Chabad Lubavitch of Buckhurst Hill once again delighted the local community with a unique and creative Chanukah celebration, unveiling this year’s featured Menorah crafted entirely from sushi. More than 1,000 pieces of sushi were used to create the striking six-foot Menorah, which was enjoyed by all who attended.

When Rabbi Odom and Henny Brandman moved to Buckhurst Hill twenty years ago, one of their first initiatives was arranging a public Menorah lighting at the top of Queens Road, in the heart of the town. From its very first year, the public Menorah became a cherished communal feature.

In addition to the public lighting, Chabad sought to enhance the celebration by creating a special featured Menorah at the communal Chanukah party that followed. In 2005, they introduced a six-foot chocolate Menorah, part solid chocolate and part chocolate bowls filled with sweets. It quickly became the talk of the town.

Guided by the principle of always growing and always doing more, each subsequent Chanukah brought an even more imaginative creation. Over the years, Chabad of Buckhurst Hill has produced an array of memorable Menorahs, some serving as fundraising campaigns and others simply as special features. These have included a Pearl Menorah, Coin Menorah, Can Menorah, Recycled Phones Menorah, Lava Lamp Menorah, Sweets Menorah, a second Chocolate Menorah, and perhaps their most famous creation, the Whisky Menorah, constructed from clear tubing with a barrel and tap at the base, containing 65 litres of single malt whisky.

This year’s Sushi Menorah continued that tradition of creativity and excitement. The six-foot work of art was unveiled at the communal Chanukah party on Sunday and enjoyed by more than 150 guests.

Rabbi Brandman, director of the Buckhurst Hill Chabad Centre, reflected on the significance of the gathering. “Chanukah is such a special time of year, and it was amazing to see the community come out in great numbers to support these fantastic events, as they do every year in growing numbers. We were unsure whether the tragic events in Sydney would turn people away from coming, or whether they would inspire greater numbers, and it was heartwarming to see that the latter was the case, with our greatest numbers yet. Chanukah is a time to spread light, warmth, and community spirit, and these events go a long way in encouraging this spirit in people.”