The Chabad of Hall County held its third annual Light Up Hall County event on the Downton Gainesville Square Sunday.
The event, which marked the fifth day of Chanukah, featured the lighting of a nine-foot menorah and encouraged the community to gather and celebrate together. The lighting on the Gainesville square was the second event the organization held to commemorate the eight days of Chanukah, having held the same event in Flowery Branch on Dec. 26.
Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon also attended the event in support of the Jewish community.
“I feel honored every time I get invited to this Hanukkah celebration,” Couvillon said. “...it's just so important that we recognize our Jewish brothers and sisters, and especially at this important time of year. It's meaningful to be able to come together and celebrate, irregardless of what religion you practice, that we love one another. With all the strife that we have in the world, and especially in Israel, I think it's important that we take a moment and we do celebrate the love for one another.”
Co-director of the Chabad of Hall County Rabbi Nechemia Gurevitz led the event.
“I want to challenge all of us here that even after the celebration is over, we should take this light and pass it forward,” Rabbi Gurevitz said. “Do one more good deed. Do one more act of kindness. This world, at times, seems dark and cold, but a little bit of light pushes away all the darkness, so together, we're going to light up the world.”
To learn more about the Chabad of Hall County, click here.
