Sonoma County’s Jewish community celebrates first night of Hanukkah with menorah lighting

As the sun began to set over Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village shopping center Sunday, hundreds watched Rabbi Mendel Wolvovsky carefully light a single candle from a towering metallic menorah positioned at the front of the crowd.

The group was quiet for a few seconds until a lone attendee let out a cheerful “Happy Hanukkah,” prompting the rest of the people to do the same. A sextet broke out in song soon after, and a few people exchanged hugs.

Sunday’s menorah lighting kicked off the first night of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, for Sonoma County Jews who attended the holiday event. The event also drew residents who wanted to support Jewish friends and family, as well as to learn more about the celebration.

The event was hosted by the Sonoma County Chabad Jewish Center, a nonprofit that has served the area for 17 years, said Wolvovsky, who runs the organization. It puts on regular holiday gatherings, like the one Sunday, and offers classes to people of all ages about Judaism’s history and values, he said.

Sunday’s celebration gave community members an opportunity to meet with each other and reflect on their lives, he added.

“It’s a celebration of each individual’s ability to worship and live freely,” Wolvovsky said. “It’s about the light and the warmth.”

The menorah lighting included several activities for kids, such as face painting, Hanukkah-themed sand art and the spinning of dreidels.

Hot chocolate, kosher hot dogs and latkes, or potato pancakes traditionally served during the eight-day celebration, were shared among the group.

The roughly 200 attendees included Santa Rosa resident Marcy Martell, who was joined by her husband and two children. The family has attended the festival for almost a decade, though their household celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.

“It’s important to acknowledge the diversity that exists in the world and in Sonoma County and to create memories with our children,” Martell said.

Santa Rosa’s Naomi Tenen said the public celebration was especially important in light of the Oct. 27 mass shooting at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue, where 11 people were killed. She said it’s critical the community come together and honor their religious traditions despite fears.

“In this day and age, when we have people getting shot in a synagogue for doing nothing more than praying … I think it’s important to celebrate publicly,” Tenen said.

The Jewish center will host a second menorah lighting at Healdsburg’s Oakville Grocery today at 5 p.m., and a third at the Santa Rosa Plaza on Wednesday at the same time.

You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203 or nashelly.chavez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nashellytweets.