Vaca to host Solano's inaugural Menorah on Main event
By Ian Thompson
December 3rd, 2009
DAILY REPUBLIC
VACAVILLE — Downtown Vacaville will become the site of the county's first public Hanukkah celebration when a 10-foot-tall menorah is put up on the Town Square.
It will be the centerpiece for the Menorah on Main menorah lighting which will take place at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13, the second day of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration.
“This is a great event and I'm happy it is happening,” said Rabbi Chaim Zaklos of the Chabad of Solano County. “This is the first time in Solano County that there will be a public Hanukkah celebration.”
Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine will take part, lighting the menorah, Zaklos said.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the holy temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt of 165 BCE after the Maccabees shattered the much larger forces of the Seleucid Emperor Antiochus IV.
After recovering the temple from the Seleucid empire, the Maccabees cleansed it, but could only find enough consecrated olive oil to light the menorah for one day.
Miraculously, that oil burned for eight days, the amount of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh oil. An eight-day festival was declared to commemorate the miracle.
Zaklos describes Hanukkah as “a miracle of victory of freedom over oppression” when the Maccabees overthrew Antiochus' prohibition from allowing them to practice their religion.
Chabad of Solano County opened its doors in Vacaville in September and is one of about 4,000 such centers around the world.
Zaklos chose Vacaville's downtown for the event because it already plays host to several multicultural events ranging from Merriment on Main to Fiesta Days.
“This would be a beautiful addition to the multicultural events already there,” Zaklos said.
There will also be Hanukkah treats such as hot latkes and chocolate gelt offered as well as arts, crafts, music and raffles.
For more information about Menorah on Main, call 592-5300 or e-mail Zaklos at [email protected].
Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 at [email protected].