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40th Annual Chanukah in the Mall Features Instagram Contest
December 2, 2018 @ 5:00 am PST
Chabad of S. Barbara welcomes the community on Sunday, December 5th, 2018 to the 40th annual Chanukah in the Mall celebration in Macy’s court at La Cumbre Plaza (121 South Hope Avenue) from 5:00 to 7 p.m. Admission is free for this family event and the entire community is invited. Civic leaders and dignitaries will light the Menorah in front of an expected audience of 500 people.
This year’s event focuses on uniting the community to spread light, harnessing the power of Instagram, the popular social media platform. “Last year’s Chanukah was celebrated with many of our community evacuated and separated from their home and community,” recalls Rabbi Mendel Loschak, director of Chabad of S. Barbara. In fact, that Menorah lighting had to be moved indoors for the first time, due to poor air quality from the devastating Thomas Fire. “This year we’ll unite the community with the message of sharing light.”
The event will kick off an Instagram Contest inviting participants to share a picture of their menorah with the hashtag #805Menorahs. Each post is a raffle entry for a trip for 4 to Disneyland. A giant “Insta-Menorah” will be lit by local dignitaries at the event, to the background of live music, and the traditional hot potato latkes and donuts.
Participants will also be treated to a fire juggling show by award winning TV sensation, Ivan Pecel.
“Chanukah is synonymous with light,” explains Rabbi Zalmy, Chabad’s Youth Director. “For thousands of years, this holiday celebrates a little light dispelling a lot of darkness. Now, more than ever, we must light up our corner of the world with a little more kindness, goodness and G-dliness.”
For more information about this unique event or the history of Chanukah, please visit www.sbchabad.org or contact Rabbi Zalmy Kudan at (805) 275-4083. Instagram Contest rules can be found at www.sbchabad.org/