Crowds pack River Walk for Chanukah on the River

The menorah was center stage Sunday at the Arneson River Theater. Created from 1,000 cans of food, it made its debut thanks to children who collected the items to help those in need.

Event organizer Rabbi Chaim Block and U.S. Army retired Lt. Col. George Alter, 89, lit two candles representing the second of Hanukkah’s eight days of remembrance. Block said it was uplifting for the Jewish community to come to the heart of the city and proudly celebrate a Jewish holiday with the rest of the community.

“The story of Hanukkah is an uplifting story of a few who stood for what was right and refused to just go along,” he said. “America is no longer a melting pot of many cultures losing their identities in becoming American. We’re now a country that embraces our diversity and ethnicity without giving it up.”

An estimated crowd of 800 people gathered to observe the lighting, one of many features included at the 15th annual Chanukah on the River, sponsored by Chabad Lubavitch of South Texas.

The River Walk echoed with the sound of Brooklyn pop artist DeScribe, who added booming hip-hop to the holiday.

Children found a welcome spot at Chanukah Wonderland, which was located at Plaza Juárez in La Villita. Activities included games focused on family and Chanukah traditions, such as the Chanukah Time Machine and a dreidel moon bounce. “This year we added a component for the kids,” said Rochel Teldon, Chabad’s youth director. “Hopefully, this is the seed of something amazing to use every sense to experience Hanukkah.”

Paul and Mary Cannon came to the event to witness something new.

“It was a cultural experience,” Mary Cannon said. “As Christians, we’re very supportive of the Jewish community.”

Rabbi Yossi Marrus, administrator of Chabad, said the canned food would be donated to Jewish Family Services.

“I think we have the first can menorah,” Marrus said. “We’re calling it a ‘canorah.’”