Los Angeles Authorities Bolster Security While Free Menorah Lightings Continue After Hanukkah Mass Killing

After a tragic mass killing at a Hanukkah event, Los Angeles authorities are stepping up security while keeping the holiday spirit alive with free public menorah lightings across Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Santa Monica.

Police from the LAPD, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, and local agencies—including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica police—have pledged additional patrols at Jewish facilities, schools, synagogues, and Hanukkah events. They are also urging local religious institutions to review their own security protocols.

In Beverly Hills, a menorah‑lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Beverly Gardens Park Lily Pond. Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian will speak during the ceremony.

The event is part of a broader effort to celebrate the second night of the Jewish festival while maintaining heightened safety measures in the city.

Culver City is hosting the second of a series of four free public menorah lightings. The ceremony will start at 5 p.m. at Platform LA and will feature hundreds of pieces of chocolate “gelt” raining down from a Culver City Fire Department truck, according to the Jewish Community of Culver City‑Chabad, which is organizing the event and other Hanukkah events in the city.

The event will also include latkes, doughnuts, craft‑making, and a raffle, creating a festive atmosphere for families and visitors.

Additional menorah lightings in Culver City will be held on Monday at 5 p.m. at Platform LA; Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Ivy Station; and Wednesday at 7 p.m. at The Shay Hotel.

In Santa Monica, nightly menorah lightings will take place at 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade and will continue through Monday.

The city’s celebrations are part of the broader community observance of Hanukkah, a holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem temple after the Hellenist Syrian forces of Antiochus IV were defeated in 165 B.C.

According to the story of Hanukkah, Judah Maccabee and his soldiers sought to light the temple’s ceremonial lamp with ritually pure olive oil, but found only enough oil to burn for one day. The oil, however, burned for eight days, which was considered a miracle.

The temple in Jerusalem, which the occupiers had dedicated to the worship of Zeus, was rededicated by Judah Maccabee, who led the insurgency begun by his father, the high priest Mattathias.

The eight‑day burn of the oil remains a central symbol of the holiday’s theme of faith and resilience.

Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, is observed worldwide by lighting candles in a special menorah called a Hanukkiah each day at sundown for eight days, with an additional candle added each day.

Other Hanukkah traditions include spinning a dreidel—a four‑sided top that commemorates a game Jews under Greek domination are believed to have played to disguise Torah study—and eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes, pancakes of grated raw potatoes, and jelly doughnuts.

Children receive Hanukkah “gelt,” the Yiddish word for money, from parents and grandparents. The tradition originated with 17th‑century Polish Jews giving money to their children to give their teachers during Hanukkah, which led parents to give children money as well.

In the United States, the practice has evolved into giving holiday gifts to children and others, reflecting the broader cultural adaptation of the holiday.

• Los Angeles authorities are enhancing security after a mass killing at a Hanukkah event.

• Free public menorah lightings will take place in Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Santa Monica.

• The celebrations incorporate traditional Hanukkah customs, including chocolate gelt, latkes, and candle lighting.

With police patrols and community events, the city aims to honor the holiday’s spirit while ensuring the safety of all participants.