Avery Nussdorf, 5, of Culver City, works on a menorah art project. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Triston Ezidore, board president of the Culver City Unified School District, looks on as Rabbi Levi Begun prepares to the light the shamash, or the helper candle that lights the menorah. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Marceli Belhassen, 3, of Culver City, enjoys a donut. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Visitors watch the menorah lighting. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Iliana Rudin, 5, of Culver City, works on her art project. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Michael Chin, 10, of Culver City, poses for a drawing by George Huanbe. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Rabbi Levi Begun lights the menorah for the second night of Hanukah. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
The second night of Hanukah at The Culver Steps in Culver City. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Preparing for the celebration on The Culver Steps. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Musician Robbie Helperin of Simcha Orchestra warms up the crowd. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Ellie Bedoret, 3, of Culver City, tries on her dreidel necklace. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Show Caption1 of 11Avery Nussdorf, 5, of Culver City, works on a menorah art project. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
ExpandThursday evening’s menorah lighting in Culver City, one of countless Hanukkah events around Los Angeles County, not only brought holiday light to the city, but also provided fun, laughter and lots of latkes.
Chabad of Culver City hosted its seventh annual Hanukkah event on The Culver Steps in the center of town, with some 200 people taking part.
Along with a magician and live music, there were arts and craft activities for kids, as well as traditional oil-fried potato latkes and donuts shared to symbolize the miracle of the light that burned for eight days.
“It’s amazing to have a community event like this,” said Alexandra Belhassen of Culver City, who attended with her children. “It’s nearby and it’s nice to meet people and have donuts.”
Thursday was the second night of the eight-night celebration, which in this rare year coincided with Christmas.
“Hanukkah is a holiday which celebrates the victory of light over darkness, of love and peace over hatred and evil,” said Rabbi Levi Begun, director of Chabad of Culver City.
“Darkness has no existence of its own,” he said. “All you need is the light to come into the room and automatically the darkness moves away. And that’s a message for all of us tonight, especially with all the hatred we’ve been seeing on the streets of L.A. and other places.”
While the police had a strong presence at the event, which began before sundown, spirits were light and the crowd celebratory.
“Our job is to focus on bringing more light, bringing more positivity, and doing one act of goodness and kindness at a time … That’s our mission tonight. That’s the message of Hanukkah,” Begun said.
“If you’re doing things right, God is on your side,” he said. “on’t be afraid of the craziness out there.”
Begun was assisted in the traditional menorah lighting ceremony by Capt. Andrew Bellante of the Culver City Police Department.
“The Chabad has been a great partner with us, a fantastic partnership over the years,” Bellante said. “Together we’re able to work to build a strong community, a united community, and really bring the Hanukkah spirit in.”
“I think it’s a great event,” he said, noting that he always appreciates a chance to see the department work with faith-based organizations from the area.
Triston Ezidore, board president of the Culver City Unified School District, also took part in the lighting ceremony.
“I’m really excited to be here for this menorah lighting,” he said, “to be celebrating that with what I know are going to be a lot of our students and community members here.”
He said part of the appeal of Culver City and Los Angeles County as a whole is the diversity.
“I think we’re really lucky to have such a diverse community and constituency … I look forward to celebrating events that are highlighting and capturing cultural holidays and different people’s holidays and such,” he said.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is from a Hebrew word which means dedication.
The holiday evolved more than 2,300 years ago when the Jews in their Holy Land were able to repel an army of the Seleucids, a Syrian-Greek people, who fought to impose their culture on them.
Later, having only enough of the ritually pure olive oil to burn a light for one day, a miracle occurred and the one-day supply lasted for eight days.
Because the holiday is based on the Hebrew calendar, it starts on a different day each year according to the Gregorian calendar.
Ariel Ruden of Culver City was among the many residents in attendance at Thursday’s lighting event.
“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate with our community,” she said, “to sing songs, eat great food and have fun.”
Hanukkah ceremonies and events will continue in the days ahead. There are many more, of course, but here is a sampling of other Hanukkah events in L.A. County:
–Hanukkah in the Foothills: The ninth annual event, 5 p.m. Dec. 28. Elks Lodge, 10137 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. Flyer on the Temple Beth Emet. Information: www.templebethemet.com
–Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Gelt Drop: Chabad of Toluca Lake presents the event that includes latkes and doughnuts, live music and the “gelt drop,” 3:30 p.m. Dec. 29. Register in advance for a free raffle ticket (on the website). Event location, Chase Bank, parking lot, 10550 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. Information: www.chabadoftolucalake.com or www.chabadoftolucalake.com/events
–Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Chabad of Simi Valley partners with the museum for the outdoor event that includes a children’s craft activity, Klezmer music and Hanukkah treats, 3:30-5 p.m. Dec. 29. Free to attend. Note: The museum closes at 5 p.m. 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. Information: Chabad of Simi Valley, 805-577-0573 or www.reaganfoundation.org/programs-events/events-calendar/menorah-lighting-2024/
–Chabad of Chatsworth’s Chanukah Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop: Learn about Hanukkah at the event that includes blessings and lighting the menorah, doughnuts and latkes, children’s craft activities, face painting, entertainment and the “gelt drop,” 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29. Chabad of Chatsworth, 20735 Devonshire St. Information, 818-368-3937. Information: tinyurl.com/3w2k9byd
–Chanukah Wonderland: Chabad of the Conejo presents the celebration that includes a menorah lighting, buffet dinner, create your own menorah or dreidel, a Judah the Macabee photo booth, and a DJ, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 30. Admission $25; $12 children. Reservations required in advance; make a reservation by phone or on the website. Agoura Hills Event Center, 29900 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills. 818-991-0991. Information: chabadconejo.com/chanukah
–Car Top Menorah Parade and Hanukkah Party: Chabad of Northridge holds the Hanukkah celebration, 6 p.m. Dec. 30. Make a reservation in advance to attend and to find out how get a “car top menorah” for the parade. The party follows at 7 p.m. at 17142 Devonshire St., Northridge. Information: www.chabadnorthridge.com/carmenorah
–Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at Burbank Town Center: Rabbi Janet Bieber, from Temple Beth Emet in Burbank, leads the event, 6 p.m. Dec. 30. Location, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Information: 818-566-8556 or www.burbanktowncenter.com/events
–Hanukkah Menorah Lighting – Calabasas: The Commons at Calabasas hosts the event, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30. The event includes live music, Hanukkah food treats and a fireworks finale. Calabasas Civic Center Plaza, adjacent to the Commons, 100 Civic Center Way, Calabasas. Information: shopcommons.com
Jarret Liotta is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and photographer. Holly Andres contributed to this report.
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