Menorah Lighting Adds to Holiday Spirit

Chico, CA — The glittering Xmas tree in Chico’s City Plaza was joined by another holiday symbol of good will — a brightly lit menorah — Thursday night.

“Darkness is chased away by illumination, by acts of goodness and kindness,” said Rabbi Mendy Zwiebel before he lit a nine-foot-tall menorah, a kind of candle holder, that had been temporarily set up in front of the bandstand in the downtown park.

About 100 people attended the menorah lighting, which was organized by Zwiebel and his wife, Chana, on the seventh night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

Instead of candles, the giant candleholder was fitted with tiki torches, he explained.

Zwiebel said he hopes the public menorah-lighting will become an annual event in Chico.

Mayor Andy Holcombe spoke briefly, welcoming those attending the event.

“This type of gathering is what the City Plaza is all about,” he said. It’s “the old town square,” a place where people exchange ideas and learn from each other.

Holcombe noted City Councilor Scott Gruendl and 3rd District Assemblyman Rick Keene were in attendance.

The event featured lively Hanukkah music played over a sound system; a performance by Captain Bubbles, who twirled a huge flaming baton; and refreshments that included traditional Hanukkah potato pancakes (latkes) and apple sauce. The latkes were donated by Trader Joe’s.
“It’s an exciting evening, to have a menorah lighting in Chico,” said Loretta Steinke, a member of Chico’s synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel. “It’s part of the holidays. I think it should be recognized as much as the Christmas tree. It’s a symbol of light, peace, hope.”

Silona Reyman, member of Chico Havurah, another Jewish congregation, said she was glad to see people enjoying themselves so much at the celebration.

During Hanukkah, Jewish families light menorahs, adding one candle each night, until all eight candles on the candelabra are lit.

The holiday has several meanings. Historically, it recalls the victory of the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish fighters in ancient Israel. After the occupying Syrian-Greek regime forbade the practice of Judaism, the Maccabees rebelled. They ousted the occupying forces and set about rededicating the synagogue.

According to tradition, the Maccabees tried to light a lamp that is supposed to burn continuously in every synagogue. However, there was only a little oil and it was feared the lamp would go out again. Miraculously, the small amount of oil burned long enough for an adequate supply of oil to be obtained.

Also, according to Zwiebel, Hanukkah conveys the message that “ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness.”

Zwiebel, his wife and their baby daughter, Mushka, recently moved to Chico from Brooklyn, where their Hasidic Jewish sect, Chabad-Lubavitch, has its headquarters. Hasidism is a branch of Judaism that puts special emphasis on study of the mystical Jewish writings, the Kabbalah.

Chabad-Lubavitch has opened centers near many of the nation’s colleges and universities. He and Chana hope to interest more Chico State University students in Judaism.

Zwiebel said Chabad-Lubavitch sponsors public Menorah lightings at its thousands of centers around the world, from Australia to Africa and Washington, D.C. to Hong Kong.

Having a menorah lit up in City Plaza was a novelty, and so was the sight of the Zwiebels’ car that drove around the plaza before the ceremony started about 6 p.m.

The sedan had a sizable menorah mounted on its roof with eight little light bulbs representing candles.

Chana Zwiebel said the family bought the car-menorah in New York, where she said they are used quite commonly during Hanukkah by members of the Chabad sect.