When it was time to gather the speakers for Hanukkah festivities at this year’s event at Town Plaza Park on New Year’s Day, organizer Tami Segal didn’t see elected official Matthew Hudes.
“Where’s the mayor?” she wondered. “He’s supposed to be here.”
Segal, the PJ Library and family engagement manager at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, soon discovered he was busy introducing himself to the people that had gathered under the redwoods.
“He was being very engaged,” she said. “It was really nice that he came.”
The JCC officials were impressed that the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police department deployed drone and K9 units to ensure things went off without a hitch.
And they told the Los Gatan they were pleased the Town provided promotion for what is one of the most significant dates on the religious community’s calendar.
This year’s gathering took place on Jan. 1, on final day of Hanukkah—when all the candles are lit on the menorah.
In addition to Mayor Hudes’ remarks, Town Manager Chris Constantin and Jewish Silicon Valley Board President Ruth Fletcher also spoke.
Vigorous dancing broke out when the San Francisco Yiddish Combo began playing Hava Nagila.
This year’s festivities honored volunteers like Mark Tischler, who started the Hebrew Chit Chat language group.
Segal said it was great that, once again, it didn’t rain.
“It was amazing,” she said. “This event has a way of working out. It doesn’t matter which day it is of the week, which date it is of the month, or which month it is of the year, it always works out.”
This was the first year the gathering was held in Plaza Park.
Organizers said it was a great venue, because people who were just walking by were drawn in to participate.
Segal said it was a perfect opportunity “to show, here we are; the Jewish community is right here.”
In a YouTube video posted the following day, Jewish Silicon Valley CEO Daniel Klein said he understands people want to make sure the money they raise doesn’t just get sent to Israel (which is currently fighting a war against the Hamas terrorist organization and has also bombed other parties):
It’s clear there’s concern amongst the community of dollars focusing just on Israel—and potentially at the detriment of the needs of our local Jewish community…I think there’s two important things that we’re focusing on here at Jewish Silicon Valley. One is, we need to keep supporting and getting resources to Israel, post war. And so, that’s going to keep happening.
At the same time, we also have to significantly increase how much we are able to allocate and grant out to our community partners, to make sure our local community has the resources it needs to meet the moment. That is why over the last two years, we have continued to step up how much resources we allocate to the community.
And we’re hoping to be able to announce in the next few weeks that we are going to be close to doubling what we allocated in 2024, doubling that in 2025. One of the things that gives me hope for the future is knowing that you have a community here. We are here for you. We are your home, whether it’s through the programmatic offerings that we have in our four walls, or whether we’re helping connect you to the myriad of other Jewish organizations here in our community that’s making a thriving, strong Jewish community happen.
So, join us. And Happy New Year.
—Daniel Klein, Jewish Silicon Valley CEO
An email from the group promoting this video said Jewish Silicon Valley was already 72% of the way to its goal for the fundraising period, which doesn’t end until June 30.
According to Chabad.org, the menorah lighting is at the heart of Hanukkah. “The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (‘attendant’), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled.”
