Photo Opportunities with Chanukah Characters at Hollywood Festival

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHANUKAH CHARACTERS AT HOLLYWOOD FESTIVAL
Seminary Students to Create Costumes and Backdrops

By: Reuven Arazi

As anticipation grows for the upcoming 27^th Annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival, a new and animated feature this year will provide a “Disneylike Atmosphere” for children and parents alike.

A wide array of colorful Chanukah Characters, ranging from “Mr. Dreidel”, “Mrs. Latke”, “Oliveoil” and “Judah Maccabee”, will be on hand to greet the thousands in attendance. Backdrops of scenes from the Chanukah story, will be placed in several sections of the grandstands, where parents will have the opportunity to take their small children to pose for pictures with the fun-filled Chanukah Characters.

Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, organizer of the Annual Chanukah Festival, expects the new attraction to add immensely to the festival spirit. “There is no limit to the excitement these boys and girls will feel when being greeted by a real life Chanukah Character and having a memento of this occasion that they can cherish forever,” the Rabbi remarked.

The costumes and backdrops will be created by the young ladies of the Chaya Aydel Seminary, Florida’s only Jewish Teachers’ College for women, currently in its fifth year of operation.

Rabbi Yossi Lebovics, principal of the Seminary and third generation Jewish educator par-excellence, explains, “The philosophy of the Chaya Aydel Seminary is “Learn it. Love it. Live it. Teach it.” The creativity and talent that the seminary students will dedicate to the Chanukah Characters and backdrops of Chanukah scenes will guarantee that the thousands of children expected at this festival will live with the story and lessons of Chanukah for the rest of their lives.”

The festival will also feature the king of Jewish music, Avraham Fried, live in concert, the lighting of Florida’s largest Menorah, holiday food and refreshments, and of course Chanukah gelt (money) and goodies for all the children. Traditionally, the South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival is North America’s largest annual Chanukah event. Admission to the festival is free. It will take place on Wednesday, December 20^th,7:30PM, at the McArthur High School Football stadium, 6501 Hollywood Blvd., just west of the Hollywood Turnpike.

The festival is sponsored by Chabad of South Broward, leaders in Jewish education, outreach and social services, with 11 centers and 35 agencies in 10 Broward cities.