Chabad North Queensland will celebrate Hanukkah on the Esplanade with what is possibly a world-first menorah – made from recycled cans.
The menorah will be lit by Senator Nita Green on Sunday to celebrate this year’s Festival of Light celebrations to commemorate the traditional Jewish holiday.
As part of the traditions each year Chabad members make a menorah, a multi-branched candelabrum, out of different materials.
Previous years have included menorahs made from mangoes and boomerangs.
Chabad co-director Rabbi Ari Rubin said the group had been brainstorming themes when someone suggested cans.
“There was lady who said ‘wait a second you’re missing the whole point of Hanukkah – making light in the dark. Taking something bad and using it for good’,” he said.
“The whole point recycling is reusing and repurposing things that would otherwise be cast aside and giving it new life.”
It took two weeks to make the 2m structure with many community members donating cans.
“We’ve received a lot of support from around the world about this menorah. Our previous menorahs were popular in other Chabads around Australia, whereas we’ve had a lot of international attention on this one,” Rabbi Ari said.
The Hanukkah Festival of Light will be on the Cairns Esplanade Western Event Lawn from 5.30pm and is open to the public.
Read the article in the Cairns Post.