12/15/2025
Happy 1st Night of Chanukah! 🕎✨
Tonight begins the Festival of Lights—a celebration of dedication, perseverance, and the triumph of light over darkness. For Freemasons, Chanukah holds a particularly meaningful resonance, as it commemorates the rededication of King Solomon’s Temple after it was first destroyed. The act of restoring and re-consecrating the Temple mirrors a core Masonic lesson: the continual labor of rebuilding, refining, and dedicating the inner temple of the human heart through light, knowledge, and moral virtue.
Albuquerque marked this sacred moment in a truly unforgettable way at Balloon Fiesta Park, where a community Chanukah celebration—organized by Rabbi Chaim Schmukler and the Chabad House of New Mexico—brought together symbolism, fellowship, and awe. In a breathtaking display, nine hot air balloons illuminated in a glow, forming what may be the world’s largest Menorah, lighting up the New Mexico night sky and reminding all present that light is strongest when shared.
The evening was made even more special by a powerful performance from world-renowned Jewish singer Yaakov Rosenblum, whose music elevated the spirit of the celebration and set the perfect tone for this sacred festival.
Here is Yaakov Rosenblum’s opening song from the event:
👉 https://youtu.be/ztaE68wI0v8?si=vYFIk1BRjb-D0bAe
May this season inspire us to continue the work of rededication—within ourselves, our communities, and our shared traditions—bringing light where there is darkness and unity where there is division.
Happy Chanukah to all—Chag Sameach! 🕎✨
🕎 Yaakov Rosenblum — Live Performance | 1st Night of Chanukah 🕎📍 Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque📅 December 14, 2025Here’s a video of Yaakov Rosenblum pe...
