All over the Greater Toronto Area, Jews and non-Jews alike celebrated the Festival of Lights known as Chanukah (or Hanukkah, or Hanukah?), with menorah-lighting ceremonies taking place across the city.
At the Dension Armoury at Downsview Park, Tzivos Hashem Canada and Chabad of Ontario hosted the Canadian Armed Forces for a Chanukah celebration. For kids, the event featured a “Kotel selfie wall” and even a chance to decorate army helmets with Chanukah decorations.
On YouTube, Toronto Mayor John Tory wished Jews around Canada a very Happy Chanukah:
On Dec. 7, the Mayor, along with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) Toronto and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, hosted a Chanukah reception in the members lounge of Toronto City Hall. Approximately 200 members of Toronto’s Jewish community attended the ceremony:
On the first night of Chanukah, with the help of Chabad Lubavitch, Toronto Police Services 32 division celebrated its fourth annual lighting of a large menorah, by the station’s front steps.
At Leo Baeck day school, student Georgia Konopny received a ‘Thank You’ certificate for her Tzedakah gift to Na’amat Canada, as part of its annual “Dollars for David” project which provides Chanukah gifts for needy children in Na’amat’s 250 daycare centres across Israel.
As part of its tikkun olam program, Chabad Lubavitch of Markham, in partnership with Chai Lifeline, an organization that helps children suffering from serious illness, held an event last month to wrap Chanukah gifts for children who will be in the hospital during the holidays.
James Pasternak, a Toronto city councillor, posted a few photos of the Jewish Russian Community Centre menorah-lighting event Dec. 6 at Mel Lastman Square, which was also attended by Thornhill MP Peter Kent.
On Tuesday Dec. 8, the Liberal caucus hosted a Chanukah reception at the Main Legislative Building Queen’s Park. Premier Kathleen Wynne recorded a Chanukah greeting while CIJA co-chair Joel Reitman welcomed the community and thanked the Liberal caucus for their hospitality. As with the mayor’s reception the evening before, there were approximately 200 members of the Jewish community in attendance.
