Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Shul, 395 Pleasant Valley Way.

On Dec. 8, the Lubavitch Center hosted a Chanukah party for the community and about a hundred people showed up. Everyone enjoyed pizza, latkes, French fries, falafel and salads. The kids had a lot of fun playing a "stuffed menorah" guessing game, Chanukah bingo, and "Make-a-menorah-from-whatever-is-in-a-bag" game. As part of the Smile On Seniors program, we recruited some volunteers to Brighton Gardens, Green Hill, Care One, and Canterbury Village where we celebrated Chanukah with the seniors. They were overjoyed playing Chanukah bingo, eating donuts, and singing along to the menorah lighting.  At the Livingston Mall on Sunday people gathered around as Rabbi (Mendy) Kasowitz  lit the Menorah, sang Chanukah songs, and played a guessing …

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Santa's Arrival, Wildflower Sculpture in West Orange

Here's a look at what's ahead this week in town.

  Monday, Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m., the South Mountain Conservancy and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. will introduce the first Wildflower Sculpture Project (created by Maplewood artist Larry Dell) in the South Mountain Reservation. The West Orange Board of Education (WOBOE) meeting​ has been changed from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3.  The public portion of the meeting will take place at 8pm at the Thomas A. Edison Central Six Middle School, located at 75 William St.  Pleasant Valley Productions will hold auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat today and Tuesday at Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church. On both days, 8-14 year olds will be seen from 6-8 p.m., and teens over 14 plus adults will be seen from 8-10 p.m. For …

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Hanukkah Menorah Lit in West Orange

Lubavitch Center Shul celebrates second night of holiday with mayor, dignitaries and guests

The front of West Orange Town Hall was brightly lit Wednesday evening when members of the Lubavitch Center Shul and township dignitaries lit an eight-foot Hanukkah menorah to celebrate the second night of the Festival of Lights. Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz joined with Mayor Robert Parisi, councilman Sal Anderton and other township officials and guests to light the oil on the menorah on the front lawn of the township complex.  After the recitation of some blessings, the crowd sang some Hanukkah songs. Sufganiyot, special Hanukkah jelly donuts only served during the holiday, were served to guests.  Hanukkah recalls the victory of Jewish soldiers, collectively known as the Maccabees, over the occupying Greek armies.  The menorah, a candelabrum with …

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