‘Canorah’ celebrates Hanukkah, contributes to food pantry

Menorahs aren’t usually associated with large cans of chick peas, beans and tomato sauce…. Menorahs aren’t usually associated with large cans of chick peas, beans and tomato sauce. However, the newest holiday decoration in the William Pitt Union lobby is comprised completely of these industrial-sized food cans.

This unique menorah was lit during a ceremony last night. Although it will not be lighted every evening, the menorah will remain in the lobby until Dec. 9 — the end of Hanukkah.

Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi collaborated with the Chabad House — a Jewish student organization at Pitt — to organize the Canorah event, a service project that will donate the canned food to the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry.

Shoshana Hoexter, program director of the Chabad House, opened the event by explaining to about 50 people that the Canorah being lit will “light up lives” of the less fortunate.

“This project has been in the works since the end of the last school year,” said Michael Cohan, Pitt sophomore and chair of the Canorah event. “Many Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternities are doing this across the country. It is a great opportunity for recognition and to do something for the community.”

Stewart Sutin, clinical professor within Pitt’s department of Administrative and Policy Studies, was invited to light the menorah.

He said that he and his wife are parental of Chabad on campus and have associated with the organization for years.

Senior members of the fraternity challenged this year’s pledge class to raise between $1,000 and $1,500. Once the pledges broke the $1,000 threshold by soliciting and asking for donations, the fraternity researched multiple restaurant suppliers in order to ensure they could buy the largest number  of cans.

The fraternity bought over 300 cans for the less fortunate and used the remaining funds to purchase food for the event and have a “Canorah” banner made.

Cohan said that the cans will stay for the duration of the holiday and then fraternity brothers and volunteers will transport the cans to the food pantry.

The lobby of the Union was crowded, as Hoexter predicted. She hoped about 100 people would come and support the event.

Eva Dubinsky, Pitt senior and co-chair of Women’s Activities within Chabad, said she was surprised, but happy to see the amount of people who came.