Chanukah on the Lower East Side: A Century of Change

For centuries, Chanukah was a minor holiday that lacked the depth of ancient tradition and liturgy of Judaism’s holiest days, like Rosh Hashanah and Passover. It would be transformed by the countless Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century who saw something in the Festival of Lights that resonated with their own lived experiences. Head to Essex Market’s Mezzanine level as Scott Brevda of the Museum at Eldridge Street discusses how Chanukah was shaped into a holiday to rival Christmas and presents a unique look at the historic menorahs in the Museum’s ongoing exhibition Lighting the World: Menorahs Around the Globe.