Hanukkah gets started with Menorah lighting in Kelowna

A public nine-foot Hanukkah menorah was lit up at Stuart Park Sunday, marking the first day of the eight-day holiday.

“The menorah serves as a symbol of Kelowna's dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly, and with pride. This is more relevant today than in the past few years" Rabbi Shmuly Hecht said in a press release.

The Menorah lighting is part of the worldwide Hanukkah campaign, an initiative launched by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson in 1973.

The campaign highlights and encourages the central theme of the holiday — publicizing the story of the Hanukkah miracle.

“The message of Hanukkah is the message of light,” Rabbi Hecht said. “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.”

Kelowna's menorah is one of more than 18,000 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.

There will be Hanukkah events and celebrations in Vernon, Salmon Arm, Penticton, Peachland and more as part of the annual Chabad Okanagan Chanukah Tour across the Valley, now in its ninth year.

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