First Night of Hanukkah Brings Light to Palisades Village Menorah

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Nearly 1,000 community members gathered on the first night of Hanukkah, December 18, to watch Chabad Jewish Community Center of Pacific Palisades light the menorah at Palisades Village during the communitywide Annual Palisades Unity Menorah Lighting.

The program began with music by the BeatBuds, and attendees had the opportunity to create Hanukkah crafts, enjoy Hanukkah treats of latkes and sufganiyot, sip hot drinks, and more. Prior to the lighting ceremony, The Jewish Enrichment Club sang holiday songs.

“The event was, as always, something very special,” Rabbi Zushe Cunin of Chabad said to the Palisadian-Post. “It was such a beautiful community event. The street was full from one end to the other. It was just amazing.”

The annual menorah lighting, which celebrated its 34th year in 2022, was emceed by Palisadian Sam Laganà, who is the stadium voice and narrator for the Los Angeles Rams. Cantor Hayim Frenkel and Daniel Leanse of Kehillat Israel sang “When You Believe,” and blessings were sung by Rabbi Mendel Cunin.

Chabad Palisades was joined by Rick Caruso, former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Jake Steinfeld, Steven Kofsky and Jacob Burman for the lighting. Caruso spoke of being grateful for Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles and Rabbi Zushe Cunin.

Rabbi Zushe Cunin shared the children of the Palisades Jewish Early Childhood Center presented a menorah themed after Palisades Village to Steinfeld and Caruso.

“It’s so humbling to participate in an event that brings the community together and inspires every individual to bring light to the world,” Rabbi Zushe Cunin added. “Because there are so many struggles and challenges, and darkness in the world, but when there’s darkness, you light a candle and you bring light … and that’s the message of Hanukkah.

“We have to support each other in finding our light, and bringing it and sharing it with the world. We’re so grateful to everybody who came together.”

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of gelt to younger attendees.

In 2021, Honorary Mayor Eugene Levy was on hand to help light the menorah with Chabad at Palisades Village.

“It’s an honor for me tonight to be here, kicking off the holiday season in my favorite village in the whole world, by lighting the first Hanukkah candle—or turning the first Hanukkah bulb on here—in 2021,” he shared at the time. “This is the biggest menorah I have ever stood in front of, the menorah that I have at home is much smaller.”

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days. As part of its Hanukkah events in the Palisades, Chabad also hosted a Tie-Dye Party on Tuesday, December 19, that ended with a menorah lighting in honor of the third night.