The Bay Area celebrated the fifth night of Hanukkah with several colorful festivals on Sunday night.
Chabad MidPen held their 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, while across the bay at nearly the same time Chabad Oakland celebrated with the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater.
Community members turned out to watch menorah’s being lit, played games and ate and drink at these free events.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday is celebrated by lighting a menorah each night, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
Avi Haimov, of Oakland, lights the 15-foot menorah during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Community members watch Rabbi Levi Potash light the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Five candles are lit on the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Boyce Nichols, 3, and his sister Avery, 6, from Menlo Park, react to Silly Ricky, aka Ricky Adams, not shown, as he performs at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Silly Ricky, aka Ricky Adams, performs at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Christin New, far left, from Woodside, photographs her son Eugene Mittleman, 4, husband David Mittleman and daughter Hannah Mittleman, 2, in front of a large inflatable dreidel at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. It was Eugene’s birthday and he was excited that it fell on a Hanukkah day. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash lights the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Fire performer Brandon Quilici performs during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash, left, holds a torch as for Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos so that he can light the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi David Labkowski of Chabad Oakland, left, helps light a candle held by Edwin Bennett, of Oakland, during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash, left, sings after lighting the menorah as his wife Ella, right, walks by, at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Edwin Bennett, of Oakland, joins the audience and sings during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash smiles at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash lights the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Ella Potash speaks at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Attendees wait in line for matzo ball soup and latkes during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Silly Ricky, aka Ricky Adams, performs at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi David Labkowski of Chabad Oakland speaks during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Rabbi Levi Potash lights the menorah at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland interim mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas speaks during the 19th annual Grand Hanukkah Celebration on the Lake held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The event was presented by Chabad Oakland. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Children play games at Chabad MidPen’s 15th Annual Chanukah Festival in Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
