In a show of Jewish unity and pride, more than 1,500 people gathered on the first night of Hanukkah at San Jose’s Santana Row for festivities and the traditional lighting of the menorah.
Sunday’s event brought together the Chabad Houses of Almaden, downtown San Jose, Los Gatos, Cupertino and Santa Clara, along with members of other faiths.
“The story of Hanukkah is the tremendous power of light to overcome darkness,” said Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld of Almaden. “We can have no better response to negativity we encounter than to gather together in even greater numbers and celebrate the light of the menorah in public.”
Weinfeld said this year’s public menorah lighting carried added significance because Jewish communities worldwide are celebrating the Year of Hakhel, or “Gathering,” a once-every-seven-years tradition.
The 20-foot-tall menorah will be lit every evening through Sunday, the eighth and final night of Hanukkah.
(Right to left) Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, of San Jose, Rabbi Menachem Landa, of Cupertino, and David Naisuler of San Jose who designed the menorah, sing and light the menorah at Santana Row in San Jose on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) David Naisuler of San Jose, lights the menorah that he designed at Santana Row in San Jose on Dec. 18, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) (Right to left) Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, of San Jose, Rabbi Menachem Landa, of Cupertino, and David Naisuler of San Jose who designed the menorah, toss parachutes to the crowd after lighting the menorah at Santana Row in San Jose on Dec. 18, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) An inflatable menorah on the stage at Santana Row in San Jose on Dec. 18, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Children try to catch parachutes dropped from the from the top of the menorah at the San Jose celebration. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) San Jose Mayor-Elect Matt Mahan holds a menorah given to him during the Hanukkah celebration in San Jose. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
