Christmas Tree and Menorah Lit in CM

The Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches and the Jewish Center of the Moriches held their Christmas tree lighting and menorah lighting event in the Center Moriches Square shopping center on Friday, Dec. 13.

The tree and the menorah were both lit at the same time after a couple of speeches and live entertainment.  The two lightings served to commemorate the start of the holiday season in the Center Moriches area.

“The menorah lighting is a part of a festival of lights that has been going on for some years,” Jewish Center of the Moriches member Stephen Schwartz said.

“The tree lighting tradition began about 14 years ago, thanks to an idea from Dr. Willian Savino, a member of the Chamber who wanted to do something festive for the town,” Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches president Jackie Osborne added.  “We sadly lost Dr. Savino a few years back and his daughter, Judy Savino, holds an annual holiday window decorating contest in town in honor of his memory.  As the event grew in popularity…[it] has grown tremendously.”

The Center Moriches Square parking lot was partially closed for the event, with orange traffic cones being used to secure a small area around the tree and the menorah so event participants could safely watch the lightings.  

On the opposite side of the tree and menorah, the Center Moriches High School Band and Holiday Ensemble practiced next to a van from Village Music Shoppe in Shirley.  The band and ensemble later performed in front of the crowd of attendees before the tree and menorah were lit.

“This year, the event…featured performances from [the Center Moriches Holiday Ensemble]…as well as our local dance troupe from Artistic Choreography,” Osborne said.  “Hampton Coffee [also] kindly donated hot chocolate and cookies to warm up the crowd.”

Members of the Jewish Center of the Moriches explained how the center is involved with the annual lightings.

“We just participate as [the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches is] kind enough to put up the menorah and invite us to be part of the festivity,” Jewish Center of the Moriches member Jeff Pribut said.

The menorah is lit for the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, but due to the nature of the Jewish calendar, the holiday’s date changes every year.  The holiday actually starts this year at sundown on Dec. 25.  

All eight electric candles on the menorah were lit on the night of Dec. 13, but Schwartz explained that the Jewish Center of the Moriches will re-light the menorah during the holiday in accordance with Jewish tradition.

“Starting Dec. 25, we will only light one light (plus the light symbolic of the candle that lights the other lights,” Schwartz said. “Then, [we] increase by one light a night till all lights are lit, and then [we] leave them all on for the rest of the holiday season.”

After the tree and the menorah were lit, a Santa Claus performer showed up to have his photograph taken with event attendees.  The Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Center Moriches Fire Department, took place the day after the tree and menorah lightings.  The Jewish Center of the Moriches currently plans to host a Chanukah dinner on Dec. 27.