SOUTH JERSEY

Menorah Mania aims to set world record

Will South Jersey set a world record?

Matt Flowers
@CP_MFlowers
Event Chairperson Alison Platt-Tarnopol lights a menorah. She is one of the organizers of Menorah Mania - an attempt to set a record for world's largest human menorah

CHERRY HILL Is South Jersey ready for Menorah Mania?

People throughout South Jersey will have the opportunity to set a Guinness World Record and  help the community's senior residents by participating in Menorah Mania — a campaign to create the world's largest human menorah.

The fundraiser, presented by Fox Rehabilitation and The Jewish Federation Housing Associates, takes place Sunday, Oct. 18, but anticipation is already growing.

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When Cherry Hill resident Allan Kleiman heard about the fundraiser, he had two words: "I'm in."

Kleiman will be one of the hoped-for 500 participants to form a human menorah on the grounds of the Jewish Federation Annex on Springdale Road. His wife, children and grandchildren will join him.

"It's an exciting event that will bring the community together and bring some more attention to the menorah, which represents more than just a religion," Kleiman said.

Proceeds from Menorah Mania will benefit the 350 residents of Jewish Federation Housing, including the Saltzman, Dubin and Gesher houses.

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Fundraising is not new to the Jewish Federation Housing Associates, but this approach is unique.

"We are looking to create an event that can truly bring people of all ages together to support seniors," said Glenn Sloves, Housing Associates president. "What could be more fun than setting a Guinness World Record and supporting a great cause?"

Past president of the Associates and event chairperson Alison Platt-Tarnopol said Guinness authorized the human menorah formation. "We wanted to do a six-pointed star," Platt-Tarnopol said. "But Guinness doesn't differentiate between five- and six-pointed stars. They just have one category for largest human star formation and that was over 3,000 people, so that was out."

Participants will be assigned colored shirts representing different parts of the menorah, including the holders, the candles and flames and then be given a position to stand in so that the image of the menorah is visible from above. Everybody needs to hold the position for five minutes, according to Guinness World Record guidelines.

"We're hoping to take a few aerial shots of the human menorah afterward to share with everyone," Platt-Tarnopol said.

The goal of the human menorah is not just to set a world record but to also bring awareness to seniors' needs.

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"We don’t want to just fundraise, we want to friend-raise," Platt-Tarnopol noted.

The funds raised from the event will be used to create special programs and events to enhance senior residents' quality of life.

Platt-Tarnopol is so confident South Jersey will set a world record that she's already thinking about trying to break the record annually.

"I guess once we do it the first time, it will be that much easier to do it again," she said.

Matt Flowers; (856) 486-2913; mflowers@gannettnj.com

if you go

Menorah Mania takes place Sunday, Oct. 18 at Federation Annex Building, 1721 Springdale Road.

Check-in is from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m..

Pre-registration is required and available online here 

Ticket information: $10 adults; $5 children 10 and under (includes T-shirt and certificate)

The event will feature live entertainment and refreshments.

For questions, call (856) 667-6826, ext. 1

Event happens rain or shine.