S Francisco Union Square Menorah Lighting
S FRANCISCO, CA — Local Jewish community officials, including the Consulate Generals of Israel and India, gathered at a memorial in San Francisco Sunday for a rabbi and his wife who were killed in the Mumbai, India terrorist attacks last week.
More pictures in the Extended Article! (by Chris Hall)
Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife Rivki, directors of the Chabad in Mumbai, were among numerous bodies found after the attack ended, said San Francisco Rabbi Yosef Langer.
“This is a horrific tragedy,” Rabbi Yosef Langer told the crowd.
“The communities are devastated, are saddened, are fearful.”
The gathering marked the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.
Olive oil was needed for the menorah in the Second Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night.
But there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah.
An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.
anonymous
i love chabad of SF!! i had a great awesome inspiring time yesterday! even in the pelting rain we wouldnt let our chanukah be dampened!
langer fan
great job rabbi langer and family
Ed Greebberg
My first public menorah lighting was Chabad of SF in 1982. I proposed to my wife there. We try to catch a public lighting SOMEWHERE, each year. Congrats to Rabbi Langer for another successful event, and Hatslacha to all Shluchim on their hard work both now and all year.
moshe zemer
leinei kol yisroel
mit tov lehodos
chanukah sameiach