Grand Menorah Lighting featuring CMU’s Bagpipe Band

December 17, 2012, 2:49 pm 0 Edit

The inaugural menora lighting on campus featuring the CMU Bagpipe Band playing Chanuka music. Pictured from left are Elon Bauer, Rabbi Shlomo Silverman, Mike Darcy, Albert de Fusco, professor Andrew Carlisle, Xander Orenstein, Gus Ireland, Stanton Man, Andrew Bova and Colleen Poe.

Grand menora lighting features CMU’s Bagpipe Band

Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University brought the CMU Jewish community together Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m. to light a 9-foot menora in the center of campus for the first time ever.

CMU faculty member Anne Witchner lit the menora, followed by Chabad student President Nathan Oshlag lighting the rest of the torches and reciting the blessings. The evening’s highlight was live Chanuka music played by the CMU Bagpipe Band, along with hot apple cider and latkes for all who participated in this historic event.

The program was co-sponsored by AEPi, Hillel Jewish University Center, Jewish Student Association and Tartans for Israel. Chabad arranged for the 9-foot menora to be stationed in the center of CMU’s campus during the eight-day holiday, to spread the light of Chanuka to the entire campus community.

“This was the first time that bagpipes played Chanuka music, originally arranged by the Bagpipe Band,” said Rabbi Shlomo Silverman, director of Chabad of CMU. “Bagpipes are a nine-note instrument, so playing Jewish music can be a challenge. Chabad was happy to work with the director of the band, Andrew Carlisle, to put together a medley of Chanuka music using sections that the bagpipes were able to play.”

In addition to this festive menora lighting on the fifth night of Chanuka, Chabad provided a full week of Chanuka programs for CMU students, including smaller menora lightings, a falafel dinner, Chanuka parties and more. Visit chabadofcmu.com or email rabbi@chabadofcmu.com for more information. Watch the video.