Mendel Levertov has been to St. Thomas three times in the past few years, the last after hurricanes Irma and Maria touched down in 2017 and said Monday he’s excited by the regrowth of the island.
“We came to help with the recovery and it’s beautiful to see how much everything is surging forward,” he shared. “I love now being able to come back and add the lights of Chanukah to the community.”
Levertov was among the group of rabbinical students driving around in the Chabad of St. Thomas’ Chanukah mobile Monday afternoon, handing out menorahs to passersby on the sidewalks. The organization recently welcomed junior Rabbi Berel Grossbaum, under the guidance of Rabbi Asher Federman and his family, who have been working to organize a community Chanukah celebration at the Federman residence in Red Hook.
Last year, the organization brought Jewish rapper Nissim Black to the territory, and hopes that Wednesday’s event will bring out a cross-section of the community for the more intimate and “homey” gathering.
To find out more, visit https://www.jewishvirginislands.com/. Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, began at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 and ends on Friday.