Annual event set for Dec. 29

FAIRLAWN — Chanukah at the Mall will return for its 29th year with a 6-foot edible sushi menorah Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. This year, Chanukah begins the evening of Dec. 22 and runs through Dec. 30.

The event takes place at Summit Mall, located at 3265 W. Market St., in the food court. The event is a project of Chabad Akron Canton and co-sponsored by Anshe Sfard Revere Road Synagogue, Chabad at Kent State, Shaw Jewish Community Center, The Lippman School, the Jewish Community Board of Akron, Jewish Family Service of Akron, Beth El Congregation and Temple Israel.

In deciding on what to construct this year’s featured menorah from, Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin, from Revere Road Synagogue, said sushi is trendy right now, and he believes a large menorah constructed from the food will help attract people to the event. Past menorahs have been made out of creative objects as well, such as LEGOs, he said.

“We always try to do something exciting and different and intriguing,” he said.

After the event, the sushi menorah will be opened up to attendees for a buffet-style meal, Moshe Sasonkin said.

Returning this year is the “Canorah,” or a menorah constructed out of canned food items. All cans are donated to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and can be dropped off at any of the sponsoring organizations, according to event officials.

This year’s lighting honorees are Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein and Cantor Matt Austerklein from Beth El Congregation. They will light the Canorah, as well as a small, oil-fueled menorah, he said. The sushi menorah will be lit by Temple Israel synagogue Co-Presidents Bob Lazarow and Mike Segal.

According to event officials, Chanukah gelt — dollar bills and chocolate coins — will be handed out to children in attendance. They will receive an additional 10 cents they are encouraged to donate to the charity Friendship Circle.

According to Kaila Sasonkin, also of the Revere Road Synagogue, this activity is to help teach children the Jewish belief that it’s important to donate 10 percent of one’s earnings to charity.

According to its website, Friendship Circle of Cleveland brings together teenage volunteers and children with special needs for fun and friendship.

The event also will feature foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts.

“These are traditional fried foods symbolic of the miracle of oil that the holiday celebrates,” Kaila Sasonkin said.

Also at the event will be entertainment, such as a children’s choir, dreidels, Judah the Maccabee and Chanukah crafts, event officials said.

According to Moshe Sasonkin, the event is dedicated to the memory of his father, former Anshe Sfard Revere Road Synagogue Rabbi Mendy Sasonkin, who died in October 2018 at age 54. Along with Moshe’s mother, Kaila, Mendy Sasonkin directed Chanukah at the Mall for the majority of the event’s existence.

Chanukah, also referred to as the Festival of Lights, celebrates a miracle that occurred more than 2,000 years ago when Judah the Maccabee led an army to reclaim Jerusalem and its temple. While there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, it miraculously lasted for eight.