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El Segundo menorah lighting draws families, marks 17th year
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Summary
Members of El Segundo's Jewish community and other residents gathered at City Hall Plaza for the city's annual menorah lighting, which organizers said has grown to its 17th year and includes traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot.
At City Hall Plaza, members of El Segundo's Jewish community and other residents gathered for the city's annual menorah lighting, an evening of food and celebration that speakers said has run for 17 years.
The event brings people together across faiths and generations, organizers and attendees said. "We're here in front of City Hall Plaza for El Segundo's annual menorah lighting event. There's gonna be food, fun, and families, and that's what the holidays are all about," a resident (speaker 1) said.
Speakers described the lighting as a moment of warmth and community during the holiday season. "It's extremely important because it's a time for family to get together. It's a time for celebration. You know, the nights are long. It gets dark. It's cold," a resident (speaker 2) said. Another attendee noted the event's longevity: "I never thought we'd get past year 2. So the fact that we're into 17 years and people are still showing up, I'm thrilled," a resident (speaker 3) said.
Attendees praised the city's support and the event's role in showcasing El Segundo's cultural diversity. "El Segundo is such a great town. It is so warm and welcoming, and they love to celebrate whether it's winning the World Series ... or a menorah lighting here," a resident (speaker 6) said, adding that the city council is supportive.
Organizers offered cultural context for traditional foods served at the event. "Tonight and for all of Hanukkah, we have the latkes and donuts. In Hebrew, we call them sukhaniot. The significance behind the food we have are both of them are cooked in oil, and that helps us remind us of the miracle of the story of Hanukkah ... it lasted all 8 days," a resident (speaker 7) explained.
Multiple speakers said the event has grown each year and draws both repeat attendees and new faces. "These these these events bring light and warmth and smiles and celebration to everybody. It's a true, true special time of the year ... El Segundo has a very vibrant Jewish community," a resident (speaker 2) said.
As the event wrapped up, an attendee reflected on the year and looked ahead to the next: "As tonight's event comes to a close, so does the 2024 calendar year, and we had a great time all year long at all the amazing events put on by the city of El Segundo. We cannot wait to see what 2025 looks like. Until then, I'm a good night El Segundo," a resident (speaker 1) said.
