Story by Donald H. Harrison, Photos by Shor M. Masori
SAN DIEGO – Undeterred by last month’s massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, or by more recent anti-Semitic vandalism in Poway, more than 100 Jews and Christians joined in a March of Light late Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9, from Ashley Falls Park to the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch where they participated in a Chanukiah lighting ceremony for the eighth and final evening of the holiday.
Along the way, they sang traditional Chanukah songs, with young Elimelech Polichenco, 8, helping to lead the way. San Diego Police protectively monitored the parade, during which they were no adverse incidents.
Elimelech’s father, Rabbi Mendel Polichenco of Chabad of Carmel Valley, emceed the chanukiah lighting proceedings, stating that in the time of the Maccabees and today, Chanukah represents the “triumph of light against darkness.”
The Argentine-born rabbi said that Jews who live in San Diego enjoy a double blessing, to live in this city and to live in the United States, a “country of love and kindness.”
To light the shamash of the large chanukiah at the shopping center, Rabbi Valverde introduced Pastor Efrian Valverde of Ministerios Resauración, a Spanish-speaking Christian congregation in Chula Vista, which is Zionistic in outlook. Pastor Valverde returned only last Monday from a trip to Israel on which he led a 16-member delegation. More than two decades ago, when Polichenco came to the U.S. – Mexico border to serve as spiritual leader at the Centro Social Israelita in Tijuana, Valverde was one of the first clergy members to welcome him to the area. Valverde’s son, Jonathan, is the founder of Latinos for Israel.
Representatives of a variety of Jewish organizations were called upon to press switches on the stem of the chanukiah to illuminate individual lights. Participating in the ceremony were Wendy Avraham of StandWithUs; Michael Golembesky for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee; Gary Rotto for the American Jewish Committee; Rita Heller for the second generation of Holocaust Survivors, Pinchas Fisher of the Carmel Valley Jewish community, and San Diego Jewish World co-publisher Nancy Harrison and myself. The final electric candle was illuminated by a score of children who were called forward by Rabbi Polichenco.
Following the candle lighting, which drew several television news cameras, Michael Torgovetsky, 10, played “Dreidel, Dreidel” on his clarinet, children jumped inside a dreidel-shaped jumping castle, and participants and spectators alike enjoyed free kosher hot dogs and latkes.
Noting that the celebration in Carmel Valley was part of a national March of Light campaign, San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, a member of the Jewish community, sent a written statement: “Now more than ever, we need to plant the seeds of hope then feed and nourish those seeds with light and kindness,” the statement said. “On this last night of Chanukah, we commit to one another that we will tend to these seeds throughout this upcoming year. It’s the only way that we can combat the darkness and fear that is permeating our society.”
This Chanukah celebration occurred on one end of a small plaza while at the other end, under a large Christmas tree, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus handed out presents and singers performed traditional carols. Rather than being a competition, the simultaneous celebrations seemed to reinforce the American ideals of diversity and inclusiveness.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World