Jewish community comes together to light menorah 
 

By Sarah de Crescenzo | December 08, 2010
 

FAIRFIELD - As traditions go, lighting a Hanukkah menorah filled with Jelly Belly candies is an unusual one, admitted Rabbi Chaim Zaklos.

The leader of the Chabad of Solano County, which opened in September 2009 in Vacaville, lit the menorah in a well-attended ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the candy factory.

Jews from all over Solano County — and further — came to Fairfield on the eighth day of Hanukkah to participate in the holiday celebration that seems likely to become an annual one.

'I think this is going to create an opportunity for Jews from around Northern California to come and identify with their traditions and celebrate in one central place,' Zaklos said.

It's the third community Hanukkah celebration the Chabad has sponsored since its inception. The Chabad hosted the inaugural Menorah on Main about a year ago and followed Sunday with the second installment of the Vacaville event.

Jelly Belly has hosted Christmas tree lightings in past years — and it looks like a second event will be added to the factory's holiday roster.

'This is quite a crowd,' Jelly Belly President Robert Simpson said. 'I, for one, am going to sign us up for next year.'

Simpson lit the menorah's central light, which is traditionally placed higher than the other branches and used to light the other eight, in preparation for Zaklos, who recited the traditional blessings then lit the eight candles.

Each branch of the candelabrum was filled with Jelly Belly candies, the number of which children were invited to guess.

Other activities included free tours of the factory, an assortment of food, olive oil tastings and face painting.

Fairfield resident Bonnie Falk said she was impressed with the number of visitors at the celebration.

'I've been here for 30 years, and when I got here someone asked me what a Jew was,' she said. 'This is pretty cool. This is a lot of Jews in one place.'

Melissa Edwards of Vallejo echoed Falk's sentiments.

'All the Jews of Solano County are getting together and the idea is just amazing,' she said.

Seeing representatives of the different branches of Judaism celebrating together was a special treat, Edwards said.

'All branches are here . . . that really makes me happy,' she said.

Edwards was accompanied by her children Hannah Silverman, 20, Natan Silverman, 16, Jacob Edwards, 9, and Maya Edwards, 3.

Credit for the event's success should go to the Chabad's rabbi, Fairfield resident Jackie Pruitt said.

'It's really inspiring to see this,' she said. 'No matter how hard the times, we always stick together and remember our traditions.'

Her mother, Denise Pruitt, said the lighting of the menorah made her feel like she was back in her native Brooklyn.

The two-fold excitement of a holiday celebration and getting to eat Jelly Belly candies was an irresistible draw for her two sons, Jake Myers, 8, and Josh Myers, 5, said East Bay resident Mindy Plotkim.

'We thought it just would be fun for the kids to see the menorah filled with Jelly Bellys,' she said. 'It's a fun-filled celebration with lots of people.'

Though the menorah lighting was originally intended to take place outside, it was moved indoors due to rainy weather.