Menorah lighting brings Hanukkah joy to Downtown Redlands

By: Contributor Dave Card

REDLANDS, Calif. — Ed Hales Park glowed with the light of menorah candles on Thursday, Dec. 26, as Congregation Emanu El hosted its annual Hanukkah celebration in the heart of downtown.

Community members of all ages gathered for the Festival of Lights, bringing their family menorahs—each unique in shape and size—to illuminate the holiday. The event offered a warm and festive atmosphere, uniting attendees in a shared tradition of joy and hope.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks. Central to the holiday is the story of a single day’s supply of oil that miraculously burned for eight days, a lasting symbol of hope and resilience.

This year, Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel and Rabbi Emeritus Hillel Cohn led a Hanukkah celebration in Redlands that drew about 100 attendees, including congregants, friends, and passersby. Participants displayed their menorahs on tables and benches, creating a vibrant collection of glowing lights. Traditional blessings preceded the collective lighting of the menorahs.

The celebration featured prayers for the safe return of Jewish hostages and a peaceful resolution to the Gaza War. Attendees joined in singing Hanukkah songs, bringing joyful energy to the park. Guests were treated to chocolate coins, called Hanukkah gelt, and dreidels, along with instructions for the traditional spinning game.

Now a cherished tradition, the downtown menorah lighting brings light, hope, and a spirit of togetherness to Redlands each holiday season.