First Annual Montecito Chanukah Celebration 

Sunday, December 10 saw Montecito’s First Annual Chanukah celebration with open invitation to all to join for the lighting of the menorah, held at the park in front of Pierre Lafond on East Valley Road. 

The celebration was formed by Montecito’s Rabbi Chaim Loschak, Executive Director of Chabad of Montecito, and his wife Mushkie Loschak with their newly born daughter Shana. Their Chanukah celebration committee was Mitchell Chupack and wife Laura Tompkins, Dr. Jason Solway, Cindy Feinberg,and Executive Director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara Cyndi Silverman.

Lighting the menorah was Chupack. Rabbi Chaim sang songs to “Bless the Menorah” and traditional Chanukah songs of peace, and asked the community to join while holding lit candles. He also led a prayer and talked about light, darkness, and peace, and the importance of this first annual celebration for our town and those attending.

Attendees and acknowledgements included our town’s Jewish community members, Lt. Butch Arnoldi with the SBC Sheriff’s Department team, Montecito Fire Protection District team, Montecito Association’s Houghton Hyatt, the team from Pierre Lafond, the Rabbi’s family from NYC, the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, volunteers, sponsors, and First District SBC Supervisor Das Williams who also spoke at the event.

Activities included a contest to guess the number of dreidels in a glass jar. There were free long-sleeve t-shirts commemorating the event, free menorah kits and Shabbat candles, and specialty Kosher doughnuts and latkes for refreshments.

411: http://jewishmontecito.org