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A moveable Feast of Lights

    By
  • Emily Cohen
    • December 27, 2016
  • More than 250 cars gather on the Ben Franklin Parkway to parade through the city with lit electric menorahs atop their roofs in celebration of the third night of Hanukkah.

    More than 250 cars gather on the Ben Franklin Parkway to parade through the city with lit electric menorahs atop their roofs in celebration of the third night of Hanukkah. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Arthur Sauerhaft, from Chester, Pennsylvania, puts batteries into his car menorah in preparation for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia.

    Arthur Sauerhaft, from Chester, Pennsylvania, puts batteries into his car menorah in preparation for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Benjamin and Amiati Coplon secure their car menorah in preperation for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia on December 26, 2016.

    Benjamin and Amiati Coplon secure their car menorah in preperation for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia on December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Lubavitch, leads a Maariv (evening prayer service) before the beginning of the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia on the third night of Hanukkah.

    Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Lubavitch, leads a Maariv (evening prayer service) before the beginning of the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia on the third night of Hanukkah. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • A driver captures the spectacle of 250 cars adorned with lit electric menorahs as they line up for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade put on by Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, an Orthodox Jewish movement.

    A driver captures the spectacle of 250 cars adorned with lit electric menorahs as they line up for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade put on by Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, an Orthodox Jewish movement. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • More than 250 cars gather on the Ben Franklin Parkway for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016.

    More than 250 cars gather on the Ben Franklin Parkway for the 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Children hang from the windows as the parade makes its way down the Ben Franklin Parkway toward City Hall.

    Children hang from the windows as the parade makes its way down the Ben Franklin Parkway toward City Hall. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016.

    More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016.

    More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016.

    More than 250 cars participate in Philadelphia's 10th Annual Car Menorah Parade December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Spectators wave and cheer as the parade passes through Center City on its way to Independence Mall.

    Spectators wave and cheer as the parade passes through Center City on its way to Independence Mall. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Choni Melecki plays keyboard and background music for Peretz Chein, who sang traditional Judaic and holiday songs.

    Choni Melecki plays keyboard and background music for Peretz Chein, who sang traditional Judaic and holiday songs. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing.

    The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing.

    The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing.

    The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing.

    The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing.

    The party continues at Independence Mall where 700 people gathered for suvganiot, dancing, and singing. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Children and adults gather under the massive menorah on Independence Mall as Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, says the blessings and lights the candles for the third night of Hanukkah December 26, 2016.

    Children and adults gather under the massive menorah on Independence Mall as Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, says the blessings and lights the candles for the third night of Hanukkah December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, says the blessings and lights the candles for the third night of Hanukkah, December 26, 2016.

    Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Chabad Lubavitch, says the blessings and lights the candles for the third night of Hanukkah, December 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

  • A crowd gathers on Market Street to watch the lighting of the massive menorah on Independence Mall for the third night of Hanukkah, December, 26, 2016.

    A crowd gathers on Market Street to watch the lighting of the massive menorah on Independence Mall for the third night of Hanukkah, December, 26, 2016. (Emily Cohen for WHYY)

About 250 cars topped with glowing menorahs paraded down the Ben Franklin Parkway and through Center City to Independence Mall Monday night in a bright and noisy celebration of Hanukkah.

This was the 10th annual Car Menorah Parade in Philadelphia, sponsored by the Chabad Lubavitch, an Orthodox Jewish movement. With a police escort and music blasting, the cars made their way to Independence Mall, where the real party began.

Yummy suvganiot (jelly-filled doughnuts) from Espresso Cafe in Northeast Philadelphia awaited the paraders after they parked their menorah-topped cars. About 700 gathered to celebrate the third night of Hanukkah.

The party spilled onto blocked-off Market Street as people danced to live music from Choni Melecki, on keyboard, and Peretz Chein, on vocals, playing traditional Jewish and holiday songs.

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On hand to light the giant menorah on Independence Mall was Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, the regional director of Lubavitch. Shemtov is credited with erecting the first public Hanukkah menorah in the United States in 1974,  when he kindled a small menorah at the foot of the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall.

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