Concord Menorah lighting extends a bright metaphorical message for unity, peace
CONCORD, CA (Dec. 11, 2023) — It took a little extra effort to finally light the tallest candle on the menorah for the ceremony at The Veranda shopping center, but call it an apt metaphor for both the current challenges present in the world but team effort that it is taking to overcome them.
City and county officials with support from local law enforcement were on hand Sunday evening to gather with community members to mark the fifth night of Hanukkah, which began Dec. 7.
Lighting of the candle – noted as the serving candle – marked the point in the season when observers are more than half through the Jewish holiday and the most light thus far is combatting the darkness.
“How do we fight darkness?” asked Rabbi Berel Kesselman as part of his remarks. “Darkness could be scary even frightening.”
Kesselman continued “each one of us is a Menorah. You and me, and you, and you! You are each a beautiful Menorah of pure gold.”
“Today it is up to us to use the light within ourselves,” he added.
‘A year of challenges’
On hand at Sunday’s event to reinforce this message were Concord councilmembers Laura Nakamura and Vice Mayor Carlyn Obringer.
“It has been a year of challenges and the city of Concord is here to support you,” said Obringer.
Helping Kesselman with the official lighting of the menorah was County Supervisor Ken Carlson.
“It’s all about the light to me and should be at least in my heart from the holiday season as we celebrate using that light on a path for peace and unity,” he said.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier advised organizers that while he was not able to be in attendance, that they have his full support and they should reach out to him “if there is anything that he can do to help our community during these difficult times.”
Ahead of enjoying more food, including latkes, music and dance that further mark the season of Hanukkah, Mushka Kesselman added her voice to the evening’s festivities.
“Filling our heads with good ideas that is what will keep us strong,” she said of these challenging times. “That is the meaning of Hanukkah.”
Guest magician Dan Chan helped keep the younger members of the audience in attendance engaged in preparation for the events to come with his sleight of hand and other tricks to kick off the evening’s activities.
David Scholz
David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.