In their Chanukah anthem “Light One Candle,” the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary sang, “Don’t let the light go out!/It’s lasted for so many years/Don’t let the light go out!/Let it shine through our hope and our tears.”
For her bat mitzvah project, Columbia resident Ali Levine is sending out a similar message by asking people to show their love and support for Israel at this critical time in the history of the Jewish state.
Every year for the Festival of Lights season, Ali and her family members — who belong to Columbia’s Bet Chaverim Congregation — set up a large, Chanukah-themed light display in front of their home, at 6424 Empty Song Road in the River Hill village. The display receives a large amount of attention and praise from passersby, neighbors and the media.
This year, Ali is asking visitors to “River Hill Hanukkah” to donate to Israel Defense Forces soldiers in their conflict with Hamas.
Ali and some of her friends hand-painted 100 candlesticks to distribute to visitors to light an extra Shabbat candle for those who cannot partake in the weekly ritual at this time, such as IDF soldiers and the 240 Israeli hostages in Gaza. The candlesticks will be available at “River Hill Hanukkah” starting next Thursday, Nov. 30.
Meanwhile, the Levines will ask visitors for donations to purchase such items as tactical gear, food, prayer books, care packages, hygiene essentials, presents for children and tefillin (phylacteries) for IDF soldiers based in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat.
“River Hill Hanukkah” is now open daily from 4 to 9:30 p.m. through New Year’s Day. “Please join me in spreading extra light,” Ali wrote on social media.
Said her mother, Susan Levine, an attorney who grew up in Reisterstown: “Ali had been asking to travel to Israel for years, and this past June we finally went as a family for almost three weeks. When she heard about the war, she was upset and wanted to do something to support the IDF soldiers. We usually collect tzedakah at the light display, and this year she asked to donate it to a charity that is supporting the soldiers.”
Ali is conducting the effort in partnership with Chabad of Greater Laurel. For those who cannot drop by “River Hill Hanukkah” but wish to contribute, they can send donations to Chabad of Greater Laurel, 312 Marshall Avenue, #104, Laurel, Maryland 20707, with the notation, “For Israel.”
For information, email RiverhillHanukkah@hotmail.com or click here.
The remaining 6,000 members of the community are expected to immigrate by 2030.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
Israel is increasingly reliant on foreign workers, hundreds of whom moved into the dilapidated building during the Iran war.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.