Coney congregation unveils and lights its first menorah
Chanukah began earlier than usual this year, but the Jewish community of Coney Island was more than prepared to start the holiday. On November 27, the Warbasse Jewish Heritage Congregation unveiled its brand new menorah and the first light was kindled outside the Warbasse Shopping Center at Neptune Avenue and West Fifth Street.
“It went beautifully despite rainy weather. There was a great turnout. We distributed over 200 of the traditional Chanukah doughnuts,” said Rabbi David Okunov, the congregation’s spiritual leader.
Over 100 people were in attendance, including Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and 93-year-old Holocaust survivor Jack Eisenstein, who was given the honor of kindling the first light of the state-of-the-art 22-foot, 1,000-pound Menorah, which cost $18,000 to build.