Jeffrey Rips, executive director of the Alpert Jewish Community Center, wore a menorah hat during a festival on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach.
Photo by Bill Alkofer
Ralph Labelson reached up to light the 12-foot-tall aluminum menorah he built while more than 500 people watched the symbolic beginning of the festival of Hanukkah on Sunday at the 2nd + PCH shopping center.
“It’s more important now than ever for the Jewish people to stand together in unity and show the world that our light will always defeat darkness,” said Rabbi Abba Perelmuter from Shul by the Shore. “The Jewish people have to stand vigilantly today. The world is going crazy, it’s just growing crazy.”
Hanukkah marks the miracle that occurred in the second century when Jewish freedom fighters known as the Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple from a Greco-Syrian monarch who ruled Israel.
The sanctuary of the temple was in shambles, torn apart by the Hellenic forces. The freedom fighters found only enough oil to light a lantern to read the Torah for one day. But the lantern blazed for eight full days. When Jews light the eight candles of the menorah on the eight nights of Hanukkah, they recite prayers extolling God for the miracle.
The menorah that now glows at the shopping center stands but a few yards from a two-story Christmas tree.
“It’s just coincidental that Christmas and Hanukkah happen at the same time,” said Rabbi Perelmuter. “Hanukkah preceded Christmas by 500 years.”
Perelemuter, who is known for his wit, joked, “In the United States we always want to outdo our Christian neighbors. Hey, we get EIGHT nights of presents, baby!”
A crowd of more than 500 people showed up for the lighting of a 12-foot menorah on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferShimshon Surfrin and Matti Weingarten dressed as dreidels an danced during a celebration on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill Alkofer.A group of boys did a traditional dance during a celebration on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferEric Samuels holds his son Micah during a celebration on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferRalph Labelson lights the 12-foot menorah he built. The lighting took place on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities were at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferThe group Moshe Storch performed at a celebration on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferA group of boys did a traditional dance on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferA group of young men linked arms after they did a traditional dance on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferAttendees waited for the lighting of the menorah on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferRabbi Abba Perelmuter of Shul by the Shore organized a menorah-lighting celebration on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill AlkoferA crowd of more than 500 people showed up for the lighting of a 12-foot menorah on the advent of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 22, 2019. The festivities took place at the 2nd + PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Photo by Bill Alkofer
