Community Celebrates Hanukkah at Temple Isaiah

Human dreidels sang and danced and a living menorah was illuminated on Sunday to celebrate the Festival of Lights as  held its annual Hanukkah festivities, featuring a Zimriah and the Bernie Friend Latke Bash.

The morning began with the Zimriah, or song festival, in which about 100 children sang festive tunes from the bimah of the sanctuary. The kindergartners and first graders opened the show with "Dreidel Song," holding their hands up and together in a point while spinning around to look like little dreidels.

Reflecting on the joy of the holiday, Rabbi Stephen Karol said, "It always lifts people's spirits. It's just a happy occasion."

Karol took part in a few of the songs, and played a role in the making of a human menorah, in which eight adults each held an electric candle while the rabbi walked by to light them as the song progressed.

The event was relaxed and carefree, with children volunteering to sing instead of being assigned a specific role.

"It's never about a concert," musical director Donna Siani said. "It's about involving the kids in singing and having fun. It brings our kids together, our community together."

Siani drove the performance, imploring the audience to sing louder and soliciting volunteers from the crowd. She also embodied the spirit of the holiday by wearing glasses that were shaped like Hanukkah candles and antennae with dreidels on top.

The holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the ancient victory of the Maccabees over the more numerous Syrians. It begins on the 25th of Kislev, according to the Hebrew calendar. 

The performance included holiday staples such as "Dreidel Song" and Temple Isaiah originals "The Menorah Hora" and a Hanukkah-inspired remix of The Beatles' "Eight Days a Week."

Immediately following the Zimriah was the Latke Bash, organized by the Temple Isaiah Brotherhood. Over 120 pounds of potatoes and 60 pounds of onions were cooked for the event, which has been a tradition for over 30 years. The party is named after Bernie Friend, a prominent participant who recently passed away.

Preparation of the latkes began at 7 a.m., and continued straight through until the bash began at 11. Leftover latkes were brought to the Atrium of South Setauket, a senior living center in the community, which received a holiday visit from many members of the temple's congregation.

As latkes were being consumed, the temple's youth group arranged carnival games for the children. Games that were set up included a ring toss, a milk bottle throw, and a balloon burst, among others. A prize table offered rewards for the more successful players.

"It's kind of a big carnival for us," Karol said.