A 25-foot-tall menorah will light up at Richmond’s Cultural Centre on Monday, Dec. 23 to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.
Two Richmond synagogues, the Bayit and the Chabad, will be joined by the Richmond library and the city for the lighting of the menorah at 6 p.m.
The annual event marks the beginning of Hanukkah which is celebrated for eight continuous nights and days by the Jewish people.
Family activities such as entertainment and arts and crafts will take place inside the Richmond Public Library (RPL) Brighouse branch and the Cultural Centre Performance Hall starting at 5 p.m.
Keith Liedtke, president of the Bayit Richmond, said “the Richmond Bayit Synagogue is honoured to sponsor this year’s Jewish Festival of Lights,” adding that the giant steel menorah, one of the largest in the world, was designed by the late architect Arthur Erickson and constructed by Ebco Group.
“The Bayit welcomes all to witness the warmth and spirit of the menorah lighting ceremony,” he added.
Susan Walters, chief librarian of RPL, said that the library is committed to offering cultural programming and resources for the community.
“Events such as the menorah lighting support the library’s goal of building and growing our community,” said Walters.
“People of all backgrounds and faiths are encouraged to celebrate the tradition of Hanukkah and learn about Jewish culture.”
The lighting of the menorah will take place at the Cultural Centre plaza at 7700 Minoru Gate.
