State, County VIPs Gather for Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Rabbi Schmuel of Chabad Center and Lubavitch of Maryland led the ceremony, while elected officials and Pikesville area community leader Ron Rosenbluth lit the lamps.

The Jewish Girl Scouts Troop sold boxes of cookies, while congregants of Chabad Center in Pikesville handed out menorahs to people who don't have them. It was Monday night—the third of the eight-night Festival of Lights—when state and county elected officials and community members gathered at The Chanukah House in Pikesville for the menorah lighting ceremony. Israel 'Izzy' Patoka of Gov. Martin O'Malley's office; Del. Dana Stein, and Pikesville area community leader Ron Rosenbluth each lit one of the three lamps. Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond lit the shamash—the middle lamp. Rabbi Schmuel Kaplan of Chabad Center and Lubavitch of Maryland led the ceremony. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz had planned to attend, …

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PHOTO OF THE DAY: Fair Weather Ushers Winter Holidays

Despite recent springlike temperatures, dreidels and reindeer adorn lawns.

Winter holidays decorations are being set up throughout the community under a calm sky and amid warm temperatures. On Tuesday, the temperature reached into the high 60s, bringing a 50 percent chance of showers Tuesday night, accoriding to the National Weather Service. The grass was still green, and we have yet to get our first snowfall. And that's not going to change much, according to the Garrison area forecast. For the rest of the week, leading up to Saturday—the first night of Hanukkah—temperatures will stay in the 50s and above. The holiday lasts through sundown Dec. 16. Some showers are expected—but there's only a slight chance—during the day Friday. And there's a chance again on Sunday. For the first lamp lighting at The Chanukah …

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

The Pikesville home holds nightly lamplighting ceremonies during the Festival of Lights. On Monday, the lighting ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., with Baltimore County and state elected officials.

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 …

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How to Light the Menorah for Festival of Lights

Review some customs for celebrating the miracle of Hanukkah, from Dec. 8 to Dec. 16, including lighting the first candle of the menorah nightfall Dec. 8.