything we do makes the world a better place,” said Mintz, originally from Crown Heights in Brooklyn.
Mayor of Morristown Tim dougherty greeted the crowd. He was joined by his wife Married, Advisor Sandy Mayer, and democratic president of the city AJ Olivier.
Grayzel was accompanied by his wife lynn and son Alexander, and by the Morris Township committee member Bud Ravitz.
