CHANUKAH CELEBATIONS 5772-2011
Chanukah is an eight day minor but fun and important holiday on the Jewish calendar, celebrated first and foremost at home by lighting the candles each night. Check out our special holiday section here for enjoyment for the whole family and to help enrich your understanding. In additon, it is a wonderful time for community and family.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the bright and special holiday, at one of our events, below.
Enjoy our new Menorah on permanent display through Chanukah on the corner of Fundadores and RSM Parkway, after efforts and a new policy adopted by Samlarc. Note special inaugural lighting Dec 22.
LOCAL RESIDENTS AND KIDS CELEBRATE CHANUKAH WITH DREIDEL MENORAH
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Last Wednesday, December 21, on the second night of Chanukah, residents of RSM, Trabuco Canyon and the surrounding areas gathered for the fourth consecutive year for a community Chanukah celebration and public menorah lighting.
Sponsored by Chabad Jewish Center of RSM, a specially featured Dreidel menorah brought smiles to the 175 celebrators stretched across the fountain plaza at Mercado Del Lago shopping center. Face-painting and dreidel-cookie decorating engaged happy children, while adults relaxed and socialized over sips of hot cocoa and nibbles of potato latkes. A festive mood pervaded the balmy evening, with music and dancing and holiday singing.
RSM City Councilmember Jesse Petrilla was in honorary attendance, and he surprised the participants with an excellent rendition of the Chanukah blessing. Before lighting the candles, Rabbi Kantor thanked Samlarc for this year welcoming the RSM Parkway corner display Menorah this year, and shared a Chanukah message. Briefly, he pointed out that the Maccabees were not naturally well-trained or physically powerful, but it was their inner faith, determination, self respect and sense of good and truth that ultimately brought G‑d’s blessing and helped them prevail. Today we can each be Maccabees in our own homes and social circles, by standing up for what is right, good and moral, and celebrating our freedom by shining light into our lives and the lives of those around us.
Colored candles lit up the dark night as participants lingered on in the plaza, eventually drifting off one by one in the warm glow of holiday spirit and community belonging.
For more information on other activities visit www.jewishrsm.com or call 949-264-6930. Many thanks to all those who participated in helping to make this event come together.
