Members of the Estes Valley Jewish community, along with local supporters, gathered Tuesday night in the lobby of Town Hall to share an ancient tradition — lighting menorah candles to commemorate the miracle of sacred oil that burned for eight days when there was only enough for one.
The story is one of hope and the power of light to overcome darkness, a message deeply needed just hours after a mass shooting by two gunmen, a father-and-son duo, motivated by antisemitism, occurred at Archer Park near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Fifteen people ranging in age from 10 to 87 were killed in the attack, and at least 40 others were wounded. The victims included two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and French, Slovak, and Israeli citizens.
Despite the pain of the attack, Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik told those who had gathered that they needed to be mindful of their blessings, “The Jewish people say blessings before they do any activity, because it draws on that energy that comes from being mindful of the blessings that we have, which engenders gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for.”
Gorelik acknowledged several people who had joined the event, including Estes Park Mayor Gary Hall and Town Trustees Frank Lancaster and Bill Brown. Gorelik also acknowledged Tracy Dalton, who serves with him as a chaplain in the National Guard.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with the commandment, the mitzvah to light the Hanukkah candles,” Gorelik prayed the blessing in both Hebrew and English. He then led the gathering in song and asked individuals forward to help light four of the eight menorah candles.
Helped by Lancaster, who lifted a glass hurricane globe off the service lamp on the giant candelabrum, Hall lit the first candle, followed by Alan Lipkin, a retired ear, nose, and throat physician and a local wildlife photographer.
Gorelik asked Elisabeth Lanning to light one of the candles in memory of her late parents, Holocaust survivors Robert and Monica Kahn, who were killed in a car accident in 2023.
“Her father, Dr. Khan, would come to the Menorah lighting every single year and tell us how he remembered the Menorah being lit in Berlin at the time of the Second World War. And he would speak up every time, and he would speak with such proud pride and such gusto,” said Gorelik.
“I remember, even during Covid, it was a much smaller crowd, and he came, and he was at an advanced age, right? And he said, Come on, now, I’m Jewish. Nothing’s gonna stop me, you know?” Gorelik said.
Gorelik, who is from Australia, is the spiritual leader of Chabad of Northern Colorado in Fort Collins. He told the people who came together that he lost two colleagues in the attack.
Due to unpredictable December weather, including wind, and concerns about public safety, the menorah lighting, which was previously held outdoors, was moved inside three years ago.
The celebrations included Jewish songs sung in Hebrew and English. The mayor, who is a musician, promised to learn the Hebrew songs so he could sing along next year.
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