On the eighth night of Hanukkah on Dec. 27, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the Port Authority Shomrim Society held a grand menorah lighting in the World Trade Center at ground zero. Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, of the Chabad of North & South Brunswick, hasworkedwith Bill Baroni, the current deputy executive director of the Port Authority and former N.J. assemblyman representing South Brunswick. Baroni was supportive in the efforts to rededicate a new menorah to the Trade Center after the original one was destroyed on 9/11. Baroni said, “South Brunswick’s menorah lighting on Route 1 is at the highest (sea level) point fromMaine to Florida. Tonight, too, we stand with the highest menorah, here on the 48th floor of the World Trade Center.” Artists Bonnie Srolovitz and Michael Berkowicz were commissioned in 1981 to design the original menorah that was destroyed in the terrorist attacks and now are crafting a new menorah made with steel from the ruins of the Trade Center. This year, a prototype of the new menorah was used, incorporating the twin towers and an American flag woven between the two towers of the menorah. PHOTO COURTESY OF RABBI MENDY CARLEBACH
