Survivors of Palestinian massacre of Jews address Hanukah event - relocated amidst antisemitic demonstrations in L.A.

On the day after Thanksgiving, Los Angeles' The Grove mall was mobbed by rabid, anti-Zionist protesters calling to "Shut It Down." Chabad relocated its annual menorah lighting ceremony (with concert) to the field in front of the L.A. Holocaust Museum (which ironically has been used by anti-Semitic B.L.M. and anti-Israel IslamoMarxists for rallies which lead to marches, such as the one which shut down the streets surrounding the Farmers Market and The Grove). 

This year's concert included performances by Israeli singer/songwriter Idan Raichel and Zusha Music with rapper Kosha Dillz, as shown in the video playlist. But the casualties and hostages of the Islamist war against Israel changed the tone of the typical commemoration of Hanukah. The organizer, Chabad of The Village, was able to include remarks of a survivor of the Palestinian Massacre at the SuperNova Festival, Daniella Kahane and her husband. You can see them in video #8 on the playlist here. 

The event was held in front of the L.A. Holocaust Museum at Pan-Pacific Park on Monday evening 11 December '23.

Playlist:

1. Idan Raichel performs for public Hanukah gathering in L.A. Monday 11 Dec.
   
   
2. Idan curses at international officials' discriminating against Jewish hostages in Gaza
   
   
3. Idan performing song for Hanukah / Hostages event (057)
   
   
4. Guitarist's perspective of Idan Raichel's finale
   
   
5. Jews vibe for freeing hostages on the field that Marxists launched anti-Jewish protests on.
   
   
6. Councilwoman Kay Yaroslavsky delivers address to audience.
   
   
7. Actor, Ben Savage ("Boy Meets World," (Girl Meets World") speech.
   
   
8. SuperNova Festival survivor, Daniella Kahane and her husband. Hamas murdered her father and cousins
   
   
9. Chabad rabbi speaks:
   
   
10. Menorah Lighting, brachot recital, and Ma'oz Tsur sung by Shlomo of chassidic, folk-band, Zusha.
    
    
11. Zusha plays with rap-artist Kosha Dillz "This World is a Narrow Bridge" "Whomever Believes is Not Afraid"
    
    
12. Zusha guitarist, Zach Goldschmiedt, interviewed on the playing field of L.A. Holocaust Museum
    
    
13. Zusha's front-man Shlomo Gaisin interviewed on shows of Jewish identity in an antisemitic climate;
    
    
14. Teens celebrate love of Zion - sing "Am Yisrael Chai!"

The annual, Mensch Awards ceremony at Temple of the Arts strives to restore normalcy to Jewish-Americans in turmoil

Shabbat prayers by Rabbi David Baron, Cantors Ilysia Pierce,
and Nathan Lam at Temple of the Arts

Amidst the apprehensiveness cast by Hamas' abductions in Israel during its 6th week, Steven Geiger's Mensch Foundation Awards kept-up its annual Mensch Awards ceremony November 17th at the Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills.

The dinner and ceremony following the erev-Shabbat service at the temple provided a needed lift to a community horrified at the casualties and abductions from the Palestinian invasion of Israel. 

Les Miserables' "Bring Him Home" - sung as an ode to Israeli liberators of Palestinian-abducted Jewish and Christian hostages- performed by members of the Temple of the Arts Choir.

 

The event attendees are (as are most Jews in the diaspora) also stunned by the hostile nature of the Leftist, Muslim, and people-of-Color anti-Israel protests in cities around the globe with Muslim or considerable Jewish populations.

The mostly Muslim & left-wing atheist, Jewish Voice for Peace block Hollywood Blvd to incite public frustration against Israel's mission to free its families abducted by jihadists

The dinner and ceremony following the erev-Shabbat service at the temple also provided a needed lift to Jewish people also stunned by the revelation of (what liberal people expected to be anti-Israel protests in cities around the globe) being in many cases Islamo-Leftist mobs incited to violence by Marxist-propagandized blood libels against Jewish people and places in general!

L.A. Jewish counter-demonstrator Paul Kessler, 69 and
Muslim anti-Israelist, Loay alNaji, 50, accused in his killing

Los Angeles area Jews were especially disconcerted by the death of a local, Israel-rally'er Paul Kessler, 69, at the hand of a Muslim anti-Zionist teacher, Loay al-Naji just 11-days prior. Mr. Kessler, an ardent Democrat, relocated to Los Angeles from Scranton, Pennsylvania, also the home state of former Temple president, James Blatt, being honored at this ceremony.

Mensch Int'l Foundation director Steven Geiger also honored Temple Cantors Ilysia Pierce and Nathan Lam and musical director Sharon Farber.

Video playlist below (advance via arrows on lower-left of raster) includes: 

Mensch Int'l Foundation director Steven Geiger acknowledges ceremony attendee, Shoah survivor Reneé Firestone, 99; Presents award to Temple's female Cantor Ilysia Pierce;

Award presentation to Sharon Farber, Temple's musical director, composer and arranger for Jewish and Israeli community events; Esteemed L.A. Cantor Nathan Lam.

Rabbi David Baron and friend, Richard Stellar, praise and introduce recipient, James Blatt, Esq., longtime Temple Board member and president; 

 

Video playlist below (advance via arrows on lower-left of raster) includes:

Ode to Israeli liberators of Palestinian-held hostages "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables;

Interviews with honorees about receiving Mensch Awards:

 

Cantor Ilysia Pierce about the satisfaction of performing liturgical, compared to secular, music;
 

Sharon Farber, musical director, on her efforts for the Temple and community; 

James Blatt, Esq, Jewish War Veteran & 10-year president of the Temple on how he has seen its congregation and facility improve.

 

Rabbi David Baron chided Jewish communal agency (and rabbinical) leaders with a responsibility to reduce antisemitism - who diverted from addressing Muslim antisemitism in order to signal their virtue (and perhaps increase business) opposing Islamophobia and pariah-fying dissenting from the Leftist agenda.

 

 

Holocaust survivor Reneé Firestone, 99, on coping with Jew-hatred yesterday, today, and tomorrow 

 

Ceremony luminaries: Former Temple Pres. James Blatt, Rabbi David Baron, Cantor Ilysia Pierce,
Musical Director Sharon Farber, Cantor Nathan Lam, Mensch Fndn chief Steven Geiger.
(Photo courtesy: Orly Halevy)