Mat-Su Jewish Center celebrates Chanukah with community menorah lighting and firework show

PALMER — Dozens of Valley residents joined the Mat-Su Jewish center and local Jewish community at the downtown pavilion in Palmer Wednesday evening for a menorah lighting and fireworks show.

“I think it was a beautiful turn out,” Mat-Su Jewish Center director Rabbi Mendy Greenberg said.

Everyone who attended the ceremony was asked to wear a mask and keep their distance. In previous years, the Mat-Su Jewish Center held community Chanukah celebrations at the Palmer Train Depot.

Greenberg said that he was thankful they could keep their cherished tradition intact by utilizing an outdoor venue and add a new element, fireworks. Gorilla Fireworks co-sponsored the event and provided the firework show. Greenberg said that he received a lot of positive feedback from attendees.

“Even though it wasn’t how we normally plan it, they said it was better than any year,” Greenberg said.

Both the Palmer and Wasilla mayors were in attendance, along with Sen. Shelley Hughes. Greenberg said they also played a recording from Gov. Mike Dunleavy recognizing the occasion.

“It’s wonderful. It’s warming and enlightening for Palmer,” attendee Hillary Saffran said.

Greenberg said that he was thankful for the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce’s support with the event, allowing them to use the pavilion area

He noted that a lot of Valley residents outside the Jewish community attended the event, which was very encouraging.

“It was a very big success,” Greenberg said.

Several community members helped light the centerpiece of the event, a large menorah with all but one candle lit. It was the second to last night of Chanukah and the notion of warm lights casting out darkness with good deeds and holiday spirit was the prevailing message of the evening.

“One good deed, one positive action can change the world,” Greenberg said.

One of Greenberg’s favorite Chanukah traditions is shared by many, enjoying the warmth of latkes. Latkes are oil fried potato pancakes traditionally served during the eight nights of Chanukah, serving as a reminder of the miracle of the oil associated with Hanukkah.

Greenberg said that Chanukah, the Festival of Lights reflects on the Jewish people’s victory over a tyrant king and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, where a small quantity of oil to light the Temple’s menorah miraculously lasted eight days.

Greenberg said one his most memorable Chanukahs was when he was almost three years old. He said that he vividly remembers watching Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson on TV with his family in Anchorage.

Greenberg said that Rabbi Schneerson was known to many as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or simply as “the Rebbe.” He said the Rebbe was essentially like a “grand rabbi” and one of the most famous rabbis from the last 100 years. He credited the Rebbe as the one who founded the idea of public menorah lightings.

“To us, the Rebbe is the reason why we moved to Alaska, because the Rebbe inspired us to go out of our comfort zone,” Greenberg said.

Several members of the local Jewish community, including Randi Perlman participated in the menorah lighting ceremony.

“They always do a great job… This year was totally diff but it was totally beautiful,” Perlman said.

Perlman read a letter from the Rebbe during the lighting ceremony, watched the firework show and lingered after the event was over to talk to Greenberg and other community members.

“This is a very friendly community. There’s so many circles that intertwine, so many paths that cross, and so many organizations that overlap,” Perlman said.

Perlman said that eating Latkes is also one of her favorite Chanukah traditions. She said that Chanukah is a time for reflection and spreading goodwill whenever the opportunity arises.

“The meaning is very warming,” Perlman said. “We’re all at the end of this year. We need light.”

For more information about the Mat-Su Jewish Center, visit matsujewishcenter.org.