Chanukah will begin Sunday evening, Dec. 14, and end Monday, Dec. 22.
The 22nd annual Pre-Chanukah Menorah Lighting was held in Eisenhower Park Sunday, Dec. 7. The event included live music, free donut holes, chocolate coins wrapped in foil (called gelt), free coffee and free dreidel. Menorah kits were also distributed. In an email, Chabad of Los Alamitos/Cypress put the size of the crowd at 400-500 people.
The event was put on by Chabad of Los Alamitos/Cypress and hosted by Rabbi Shmuel and Bluma Marcus.
Marcus described the event as a demonstration of the menorah lighting. (Traditionally, one candle is lit on each night of Chanukah).
“Most of the Jewish traditions are held in our home, in the synagogues. But when it comes to the victory of light over darkness, we need to actually take it to the streets,” Marcus said.
“Take it to the beach, take it to Seal Beach, make sure the weather is beautiful,” Marcus said.
“So I just want to do a big shout out to the Creator of heaven and Earth,” Marcus said.
The rabbi said a week and a half ago, it was raining.
“We ordered a tent for this stage. We put down the deposit, but then the rabbi made a blessing, and look what we got. Thank you, God, you’re amazing,” Marcus said.
Seal Beach Police Chief Michael Henderson said there had been tough times for law enforcement for the last few years. “I can speak for all the men and women of the police department that we are grateful, we’re honored, to serve this community. So thank you so much. Have a great evening and a Happy Chanukah,” Henderson said.
District Five City Councilman/Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Steele said he was not a member of the tribe. “I am a close friend, a cousin, someone who believes not just in the New Testament, but also the Old testament,” Steele said.
“I’ve been to Israel two times, and I’ve loved it every single time that I’ve gone there. If you have not gone, you must, absolutely must go. But thanks for coming out this evening for the menorah lighting,” Steele said.
Rabbi Marcus said that since the Oct. 6, 2023 attack on Israel, it felt like it was happening now, referring to the history of Chanukah.
According to Chabad.org (not to be confused with Los Alamitos /Cypress Chabad), in the second century BCE, the Seleucids tried to force the Israelis to worship according to the ways of the Seleucids. The Maccabees took up arms in the defense of their way of life. They won.
“When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity,” according to Chabad.org.
“To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah,” according to Chabad.org.
