Long Beach Grand Chanukah Extravaganza Menorah Lighting

shulbytheshore.org

LONG BEACH: November 28, 2021, 4-6 p.m.

2nd & PCH
Long Beach, CA
Free, shulbytheshore.org | 2ndandpch.com

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the Grand Chanukah Extravaganza annual Menorah Lighting presented by Shul by the Shore in partnership with 2nd & PCH. It includes lighting of the  Labelson Menorah. Live music, latkes, donuts, gelt, balloon twisting, crafts & more.

Commemorate the first night of Chanukah. The celebration is FREE and open to the public. Lighting of the menorah takes place at 4 p.m. followed by remarks from Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. Entertainment includes a live three-piece band, a stilt walker and Chanukah crafts for children.

Past coverage:

First Public Menorah Lighting a Hit in Belmont Shore

By C. MacDonald

Long Beach--More than 150 celebrants from diverse backgrounds gathered for the first public lighting of a menorah in Belmont Shore at Citibank's E. 2nd St. parking lot recently.

An 11-foot high, 14-foot wide menorah, built by local citizens Marc Gordon and Brian Howard, assisted in the celebration of Hanukkah, which for the first time since 1890 started on the same day as Thanksgiving.

"Many years ago, in the land of Israel, our people had to drive out a larger army of invaders, who had taken away their religion," explained Rabbi Abba Perelmuter. "The victors only had enough oil to keep a menorah lit for a day but it stayed lit for 8 days!"

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. For eight days, the menorah (a branched candelabrum) is lit, one additional light each day.

"It's appropriate that this public lighting is taking place in Long Beach, ‘the International City,' made up of many different cultures coming together," said Perelmuter from Shul by the Shore synagogue. "The message of warmth that radiates should cherish the differences of our community. Here we have freedom to worship (or not worship) the way we see fit."

"This is a wonderful event because we need to celebrate the diversity in our community, understand and accept everyone's differences and love one another," said Martha Flores Gibson, an educator and businesswoman, running for the Third District LB City Council seat. "We need to encourage each other and work together for common good."

Nick Cucinella, who lives a few blocks from the celebration, said he is a Christian, who did genealogy research and thinks he has Jewish relatives. "I'm here to learn more about the Jewish culture," said the caregiver.

Congressman Alan Lowenthal said Hanukkah is families coming together. "It's about the right of freedom to worship the way we want. We still are the beacon of hope throughout the world."

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal said Hanukkah is "a time to cherish our heritage and have eight special nights of memories with our families."

"After the eight day festival, the menorah is not lit for another year but the light lasts for the whole year," said Rabbi Yitzchok Newman. Following the public menorah lighting by a variety of people, there was singing featuring the Shul by the Shore Hebrew School Choir, gifts were given to children and jelly donuts were enjoyed by all.

The event was co-sponsored by Shul by the Shore and the Belmont Shore Business Association. "It's really something different for the whole community to enjoy," said BSBA Executive Director Dede Rossi. It's fun and brings the community together."

Richard Stahl of Citibank said the Belmont Shore branch was delighted to help in the festival by providing space in their parking lot and electricity. "We have a diverse customer base and we're very involved in the communities we serve," he said.