‘Hanukkah in a box’: Chabad of Anne Arundel County to distribute care packages to nursing homes, hospitals

This year, Rabbi Nochum Light of the Chabad of Anne Arundel County wanted to celebrate Hanukkah with some of the people who are the hardest to reach — those in assisted-living homes and hospitals — by giving them latkes, menorahs, dreidels and chocolates.

Many residents in assisted-living facilities have told Light they haven’t seen their families in more than a year, mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Light plans to throw small parties or drop off care packages at hospitals and assisted-living homes from Monday through Thursday.

“It’s like a Hanukkah in a box. It is something to spice up their holiday and show them [there] is hope out there and we are here together through all this,” he said. “We care about you and you mean something to us. We don’t want them to think no one is thinking about them.”

The Chabad of Anne Arundel County is also hosting its annual menorah car parade in Annapolis on Sunday evening. The parade will be leaving the Safeway at 2635 Housley Road at 5:30 p.m. and arrive at City Dock by around 5:45 p.m. Each vehicle will have a menorah attached, and there will be hot latkes, doughnuts and hot drinks. If anyone wants a menorah on their vehicle, they will be available first come first serve Sunday, Light said.

The group will be lighting a 15-foot menorah once at City Dock, singing songs and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley will speak.

One message Light plans to say to the crowd is about being proactive and bringing out the light within oneself.

“Instead of waiting until something bad happens, let’s go out there and show the people how much we care about them. And we have to bring more warmth and light to the world,” Light said. “What’s good for today is not good enough for tomorrow. Every day we light a new candle, so yesterday was good but we have to keep going.”

Light said he is hoping the story of Hanukkah — an eight-day festival that commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem by the Jewish people — brings out the best in all people. He said he can’t do it by himself and needs the community to go out and do small acts of kindness. Light said he cannot wait to get Hanukkah started off on the right foot.

He is also asking the community to light a menorah on behalf of a life lost to COVID-19; he is calling it “Eternal Lights.” He said he named it that so members do not let their lights go out. Light said he hopes this will also push people to light their menorahs and remember someone they lost.

“They will feel and care about someone else, and it will push them to do something right for a loved one,” he said. “It will be beautiful and go a long way.”

When Light was a kid, he said his favorite part of Hanukkah was getting money from family and donating 10% to charity.

“It’s one of those holidays where everyone is happy. You know you are getting money and you know you are giving some way, so it’s a win-win,” Light said. “The kids learn how to manage money. This holiday was the most money I would have all year as a kid.”

If any assisted-living homes or hospitals in Anne Arundel County want Light to stop by with his Hanukkah care packages, they can email rabbi@chabadaac.com.