Chabad Midpen held its 16th annual Chanukah Festival on Sunday to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah at Redwood City’s Courthouse Square. The event celebrated Hanukkah’s themes of hope, peace, and renewal while also lighting the menorah. The gathering’s focus on peace and hope carried particular weight following recent violence in Australia.
The community enjoyed an array of refreshments, with classic Jewish dishes like latkes and donuts to eat and decorate, along with sweets like hot cocoa.
For the children, the event featured bouncy houses, lego buckets, a giant interactive dreidel with magnets and a white board. Later in the evening children gathered to watch a magic performance.
Attendees created cards and flower bouquets for senior citizens, and could enter a free raffle for one month of free Challah from Ella’s Bakery.
This celebration held special meaning in wake of the tragic terrorist attack on Australia’s Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, which shook the Jewish community internationally.
“We’re here with our hearts shattered a million times over, but we are strong in our faith and the message of Hanukkah is stronger and bigger than ever before. Light over darkness, good over evil, we will prevail and we will not be afraid,” Rabbanit Ella Potash said.
Potash delivered a powerful speech, highlighting how Sydney’s tragedies have only amplified the importance of openly honoring Jewish tradition. One of the victim’s sisters, left in critical condition, was the roommate of Potash’s daughter. In her speech, she emphasized how the victims aren’t just unknown faces, but loved members of the community.
“This didn’t just happen all the way across the other end of the world. This happened to all of us as a community, and it was devastating. I looked at my husband and I said, ‘Our menorah lighting will continue. Our menorah lighting will be bigger and better and more amazing than it has ever been, because the Jewish people do not cave into terror. The Jewish people are here, and we are here to stay,’” Potash said.
Potash also addressed the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages from Hamas. “We’re gonna do a menorah made out of flowers because flowers to me symbolize hope, peace and renewal, and that’s what I felt hearing the release of the last hostages,” Potash said.
Local firefighters and police officers monitored the event from across the street to ensure safety for all participants. “There was a little concern that people may not come because of having fear after what happened, but we’re not going to be fearful, and we’re gonna be here,” attendee Jutta Baruth said.
City council member Diane Howard led a moment of silence for the victims in Sydney and commemorated Courthouse Square’s history as a place for peace, love, and unity for all. Council members Isabella Chu and Jeff Gee were also in attendance.
The Menorah was lit following the reciting of Hanukkah blessings, led by Rabbi Levi Potash.
Once the speeches commenced, the festive music resumed, and guests began to link arms and dance in celebration. This event brought the community together in a display of hope and Jewish pride.
