Hanukkah Festival Scheduled Tonight At Riverside Historic Courthouse

RIVERSIDE, CA — The Chabad Jewish Community Center of Riverside's annual Hanukkah festival is scheduled Monday on the steps of the Riverside Historic Courthouse, featuring a menorah lighting, singing, air drops of goodies, dancing and games.

Rabbi Shmuel Fuss has extended an open invitation to residents throughout the Inland Empire to attend the 18th annual fest. His growing family will join him, along with members of the Riverside City Council, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, Sheriff Chad Bianco and other officials to mark the second night of Hanukkah.

"Join us to experience the joy of Hanukkah like never before," Fuss aid. "We are planning an even bigger and better program than ever."

Fuss and his wife, Tzippy, last month welcomed the arrival of their seventh child, a girl, who is expected to be with some of her siblings at the fest.

The two-hour event will be at its traditional location in front of the downtown courthouse.

It has only been relocated once since 2004, and that was during the coronavirus public health lockdowns of 2020, when the rabbi conducted a mobile festival in the parking lot of Riverside City College, where participants sat in their cars while he lighted the menorah.

As in previous years, this year's celebration will feature a Grand Menorah Lighting, during which a city official or other invited guest will light the candles of a gold-colored menorah that stands over 8 feet high. A Hasidic contemporary band will play a variety of music, and the rabbi will lead guests in celebratory dancing. Edibles will be widely available, and some candy and Hanukkah trinkets will be dropped to children from remote-controlled aerial drones, Fuss said.

The fest generally draws between 2,000 and 3,000 people. It has become a companion celebration to the downtown Festival of Lights, which got underway on Nov. 25 and will continue until New Year's Day.

Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees' victory over a larger Syrian army in 165 B.C. Once the Jews defeated the Hellenist forces at the end of a three-year rebellion, the temple in Jerusalem, which the occupiers had dedicated to the worship of Zeus, was re-dedicated in God's honor by Judah Maccabee, who led the insurgency.

According to the story of Hanukkah, Maccabee and his soldiers wanted to light the temple's ceremonial lamp with ritually pure olive oil as part of their re-dedication but found only enough oil to burn for one day. The oil, however, burned for eight days in what was embraced as a miracle.

Hanukkah, which in Hebrew means "dedication," is observed around the world by lighting candles at sundown for eight nights. The reason for the lights is so passers-by see them and are reminded of the holiday's miracle.

More information about the festival is available at www.ChanukahFestival.org.