Chabad has grown.
That, says Rabbi Hillel Scop, is why North Bay residents will experience at least one more public chanukiah lighting this year.
“We usually only needed one lighting, but we have expanded and opened a new branch,” said Scop.
The new branch is Chabad of Mill Valley, operated under the auspices of Chabad of Marin with Scop is its director, will have its lightings at 3:15 p.m. Fridays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6; 7 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7; and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Village in Corte Madera. For information, call (415) 381-3794.
Chabad of Marin’s lightings will be at 3:15 p.m. Fridays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7; and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 5 at Northgate Mall in Terra Linda. On the sixth night of Chanukah, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, festivities including arts and crafts, food and live music are scheduled as a family spanning four generations will light the chanukiah. For information, call (415) 492-1666.
In Union Square, Rabbi Yosef Langer and Chabad of San Francisco will light the Bill Graham Menorah, built in 1975, at 3 p.m. Fridays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, followed by Shabbat dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St., S.F. The cost is $50. A lighting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, with a Shabbat lunch at 1 p.m. at the Fairmont. The cost is $36.
“Bill Graham Menorah Day,” beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, features entertainment by The Happy Minyan Band with Shlomo Katz, Queen Ester and Miriam, Dan Wolf of Felonious, Matthue Roth. Other lightings are at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 through Thursday, Dec. 5.
Chabad of Noe Valley will host a public lighting of a chanukiah carved from ice at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at the corner of 24th and Noe streets in San Francisco. Music, arts and crafts, raffles and more are scheduled.
Also, a lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 at the corner of Castro and 18th streets in San Francisco. For information on these two lightings, call (415) 821-7046.
A lighting organized by Chabad of Contra Costa is slated for 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. Lightings are also scheduled for 4 p.m. Fridays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6; 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30; 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 through Wednesday, Dec. 4; and 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. For information, call (925) 937-4101.
“CommUNITY Menorah Lightings,” sponsored by Chabad of the East Bay, are scheduled at various locations. The first is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Cody’s Book Store, 1730 Fourth St., Berkeley. Additional lightings are at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 at Sproul Plaza, U.C. Berkeley campus; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Excedra Plaza, Piedmont Park, Piedmont; and 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, in front of Oakland City Hall. For information, call (510) 540-5824.
The 13th annual Benicia Menorah Lighting, sponsored by Congregation B’nai Israel of Vallejo, is slated for 4:40 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Veterans Memorial Hall, 1150 First St. For information, call (707) 642-6526.
Beth Chaim Congregation’s ceremonies will be at the shops at Blackhawk at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 through Thursday, Dec. 5. An interfaith celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville. For information, call (925) 362-0347.
Congregation Beth Am will host lightings at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 and Friday, Dec. 6; 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1; and 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 through Thursday, Dec. 5. Beth Am is at 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. For information, call (650) 493-4661.
For more information about Chanukah celebrations around the Bay Area, go to www.jholidays.org