Saratoga News
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Jewish groups bring Chanukah to Valley Fair inaugural festival
ByMary Gottschalk
Members of the Los Gatos Congregation Shir Hadash are joining other South Bay synagogues and Jewish organizations observing Chanukah at Westfield Valley Fair through Dec. 22. This is the first time a celebration of this kind has been observed at the mall.
A hanukiah, a menorah with nine branches, is on display on the second level near Macy's Men's Store, and each evening a candle is lighted as part of the traditional ritual.
Sometimes called the Festival of Lights, Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian king, Antiochus IV.
The legend is that there was only enough consecrated oil to fuel the eternal flame in the temple for a single day. Yet, the oil lasted a miraculous eight days, the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.
On the hanukiah, eight branches are the same height, one for each of the eight days, and a ninth branch in the center is higher. The center candle, the shamas, is lighted and used to light the other candles. The first night, one candle is lit, the second night two candles, and so on.
Melanie Aron, rabbi of Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos since 1990, says the congregation approached Westfield after learning one of its Southern California malls allowed a hanukiah.
"We though, if they can do it in Los Angeles, why can't we do it here?" Aron says.
Lynne Rice, marketing director for Westfield's Northwest region, says they welcomed the request.
"Whenever somebody from the community reaches out to us, we try and accommodate them when we can," Rice says.
"Westfield is committed to the community and we have several different partnerships this holiday season. We've partnered with the Salvation Army Giving Tree, the One Warm Coat program and the Gift of Reading."
Rice says Westfield views the hanukiah as a symbol of the holidays, along with holiday décor around the mall and Santa Claus.
The hour-long program varies each night.
One night features an adult choir; another night cookies are served.
"We're trying to give people a taste of the variety of Jewish organizations active in our local community," Aron says.
The program, which centers around the candle lighting, is Dec. 21 from 5 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 22 from 3 to 4 p.m.
"It's nice for Jews and especially Jewish children to see their religion in the public sphere, but the program is open to everybody," Aron says. "We're hoping non-Jews will come by and get a little taste of Chanukah."
