Hundreds of Long Beach community members gathered at the 2nd & PCH shopping center this weekend to celebrate Hanukkah.
Rabbi Abba Perelmuter of Shul by the Shore welcomes the crowd on the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, during a menorah lighting celebration at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend a Hanukkah menorah lighting event on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend a Hanukkah menorah lighting event on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend a Hanukkah menorah lighting event on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants dance at a Hanukkah menorah lighting event on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A celebrant wearing a dreidel costume dances on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at a Hanukkah menorah lighting event at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish is applauded and cheered by attendees on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at a Hanukkah celebration at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Added police presence was visible in the wake of the deadly attack at a holiday event in Australia. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A police officer walks through the crowd on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. Extra patrols were on hand in the wake of the deadly attack at a holiday event in Australia. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson wishes celebrants a happy Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A man with the flag of Israel attends a Hanukkah menorah lighting celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A giant menorah is lit on the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, during a celebration at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption
1 of 11
Rabbi Abba Perelmuter of Shul by the Shore welcomes the crowd on the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, during a menorah lighting celebration at the 2nd & PCH shopping center in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Shul by the Shore and Temple Israel hosted the annual Festival of Lights celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14, the first night of Hanukkah this year. The event featured live performances, crafts, festive music and more. The highlight of the evening, of course, was the lighting of the giant menorah on the central staircase.
Hanukkah began at sundown on Sunday and will end on Monday, Dec. 22.
The Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that features a nightly menorah lighting, prayers and traditional food.