Temple Israel of Riverhead

Members of Temple Israel of Riverhead marked the beginning of Hanukkah this evening with a community menorah lighting.

On Sunday, two people with deep ancestral roots in the same region of Ukraine — one the American-born daughter of a Jewish survivor of Nazi genocide, the other a Ukrainian immigrant and Catholic priest — came together in a Riverhead synagogue to share their perspectives on evil, persecution, senseless violence, survival and resilience.

Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising on April 19, 1943. Temple Israel will commemorate the day with a program featuring speakers Felice Katz, the daughter of Holocaust surviver, activist and author Etunia Bauer Katz and Father Bohdan Hedz of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Riverhead.

Temple Israel of Riverhead held a community menorah lighting ceremony last night to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins today at sundown.Temple Israel of Riverhead will host a community menorah lighting on the Peconic Riverfront today at 5 p.m.

Rabbi Michael Roscoe of Temple Israel of Riverhead led a brief service and lit the first light on the menorah Sunday night on the riverfront. .

Temple Israel of Riverhead invites the community to come together for a menorah lighting on the Peconic Riverfront Sunday evening to celebrate Hanukkah.

The celebration of the Jewish new year 5780, begins at sundown Sunday and continues through sundown Tuesday.

“It’s a reminder to everybody that religion in this country is open to all and government stays out of religion — that’s why we do a public ceremony," Temple Israel Rabbi Michael Rascoe said.

Yom HaShoah is a Day of Remembrance to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Temple Israel in Riverhead is holding a special program featuring speakers and a musical performance in tribute to them.