Federation in the news: Daily Hampshire Gazette 12/20/22

Sharing light with the world: New 6-foot menorah unveiled in Easthampton

A new Menorah in Easthampton donated by The Jewish Federation of Western Mass.

EASTHAMPTON — The first night of Hanukkah was ushered in Sunday with the lighting of a 6-foot electric menorah on the lawn of the city’s Municipal Building and a ceremony held at Nashawannuck Pond.

The ceremony marked the sixth year a group of residents came together to celebrate the Jewish holiday with a candle lighting by the pond, including one year held virtually.

“In a time of so much darkness, I am always overjoyed to see so many people joining together to bring light to defy the darkness around us and to chase away the darkness within us,” Owen Zaret, who serves as an at-large member of the City Council, said in a statement. “We are at our best together, making ourselves stronger by sharing light with the world.”

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