Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Rabbi Binyomin Fajnland participated in a menorah lighting ceremony before Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Fajnland, a rabbi at Congregation Lubavitch in Bixby Knolls, noted that Hanukkah will be especially poignant this year in light of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in October.

“The lights of the menorah will help repel the darkness of evil and bring about a feeling of joy and warmth and goodness to mankind this season,” Fajnland said. “There will be more than 15,000 menorah lighting ceremonies around the world this year.”

Fajnland said he was grateful for the outpouring of prayers and sympathy the congregation has received from people of all religions in Long Beach.

Mayor Robert Garcia lights the menorah before the council meeting on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Photo by Bill Alkofer

 

Mayor Robert Garcia gets a hug from Rabbi Binyomin Fajnland after the lighting of a menorah prior to the city council meeting on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Photo by Bill Alkofer