All are invited to attend annual Menorah lightings in Newburyport and Amesbury, a wonderful opportunity to gather as a community to share the joy of Hanukkah traditions. The 2025 Festival of Lights begins this year at sunset on Sunday, December 14th and ends at sunset on Monday, December 22nd. Each year Newburyport and Amesbury illuminate their respective downtowns with festive menorah lightings during Chanukah. These public celebrations are open to all and enable our local Jewish communities to celebrate and share their cherished Hanukkah traditions with all who would like to attend.
Newburyport’s Congregation Ahavas Achim honors Chanukah tradition annually with the lighting of a signature 6-foot-tall electric menorah in Market
Square. Sunset on the first night of Hanukkah is always a special evening in Newburyport with prayers, songs and the lighting of the first candle, led by Rabbi, Alex Matthews. The 2025 Newburyport Menorah lightings will begin each night at 5:30 pm, except for Friday the 19th which starts at 4 pm. These gatherings are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.
Come light the menorah in Amesbury at the picturesque gazebo, in front of the Amesbury Public Library. All are welcome to join the Amesbury community for this annual Hanukkah tradition. The 2025 Grand Menorah Lighting is scheduled for 5 pm on Wednesday, December 17th. The Amesbury’s menorah lightings are led by Anshe Sholom Chabad of greater Haverhill and traditionally include storytelling, songs, jelly doughnuts, and gelt (chocolate coins) for the children.
Community menorah lightings are an annual tradition that is relatively new to the Newburyport and Amesbury area welcoming all to experience the Hanukkah tradition. Newburyport began its public menorah lightings in Market Square in 2012. Amesbury followed up with its own nightly celebrations in 2013. In 2019 when Hanukkah fell close to Christmas, Newburyport celebrated with an interfaith candle lighting service lead by: Rabbi Alex Matthews from Congregation Ahavas Achim, Reverend Rebecca Bryan from the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist Church and Reverend Chris Nay from the Central Congregational Church.
Congregation Ahavas Achim, founded in 1896, is a welcoming and diverse spiritual community whose goal is to educate and inspire individuals and families to actively participate in Jewish Life, Torah study, prayer, acts of kindness. The congregation welcomes families and individuals from all backgrounds.
