Save the date

By Staff October 18, 2013, 1:30 pm 0 Edit

Jay Fingeret and Pittsburgh Councilman Corey O’Connor lit an ice sculpture menorah during last year’s IllumiNER ExtraordiNER event, at the Schenley Park ice rink. This year’s lifesize candelabra will be made of canned goods for the local food pantry. (Chronicle photo by Lindsay Dill)

The Agency for Jewish Learning is calling people from the community to enter their family menorah stories in a contest for the 2013 IllumiNER ExtraordiNER event at the Heinz History Center in the Strip District on Dec. 4 — the eighth night of Chanukah.

Eight winning stories will be selected. The winning families will be interviewed for a film, which will be presented at this year’s IllumiNER ExtraordiNER.

The free event, which will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., celebrates the Festival of Lights and, according to AJL, will “light the future of Jewish education in Pittsburgh.”

The celebration will include different choir performances and other entertainment.

But the highlight of the evening will be the lighting of the largest menorah in Pittsburgh, which, this year, will be made of canned food to be donated to the local food pantry.

Last year’s IllumiNER ExtraordiNER event at Schenley Park attracted hundreds of people and featured the lighting of an ice sculpture menorah.

For many families, menorahs are family treasures, each one possessing a story that should not be forgotten.

Families interested in sharing their stories should contact AJL with the following information:

• When/how did the menorah enter the family?

• What is it made of?

• Is there a special story about the menorah?

• Is the menorah whole or cracked/ broken?

• Did anyone give it to the family? Who?

• From what country did the menorah come? Who brought it to America, and how?

Include a photo of the menorah.

All stories should be sent to Gwen Stevens at: gstevens@ajlpittsburgh.org by Nov. 1. Title your email Menorah Story.