UPDATE: 11-Foot Menorah To Shine at The Chanukah House

UPDATE (10 p.m.) Chanukah House will celebrate the Festival of Lights this year with a newly donated 11-foot tall menorah.

The house owned by Yitz and Sora Fleischman is being decorated for the holiday and will soon become a center community activity once again.

This is the third year the Fleischmans have decorated the outside of their home for the holiday, using the same decorations from the former sponsors who decorated their home on Park Heights Avenue.

During the holiday, that begins Saturday, neighborhood parents and children walk to the Fleischmans' house to view the festive decorations. People from out of town drive by or visit as well.

Each night of the eight-night holiday dozens of people gather to watch the menorah lamp lighting that takes place in the driveway at 6721 Greenspring Ave., Pikesville.

Each lamplighting ceremony will feature a person or persons, either individuals or those who represent groups, lighting the lamp or lamps on the central menorah.

(Updated) This holiday, the Ohr Chadash Academy will do the lighting at 7 p.m. on the first night, Saturday.

Others include the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company, Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond, and representatives from the Jewish War Veterans. The rest of the schedule has not yet been set, Yitz Fleischman said Monday night.

Set up so far, outside the Fleischmans' home, are several menorahs and other displays, including the Eight Knights of Chanukah display, holiday lights, wood cut-outs of dreidels, and more.

On Monday, work was ongoing to get the site finished before Saturday, Fleischman said.

Donations to help the family maintain and set up the displays, and for electricity, are accepted at the house website.

Editor's note: I'll be heading out to the Chanukah House this afternoon to photograph the 11-foot menorah. Check back in a few hours to see a photo.

Does your family have a traditional place to go during Chanukah? A synagogue, service, ceremony or other event? Tell us in the comments. Groups who wish to announce their celebrations on Pikesville Patch can create a Local Voices column, add an event to our calendar, and/or post an announcement.