FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mrs Chaya Posner
Program Director Chabad of Rancho Mirage
760-272-1923 chaya@chabadrm.com
www.chabadrm.com
River Glow Chanukah_01
*** Great Chanukah photo opportunity! ***
Nine-Foot Glow in the Dark Menorah to Light Up Rancho Mirage, as Part of World’s Largest Chanukah Observance
Chabad of Rancho Mirage to Light Up One of 15,000 Public Menorahs Worldwide, Symbolizing Universal Message of Religious Freedom.
[Rancho Mirage, CA] – Chabad of Rancho Mirage will kindle a public 9-foot Chanukah Menorah at The River Amphitheater in Rancho Mirage, followed by a community-wide celebration on December 22, 2019, the first night of the eight-day holiday. The ceremony will feature the Rancho Mirage mayor and city officials, and other local community leaders. Once again, this year is the ‘Great Chanukah Gelt Drop’, where, in conjunction with our local fire station, participants will gather chocolate coins as they rain down. Making its debut this year is also parachuting dreidels and menorahs which will launch together with the chocolate coins. Following the menorah lighting ceremony, hundreds will dance sing and eat the night away, with live music and traditional holiday refreshments, including hot potato latkes, hot chocolate, donuts and cotton candy. There will also be a Jumbo Dreidel Ride, crafts, and various other fun activities.
The public menorah lighting was organized by Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Shimon Posner of Chabad of Rancho Mirage who remarked, “The Menorah serves as a symbol of Rancho Mirage’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly, and with pride. Specifically, in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution.”
Candice May, also of Rancho Mirage, who is looking forward to attending the public menorah lighting commented, “I want my kids to grow up with pride in their Jewish heritage and a feeling of equality and self-confidence as an American. Chabad Lubavitch’s Chanukah Menorahs are arguably one of the most important developments ever to help my child’s education. I wish they had this where I grew up.”
“The message of Chanukah is the message of light,” added Rabbi Posner. “The nature of light is that it is always victorious over darkness. A small amount of light dispels a lot of darkness. Another act of goodness and kindness, another act of light, can make all the difference.”
Today, the unprecedented public display of Chanukah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the American practice and awareness of the festival.
Rancho Mirage’s menorah is one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.
Throughout the State of California, Chabad will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public Menorah Lightings, Giant Menorahs made out of ice and Lego, Menorah Parades, Latke Parties, Giant Dreidel Houses, “Chanukah Wonderlands” and more. To find a local event in California, or practically anywhere throughout the world, visit the international Chanukah event directory at chabadrm.com/Chanukah. For more information about Chanukah and a local schedule of events visit http://chabadrm.com/chanukah80.
EVENT RECAP:
What: Chanukah Under The Stars
Where: The River Amphitheater, Rancho Mirage
When: Sunday, December 22, 2019; 5:15 PM
Cost: FREE
ABOUT CHANUKAH
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, begins this year on the evening of Sunday, December 22 and concludes on Monday, December 30. It recalls the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated the Syrian Greeks who had overrun ancient Israel, sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, and prohibit religious freedom. They also desecrated and defiled the Temple and the oils prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service. Upon recapturing the Temple only one jar of undefiled oil was found, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight. In commemoration, Jews celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah. Today, people of all faiths consider the Chanukah holiday as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness. Additional information about the Chanukah holiday is available at www.chabadrm.com/chanukah.
ABOUT THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION
Chabad of Rancho Mirage offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, contact Program Director, Chaya Posner of Chabad of Rancho Mirage, at 760-272-923 or Chaya@chabadrm.com or visit www.chabadrm.com
