Jews throughout the world celebrated Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, at various hours on December 18, 2022, depending on the time zone. Monitoring from Greenport, New York, this reporter can document the arrival of Hanukkah precisely at 5 p.m. Eastern, in Mitchell Park, here in our quiet little maritime outpost on the east end of the North Fork of Long Island.

It was here that the Village had set up the official menorah, adjacent to the official Christmas tree, both to remain lighted throughout the holidays in the spirit of ecumenism. It was here that shul members and a crowd of local residents had gathered to usher in the holiday with Rabbi Gadi, who led the prayers, conducted the singing, and kindled the light that beamed across the park and touched the hearts of all who were witness to the event.

Jews celebrate the miracle of Judah Maccabee and his small army of rebels, who triumphed against the overwhelming might of the Greek-Syrian oppressors, and also the miracle of the single cruse of oil, enough for a single day that miraculously burned for eight days and eight nights. Those events occurred more than 2,200 years ago, in the 2nd century AD, and yet we recall them today with reverence and joyous merrymaking, just as we did this December 18, beginning in Mitchell Park, precisely at 5 p.m.

It was a glorious, starry night, with a bit of a nip in the air which, in a way, brought us closer together physically and spiritually. After the brief ceremony, with remarks by Rabbi Gadi, shul president Judith Weiner, and Southold Town officials, everyone walked a few blocks west to Fourth Street, where at Congregation Tifereth Israel, all were invited to join the members for jelly-filled donuts, hot apple cider, and — Surprise! — latkes, fried up by shul member Deborah Pittorino, proprietor of The Greenporter Motel and Restaurant, who served up about 200 of the crunchy treats, topped with applesauce and/or sour cream.

All the while, there was music. Charlotte Day at the piano, shul member Dave Berson and his trio offering Hanukkah songs and folk tunes that had toes tapping to the rhythm. Everyone played with the dreidels and munched on the chocolate gelt they found on the festively decorated tables in the community room. The children took home gifts purchased by the Sisterhood.

It was delicious. It was festive. It was loud. It was fun being together and schmoozing with friends and neighbors. And when it was over, in keeping with the good will of the holiday, folks pitched in and worked together to clean up the room, store the tables and chairs and, except for the room decorations, artfully managed by Rabbi Gadi, all was put right, allowing the Monday exercise class to proceed as usual in the space. Thank you Adrianne Greenberg for spearheading a wonderful family and community event.

One might ask, can anyone describe perfection? Indeed. Hanukkah in Greenport, New York, on December 18, 2022.                                                                 Photos by Josh Rakhman and Judith Weiner