NCSY strives for record

NCSY, the International Youth Movement of the Orthodox Union, is planning a record-breaking menorah lighting for this weekend on the first night of Chanukah in Connecticut.

Over 1,000 menorahs, or chanukiyot, will be set up, lit and blessings said, in a huge ballroom in the Stamford Hilton Hotel at 7 p.m. on Saturday night, December 8th as part of an “inspiring and motivating” Shabbaton, explained Hanna Schlager, NY NCSY’s director of development. The goal is to break the Guinness World Record for the most menorahs lit simultaneously in honor of Chanukah. NCSY purchased all the menorahs and candles for the event thanks to a generous sponsorship and all of the participants may keep their menorahs to use for the rest of the holiday. For many, this will be the first time they have lit a menorah and said the brachot, blessings, on the candle lighting, pointed out Schlager. The blessings will be projected and transliterated to facilitate the process.

NY NCSY and Atlantic Seaboard NCSY have joined together for their annual Winter Regional Shabbaton, from Friday, December 7th through Sunday, December 9th. More than 500 teenagers from both public schools and Yeshiva day schools will be there, as well as adults, advisors and staff. The youth and adults hail from Long Island, Westchester, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Rochester.

The extreme monorah lighting event is the idea of the Regional Director of NY NCSY, Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, noted Schlager. Lightstone felt that teens celebrating their first Chanukah would be even more inspired through the Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d’s name) of participating in their first lighting and beating the Guinness World Record. Schlager pointed out that the previous record was 782 menorahs lit, set last year by the Merrick Jewish Center. She noted that there are “tons of rules and regulations, every exit and engrance has to filled, with 20 stewards to guard the doors and filming of the event from beginning to end with a camera at every entrance”. NCSY is providing candles and tin menorahs, she said, but “those who want to light their own can bring their own and oil and light. We are hoping for more than 1000.” Some of the menorahs will be lit without a blessing.

She said that they are reaching out to those who “don’t celebrate at home and don’t say the brachot” hoping that this will “light a fire under the person” who would then say “’wow, let’s do it and I’ll invite my friends” to “motivate the person” to “want to be a party of it.”

Rabbi Lightstone explained, “The teens who will be participating in this event have experienced tremendously challenging times in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and for that reason our NCSY team has launched this record-setting project called, “Turning the Lights Back On.” We hope to demonstrate the potential power that each individual candle possesses as it attempts to extinguish its share of darkness in the world.”

“I’m really excited,” said Schlager. “It’s the first night of Chanukah, everyone will be lighting, it will be really special, with singing and dancing and lots of jelly donuts.”

Schlager noted that “NCSY’s greater mission is to connect, inspire and empower Jewish teens and encourage passionate Judaism through Torah and Tradition. NCSY connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to develop a positive Jewish identity and inspires Jewish teens through informal Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. NCSY empowers teens through leadership development and guidance to become passionately committed leaders of the Jewish community and instruments for positive change and renewal. NCSY is committed to provide a safe space where teens can celebrate their Jewish heritage; embrace Torah and Tradition; develop a positive Jewish identity; acquire invaluable leadership skills; connect with dedicated Jewish role models; and learn to live passionately Jewish lives.”

NCSY said that this is open to the community and is welcoming guests to stop by the Stamford Hilton Hotel to join them in making history at this “tremendously moving Chanukah event.”