Lights of Change in Burlingame

On Dec 12th, the first night of Hanukkah, dozens of students at the North Peninsula Community Hebrew School and Chai Preschool will reach a big goal - as in an 9-foot-tall menorah with hollow PVC branches filled to the top with coins they’ve been collecting to be given to the victims of the Sonoma county and Napa fires.

For the Chabad, the “lights of change” was a new twist on an annual tradition for the group. The menorah's lighting will mark the 15th time since 2002 that Chabad of the North Peninsula has ushered in the holiday in a very visible way on Burlingame Ave. In past years, they've crafted menorahs of ice or Legos and built one with cans of food to give to the poor. This year the event will also include a live performance by the Saul Kaye Band, imported snow for the kids to play with, Jelly doughnuts, Latkes and more.

“This is what a menorah looks like after everyone has put in their two cents,” joked Rabbi Yale Spalter, rabbi at the Chabad Center. “It's meant to bring the message that one cannot just focus on one's own spiritual life, without caring about others. Helping others celebrate enhances your own celebration.”

This year he Chabad Center has also organized a Menorah lighting event at the skating rink in Central Park in San Mateo, on Saturday night, December 16th.
The holiday is one of the most popular among Jews because of what it represents: A monumental struggle and miraculous survival for the soul of Judaism.

It’s eight days mark the length of time a one-day supply of oil lasted in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,300 years ago. The Syrians had desecrated the ancient temple in hopes of stamping out the practice of Judaism. But the oil lasted long enough for the Maccabees to repair and rededicate the temple. In commemoration of the miracle, Jews around the world light the Menorah as a symbol of light and liberty.

"This Hanukkah, as thousands gather to light the menorah,” says Rabbi Yossi Marcus, senior rabbi at Chabad, “we reflect on the message the flames of the menorah whisper to us: The response to darkness is adding in light."

"There are unfortunately people who are dedicating their lives to bringing darkness, as seen sadly in recent months. We need as much dedication to bring light to the world.”

In Debbie Lerman's home giving is not something unique to the holiday season. "We teach our children to give tzedakah every day," Lerman said, using the Hebrew term for charity. "But around the holidays it is especially important to remind them to think about others that are less fortunate."