Hanukkah begins with huge menorah lighting in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - Hanukkah is officially underway with an enthusiastic kickoff Wednesday night in San Francisco’s Union Square drawing in several hundred to witness the lighting of a three-ton menorah.

"We stand up with light. We stand up with positivity instead of engaging in the darkness and negativity," said Rabbi Shmulik Friedman of the Chabad of San Francisco.

"You know, it celebrates another triumph of the Jews over people trying to really get rid of us," said Evan Smith of San Francisco.

Organizers call the Bill Graham Menorah Project, founded by the former Grateful Dead promoter, the first large public menorah outside of Israel.

"It’s really cool. It’s giant," said a young Dovid Friedman.

Now celebrating its forty-ninth year, the twenty-two-foot-tall display is known as the ‘Mama Menorah’ after inspiring 15,000 oversize menorahs around the world. 

"This is all about breaking down the barriers of humanity and climbing into each other’s heart," said Rabbi Yoseph Langer of the Chabad of San Francisco.

In a sign of unity, the celebration takes place under the Union Square Christmas tree, but for the second year in a row, a shadow hangs over the glowing celebration.

Hostages are still being held captive by Hamas.

"We just want that war to be over," said State Senator Scott Wiener, the democrat who represents California’s eleventh district which includes San Francisco. "We just want peace, and we just want to have positive energy as a community."

The Jewish people persevere through festive traditions like dancing, games, and traditional food. 

"I’m eating a, they call it sufganiyot. It’s kind of a donut," said Dvoa Cardozo of San Francisco, which she added reminds her of her childhood.

"Singing the songs and playing the dreidel, the tops, spinning tops. It’s really fun," said Dovid Friedman.

The festival of lights will continue with another candle lit eight nights in a row.

"Bring that Hanukkah light into yourself, into your home, and spread that light outward, you know?" said Rabbi Friedman. "Meet someone on the street and be that light for them."

And because in Union Square, the giant menorah is getting a lot of attention from tourists stopping by to take pictures.

Hanukkah celebrations will continue at synagogues and in homes across the Bay Area and beyond, through Jan. 2.