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The Hanukkah and menorah lighting Sunday took place as a community event at North School Park in downtown Arlington Heights.

The event was organized and sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights. This year Hanukkah began Sunday and ends Dec. 26.

“We have a lot to be thankful for in our village,” Mayor Tom Hayes told the audience. “I’m very thankful for the fact that we are a community of varied but very strong religious faiths. We’re here to celebrate for the fact that miracles do happen and that it’s the light that brings us out of darkness.”

Rabbi Yaakov Kotlarsky, rabbi and co-director of Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights, said, “The story of Hanukah is the tremendous power of light to overcome darkness.

“We can have no better response to negativity we encounter than to gather together in even greater numbers and celebrate the light of the Hanukkah in an even more public way than before.”

Emergency responders, including from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, used a ladder truck to distribute chocolate candies as part of The Grand Gelt Drop during the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Emergency responders, including from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, used a ladder truck to distribute chocolate candies as part of The Grand Gelt Drop during the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Children helped light a menorah with Rabbi Yaakov Kotlarsky, of Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights, at a menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Children helped light a menorah with Rabbi Yaakov Kotlarsky, of Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights, at a menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas Hayes, center, is pictured at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas Hayes, center, is pictured at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Hot chocolate was served at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Hot chocolate was served at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Emergency responders, including from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, used a ladder truck to distribute chocolate candies as part of The Grand Gelt Drop during the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Emergency responders, including from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, used a ladder truck to distribute chocolate candies as part of The Grand Gelt Drop during the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes addresses the crowd at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.
Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes addresses the crowd at the menorah lighting event Dec. 18, 2022 at North School Park in Arlington Heights.

“Darkness, which comes in many different forms, cannot be chased away with sticks but only with light,” Kotlarsky said.

The faith leader said lighting the menorah at home is also a reminder that illumination begins first with self and family.

Kotlarsky said this year’s community menorah lighting has extra significance as Jewish communities globally celebrate the Year of Hakhel or “Gathering,” a once-in-seven-years Jewish tradition.

Scott and Susan Zeitlin, of Arlington Heights, were among attendees.

“This is the first time we’ve been here. I’ve lived in Arlington Heights my entire life, I absolutely love that this event is available for us,” said Susan Zeitlin.

Arlington Heights first responders dropped chocolate coins and festive parachutes from the tall ladder of a fire engine — an activity called The Grand Gelt Drop.

“We love that we have something in town that we could do together to celebrate the holiday,” said Tera Goldman, who attended the lighting event with her two children.

Goldman hoped for all people to experience, “peace and happiness and joy and just to enjoy the holiday season.”

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.