Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street) took part in the Festival of Lights on Monday, December 18, as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined leaders of the borough’s Jewish community in lighting a community Hanukkah menorah.
The ceremony took on an unusually somber tone this year in the aftermath of a devastating fire that took the life of a Jewish mother and three children in Sheepshead Bay in the wee hours of December 18, the sixth night of Hanukkah. The blaze was reportedly sparked by an unattended menorah, and injured three other family members and six firefighters as well.
Adams led attendees in a moment of silence before speaking about the importance of fire safety, as well as a dedicated Brooklyn-based burn unit, which he originally called for in March, 2015 after a house fire killed seven children in Midwood.
Later on in the night, there was kosher food, plus entertainment. Among the event’s honorees were NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass, FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and MTA Chaplain Rabbi Harry Tzvi Berkowitz.