Gov. Schwarzenegger Joins “Chanukah Live!” Broadcast

SACRAMENTO, CA — Since 1993, the Governor of California has joined Chabad representatives at Chanukah to offer holiday greetings and illuminate the Capitol Menorah in Sacramento. But this year’s event is unique. Both Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight will participate in “Chanukah Live!” — the first-ever national TV broadcast of Chabad of California’s annual holiday celebration.

94 million homes can now watch this festive event, which will include a salute to the firefighters who battled the recent wildfires in Southern California. The program airs on December 6 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in each time zone on cable’s ION Television Network; local channel information is available here.

Chabad representatives and community members from the affected areas will attend the ceremony, led by Rabbi Boruch S. Cunin, head of West Coast Chabad Lubavitch. Standing with the Governor, they will pay tribute to the heroic firefighters and emergency personnel who fought the wildfires in late October.

“Chanukah carries a vitally important and enduring message — not just for the Jewish community, but for people of all faiths,” said Rabbi Cunin. “It’s always wonderful to celebrate the holiday with our Governor and see the Menorah shining at the State Capitol. And this year, we have a special cause to celebrate as we salute our brave firefighters and first responders.”

Actor/comedian Elon Gold — who hosted the 2007 Chabad “To Life” Telethon — will serve as Master of Ceremonies during the event, which will feature musical performances by the California National Guard’s 59th Army Band and Israel’s Pirchei Jerusalem Children’s Choir.

The broadcast will also include a humorous lesson in preparing latkes (potato pancakes) and a look at how recent U.S. Presidents have celebrated the holiday. And as always, the celebration will culminate in the illumination of the Menorah and the distribution of gifts to the public.

The hour-long “Chanukah Live!” program on December 6 marks the first time that the ceremony will be nationally televised, which will bring the event’s message to a larger audience than ever.

And Chanukah’s age-old themes should have strong resonance for all people, regardless of background. As Governor Schwarzenegger put it during the 2006 event: “The Chanukah Menorah is a universal symbol of faith and hope that freedom wins out over oppression, light overpowers darkness, and decency triumphs over destruction.”