To loosely paraphrase the late, great Jewish composer Jerry Herman, “We need a little Chanukah, right this very minute.”
With so much turmoil and upheaval going on around the world, the Festival of Lights couldn’t arrive at a better time. And that means the return of Baltimore’s celebrated “Chanukah House.”
Now located at 101 Brightside Ave. in Pikesville’s Ralston community, the “Chanukah House” will be displayed in all its glory throughout the holiday season, which runs from Dec. 7-15. Each night will feature a special menorah lighting ceremony.
In total, the house will be on display daily from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19, from noon until 9 p.m.
The first night’s holiday ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. with Chabad of West Pikesville and the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Co. as guest honorees. The following night’s ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. (due to Shabbat) and on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The following evenings will feature candle-lightings at 6 p.m. Among the guests to be honored will be Pikesville’s first-responders, local elected officials and Jewish War Veterans. One night will also be an “Israel night.”
Onsite security will be provided by Protect & Serve LLC.
Sponsors of the Chanukah House include Caramels, Re/Max, Yesh Hummus & Grill, Abba Moving, Seven Mile Market, The Candy Store, Sheri G. Events, Shabsi’s Judaica Center, Hair Dot T, Park Heights Roofing, WellQuest Massage, Window Replacements, Klaff Sports Physical Therapy, and Shifrah and Yossi Green.
For more than two decades, the original “Chanukah House,” at 6211 Park Heights Ave., was an annual tradition for families looking for some holiday spirit. With its holiday visual treats, array of cartoon characters and colorful displays, the nationally known house — then owned and operated by the late Ann and Morris J. Cohen and their family — drew throngs of visitors, including civic leaders who attended the nightly menorah-lighting ceremonies.
In 2010, the “Chanukah House” operation was taken over by the Fleischman family at 6721 Greenspring Ave. Last year, Ralston residents Wendy and David Hefter made their debut as custodians of the “Chanukah House” experience, with many of the original decorations from the Cohen residence on display.
After buying many of the original “Chanukah House” decorations and signs from the Fleishmans, the Hefters began purchasing and creating some new ones of their own, including a large chanukiah, a row of white dreidels and a custom-made inflatable Chanukah “tubeman” with flailing arms. Among the original items are the holiday-themed bears, Minnie Mouse, Elmo, “Winnie the Jew” and a joyful, life-size Chasidic rebbe, all situated on the Hefters’ porch.
“We wanted to incorporate the old items, toys and displays with the new,” Wendy Hefter told Jmore last year. “The continuity is so important. People fondly remember the bubbie and zaydie and all the great characters. … It’s just a joyful thing for us to do. We have to believe Hashem will watch over us.”
Said her husband: “It’s just fun to spread the joy. You already see that ‘wow factor’ when people see the house while driving down the street.”
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