Car Menorahs Take to the Streets of Cleveland in ‘Light of Hanukkah’

Joining a growing tradition across the country, the Cleveland Menorah Parade will soon bring a procession of candle-topped cars from the Beachwood area to Public Square and back again. 

The police-escorted event, free and open to all, starts on the third night of Hanukkah (traditionally spelled Chanukah) this Thursday, and includes the large menorah lighting ceremony in Public Square.

This is the first official year of the Cleveland Menorah Parade, a practice originally invented in the 1970s in New York, although smaller events have run the last two years. Rabbi Yossi Freedman, co-director of Chabad of Downtown Cleveland, says the idea is to get the message out to the city that a little light dispels darkness.

“This is not a limited message, it’s universal,” Freedman says. “Unfortunately, light is most noticeable in times of darkness, including in America where a lot of things are bringing divisiveness. But with Hanukkah, we can put that all aside, at least for one night.”

The full parade schedule is below:

5 p.m. – Meet at Green Road Synagogue (2437 S Green Rd.)
5:30 p.m. – Leave from GRS
6:30 p.m. – Arrive at Public Square for Chanukah Celebration with a free Menorah Lighting, Entertainment, and Refreshments
7:15 p.m. – Leave from Public Square
8 p.m. – Arrive back at GRS

All those wishing to participate in the car menorah parade must RSVP at CLEmenorahparade.com.

This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2017.