Chanukah is around the corner and for the ninth year, Chabad of Islip will be hosting Chanukah on Main Street at the Brightwaters Canal. The free community event will feature a giant ice menorah lighting, the great big gelt drop, a live DJ, balloon twister, hot latkes, doughnuts, hot cocoa and crafts for kids.

The gelt drop is always a great attraction for kids. Members of the Bay Shore Fire Department drop gelt (chocolate coins) from the top of the fire ladder to eager children down below to catch and collect. The massive ice menorah will be sculpted live in front of attendees and then lit for all to enjoy.

Co-director of the Chabad of Islip Township, Rabbi Shimon Stillerman, said that the annual celebration is “a fantastic event to celebrate a beautiful Jewish holiday! So many people come out to light the candles, and sing and dance and recognize the joy of being Jewish, and celebrating all of that with our welcoming neighbors and friends who support us.”

The Chanukah on Main Street event has been happening since 2014, and Rabbi Stillerman said that it is extra poignant this year with worry about recent anti-Semitic acts and speech coming from influential individuals.

“We need to gather in unity and celebrate our being Jewish in the open, together with a welcoming and friendly community,” Stillerman said. “Every year, new people come over to me to express how grateful they are to discover they are not the only Jews in town. They thought their children were the only ones in their school. At this event, they see a Jewish community in Chabad of Islip Township that they are so happy to be associated with—a community not based on a membership but a birthright. Everyone should feel part of a family and be proud of who they are.”

Chanukah on Main Street will be on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4:30 p.m.

In addition to Chanukah on Main Street, the Town of Islip menorah lighting will be taking place on the front steps of Town Hall on Monday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.