Chabad Illuminates City Hall with LA Mayor Villaraigosa

LOS ANGELES, CA [CHI] — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined West Coast Chabad’s Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, city officials and community leaders to usher in the Festival of Lights by illuminating the historic Katowitz Menorah at LA City Hall today. The 26th annual ceremony at LA City Hall, sponsored by West Coast Chabad, took place on the landmark Spring Street Steps of City Hall, bringing holiday greetings to promote Chanukah’s universal message of freedom, hope, and light.

City Council members Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl, Paul Krekorian and Tom LaBonge joined Mayor Villaraigosa and Rabbi Cunin to mark the festive occasion. The event was chaired West Coast Chabad’s Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin and emceed by Rabbi Moshe Greenwald of Chabad of Downtown L.A. The Menorah lighting was dedicated to Los Angeles children living in poverty, with a prayer and a redoubling of efforts to bring aid and shelter to their families.

“We are proud to join with Mayor Villaraigosa and city officials to bring the light and warmth of Chanukah to Los Angeles, and we are overjoyed to see the Menorah shine brightly in the City of Angels,” said Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, head of West Coast Chabad. “We turn to the wisdom of The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who teaches us that in these tumultuous times, the lights of Chanukah must shine brighter than ever, especially for children and families who are struggling to survive. Our response to darkness must always be to embrace hope and light.”

During the celebration, Rabbi Cunin and the Mayor lit the candles in a unique Menorah that is being displayed in the City Hall Rotunda for the duration of Chanukah. The 150 year-old Katowitz Menorah has a special history as the only ritual object d’art left after Poland’s Great Katowitz Synagogue was burned in 1938 following the Nazi kristallnacht. The Menorah was saved from destruction by being hidden underground, and was later given as a gift to Chabad.

The ceremony featured a musical performances by the Hollywood Klezmer Band and Cheder Menachem Boys Choir. Traditional Chanukah foods and chocolate coins were enjoyed by guests and children in attendance, and all were encouraged to take a moment during during the Festival of Lights to bring cheer and toys to sick and needy children to lift their spirits during the holidays.

Chabad runs the largest network of educational and nonsectarian social services under Jewish auspices on the West Coast, and its representatives have joined with the Mayor and city officials each year since 1985 to illuminate a Menorah at City Hall for Chanukah.