Menorah lightings from two faith traditions will mark Hanukkah

Residents can celebrate Hanukkah with music, latkes and jelly doughnuts at menorah-lighting ceremonies from two Jewish faith traditions starting Dec. 18 at Fountain Plaza and the Belvedere Community Center.

Tiburon’s Congregation Kol Shofar plans to put up a 9-foot-tall menorah in the plaza on Dec. 18, the first night of Hanukkah, with a 4:30 p.m. lighting ceremony featuring songs, goodie bags for kids, hot cocoa and jelly-filled doughnuts, a traditional sweet known as sufganiyot. The menorah will then be lit by a different Kol Shofar family at 5 nightly through Dec. 25 — with the exception of Dec. 20.

That night, Chabad of Tiburon, a small orthodox branch of Hasidic Judaism, will host a 5:30 p.m. lighting of its own menorah constructed from recycled art. The event will include songs and blessings, live music from the Sonoma Klezmer Band, hot latkes, more sufganiyot and refreshments, as well as crafts for kids, face-painting and a photo booth.

Chabad (pronounced huh-baad) will then remove that menorah from the plaza, though it plans to host a second lighting at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Belvedere Community Center.

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