Local Jewish groups to celebrate Hanukkah across Southern Oregon

Rabbi Avi Zwiebel of the Chabad Jewish Center in Ashland led the ceremony at the lighting of the Menorah on the first day of Hanukkah in 2022. Bob Palermini photo/palermini.com
December 17, 2024

Ashland Plaza menorah lighting set for Dec. 25, the first day of Hanukkah

By James Sloan, Rogue Valley Times

With nightly menorah lightings, gift giving and delicious fried foods to try, the Hanukkah season is soon approaching, and an Ashland synagogue and a Rogue Valley Jewish center will host community events to celebrate the holiday.

The Havurah Shir Hadash synagogue will host Hanukkah Fest, and the Chabad of Southern Oregon will host multiple holiday events celebrating Hanukkah.

“Our Hanukkah Fest, we do it every year,” said Ayala Zonnenschein, executive director of the Havurah synagogue and an organizer of the festival. “I’ve been here for 23 years, and we’ve been doing it since I was here, and since the Havurah started.”

Hanukkah Fest is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Havurah synagogue, 185 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland. The event is free and open to the public to celebrate the holiday.

Hanukkah Fest will include plenty of activities and crafts, as well as delicious food to sample.

“The children will be able to roll beeswax candles for the Hanukkah menorah, and there’ll probably be another craft table as well that we’re working on,” Zonnenschein said. “And there will be a table for playing dreidel.”

Food will be provided by Greenleaf Restaurant, with dinner and treats such as hot potato latkes available for purchase.

From left, Dave Young, Bari Frimkess and Jordan Saturen play at the lighting of the Ashland Plaza Menorah on the first day of Hanukkah in 2022. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

“There will be a Hanukkah gift shop with things like candles, menorahs, toys and gifts,” Zonnenschein said.

The festivities will culminate with the Hanukkah candle lighting led by Rabbi David Zaslow, who will also lead songs of the holiday.

“Then (Devorah Zaslow) will tell a children’s story related to Hanukkah,” Zonnenschein said.

Organizers are hoping for a turnout of 75 to 100 people for Hanukkah Fest.

More info
For more information on the Chabad, visit chabadofashland.org.
To learn more about the Havurah Shir Hadash, visit havurahshirhadash.org.

“It is a beautiful celebration; Hanukkah has eight nights and we do different things on different nights and people get together in homes and for community gatherings like we’re doing with Hanukkah Fest for people to join,” Zonnenschein said. “It’s kind of like other faith traditions and it brings light in the darkest season.”

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah celebrates and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem from 167 to 160 B.C.E and reaffirms the ideals of Judaism.

“Hanukkah itself, the historical celebration, is about religious freedom; it was the first battle fought in history for freedom of religion, which we won,” Zonnenschein said, referencing the Maccabean Revolt.

Outside of Hanukkah Fest, hosted by the Havurah synagogue, there will be many more Hanukkah events and celebrations organized by the Chabad of Southern Oregon.

The Chabad will host multiple menorah lightings in Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass, bringing its 10-foot menorah candle for all to see and celebrate.

“Hanukkah is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition” said Rabbi Avi Zwiebel, director of the Chabad Jewish Center with his wife, Faigy, in a news release. “In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place. Hanukkah propagates the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness. Today, this message is needed more than ever.

“With the rise of antisemitism, our response to hatred of any kind must never be to cower or hide our identity,” Zwiebel said in the release. “The story of Hanukkah is the tremendous power of light to overcome darkness. We can have no better response to negativity we encounter than to gather together in even greater numbers and celebrate the light of the menorah in public. Today, this message is needed more than ever.”

The menorah lighting in Ashland will be at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, at the Plaza in downtown Ashland.

In Medford, the lighting is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at the Village at the Medford Center.

At 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, Chabad organizers will be in Grants Pass with Mayor Sara Bristol at the Waterfront Pavilion to light the menorah.

The lightings will include music, traditional Hanukkah foods, a pop-up store and more.

The Chabad will also host its yearly New York Jewish Pop-Up Deli event from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at the Chabad Center at 1474 Siskiyou Blvd. in Ashland.

People are invited to try out authentic New York pastrami sandwiches with latkes and donuts, and listen to Hanukkah music. Other menu items include matzo ball soup and kugel.

Those interested can preorder items at chabadofashland.org/deli.

Jewish Voice for Peace, a nationwide group that has a chapter in Ashland, will host a Hanukkah gathering on Jan. 1, the final night of Hanukkah, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Talent. Attendees are invited to bring a potluck dish to share, a menorah and candles. All are welcome, Jewish or not. The location will be shared by email with those who RSVP by clicking here. For more information, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected].

Reach reporter James Sloan at [email protected]. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times. Additional text from a news release from Chabad Jewish Center has been added.

Dec. 20: Information about the Jewish Voice for Peace event added.

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Shrooms on Main: Licensed psilocybin facility offers low dose option

A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O’Ryans Irish Pub. 

Read More »

Ashland native finishes Yukon Quest 450 Dog Sled Race

Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the “Red Lantern” award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.

Read More »

Obituary: David Brian Shaw

Obituary: David Shaw, 78, former executive director of the Peter Britt Festivals in Jacksonville, founder of Artbeat Inc., and facilitator of nonprofit Mt. Ashland Ski Area founding, died Feb. 1, 2025.

Read More »

Stiff winds likely followed by rain showers over coming days

Ashland’s hiatus of dry days ends with five straight days with rain showers in the forecast, according to a National Weather Service forecast as of Wednesday evening. Showers are expected during the day Thursday and Friday, in the evening Saturday, night and day Sunday and during Monday’s Presidents Day holiday day.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Klamath Bird Observatory Experience the wonders of Souteast Brazil Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon

Latest posts

Crossword: Peak Performances

This week’s crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week’s crossword: “Camelot 2025 #02.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Shrooms on Main: Licensed psilocybin facility offers low dose option

A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O’Ryans Irish Pub. 

Read More >

Ashland native finishes Yukon Quest 450 Dog Sled Race

Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the “Red Lantern” award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.

Read More >

Obituary: David Brian Shaw

Obituary: David Shaw, 78, former executive director of the Peter Britt Festivals in Jacksonville, founder of Artbeat Inc., and facilitator of nonprofit Mt. Ashland Ski Area founding, died Feb. 1, 2025.

Read More >

Stiff winds likely followed by rain showers over coming days

Ashland’s hiatus of dry days ends with five straight days with rain showers in the forecast, according to a National Weather Service forecast as of Wednesday evening. Showers are expected during the day Thursday and Friday, in the evening Saturday, night and day Sunday and during Monday’s Presidents Day holiday day.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

This week's crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Camelot 2025 #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O'Ryans Irish Pub. 
Herbert Rothschild: Regarding the evisceration of USAID, I didn’t expect any better from Musk or Trump. What I’m watching closely is how Christian leaders respond.
Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the "Red Lantern" award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.
The city of Ashland’s police volunteer program, which had around 30 volunteers before the COVID pandemic, now has only around 10. Volunteers help put extra eyes on patrol areas such as Lithia Park and the bike path and help manage special events such as parades.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.