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Hora dancing under the lit menorah in City Plaza, downtown Reno

Menorah Lighting

Chabad of Northern Nevada, City Plaza, Reno, NV

The Details

The DJ for the Chanukah Menorah Lighting in City Plaza, downtown Reno, presented by Chabad of Northern Nevada.

Client
Chabad of Northern Nevada
Event
Chanukah Menorah Lighting
Venue
City Plaza
Location
Reno, NV
DJ
Jon Alder
Guests
~100
Presented with
Chabad of Northern Nevada
Services
DJ and sound for the speeches
Photos
Ty O’Neil and Eric Marks, This Is Reno

The Story

Every year Chabad of Northern Nevada presents the lighting of a giant menorah in City Plaza to begin Chanukah, a tradition Rabbi Mendel Cunin says Reno has celebrated for 25 years. I was the DJ for the Menorah Lighting.

The crowd in City Plaza seen from the DJ booth tent at the Reno Menorah LightingCity Plaza at sunset as families arrive for the Menorah LightingCity Plaza filling up under a cloudy sky before the ceremonyThe City Plaza menorah against the downtown Reno towers before darkHappy Chanukah books on the welcome table in City PlazaFamilies by the giant dreidel and menorah inflatables in City PlazaFamilies in light up menorah headbands at the Menorah LightingGuests in light up menorah headbands wait in the crowdParents and their baby wearing glowing menorah headbandsA child in a green snowsuit wears a light up menorah headbandA father holding his son in a menorah headband in City PlazaA rabbi with family and friends, the baby in a menorah headbandA family posing with Chanukah props at the photo boothA child having a treat at the candy tableFamilies cheering in the crowd at the Menorah LightingFamilies gather beside the giant inflatable candlesA mother and daughter share a high five in City Plaza before the Chanukah Menorah LightingA girl stretches her arms out on the City Plaza sculpture as families arriveGirls laugh together in light up menorah headbands in the crowd

The City of Reno named DJs In Reno as a partner of the ceremony, with music by DJ Jon. Councilmember Naomi Duerr opened the evening, and speakers from Washoe County, the Governor’s Office and the offices of Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto followed. I ran the music and the sound for every speech.

The crowd gathering in front of the stage at dusk in City Plaza, seen from the DJ boothA giant dreidel and the menorah in front of the Believe signThe inflatable dreidel and candles beside the Reno signThe Chanukah dreidel and the menorah in front of the Believe signA speaker at the podium in front of the DJ tentA speaker addresses the crowd from the podium under the tentA speaker reads her remarks at the podiumA rabbi speaking on stage with a microphoneA rabbi faces the crowd gathered in City PlazaA rabbi with a microphone beside the menorah and the Believe signA rabbi speaking beside a giant inflatable dreidelTwo rabbis with families in the crowdA rabbi stands among guests under the colored lightsA rabbi smiling under the colored lights of City PlazaThe crowd around the menorah, seen through the City Plaza sculptureA child rides on a father's shoulders in the evening crowdA girl in a menorah headband waving by the giant dreidelFriends in glowing menorah headbands at the ceremonyA guest smiles and waves by the Believe signFriends bundled up against the cold in the crowdFriends in matching hoodies and menorah headbandsThe crowd in City Plaza before sunset, seen from my DJ tentThe menorah under evening clouds over City PlazaTwo friends smile in front of the City Plaza menorahA couple smiles together in City Plaza at the Chanukah Menorah LightingA couple poses together under the City Plaza lights

The Sierra High Notes sang, the songs of the holiday played as candles were handed out to the crowd, and Rabbi Cunin lit the first candle while the blessings rang across the plaza.

A choir singing with a keyboard player at the Menorah Lighting in City PlazaA singer performs at the microphone under the tentSingers reading their music beside the glowing candlesVolunteers handing out candles to familiesGuests lighting each other’s candles in the crowdA family holding lit candles at the Menorah LightingKids and parents waiting for the lighting with candles in handThe crowd under the evening lights of City PlazaFamilies watch the ceremony under the plaza lightsSmiling faces in the crowd at the ceremonyFriends smile together during the ceremonySpeakers reading together beside the menorahThe menorah and dreidel inflatables under the downtown towers at nightThe menorah, the dreidels and a Santa hat at duskA rabbi lighting the menorah at duskThe ladder stands ready at the giant menorahLighting the menorah from the ladder above the crowdLighting the torch for the first candleA rabbi holds the lit torch against the blue evening skyRabbi Mendel Cunin lights the first candle on the City Plaza menorahLighting the menorah against the night skyThe first flame burns on the giant menorahA girl watching her candle during the lightingKids holding lit candles in the crowdFamilies holding candles in front of the downtown lightsA boy holding a lit candle in the crowdA boy smiles in the crowd after the lightingThe crowd under the lights of City Plaza at night, seen from my DJ tentDancers join hands in a hora around the giant menorahA man lights a girl’s candle in the crowd before the menorah is litTwo women smile as they hold their lit candlesA family holds candles together in City Plaza

Then the hora took over, a big circle of dancers in front of the Believe sign under the glow of the menorah. It was an honor to be part of one of downtown Reno’s most meaningful winter traditions.

The lit menorah against the night sky over City PlazaA flame on the giant menorah up closeKids lighting small candles on the plazaCandles glowing on the plaza as kids gather around themVolunteers serving latkes and donutsLatkes and donuts handed out at the food tableBoxes of holiday treats stacked for the crowdTwo rabbis walking with families across City PlazaThe crowd in City Plaza at night, seen from the stage

Key Songs

Straight from my play history for Chabad of Northern Nevada

Crowd arriving
Happy Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
Candles handed out
Chaim Fogelman - Chanukah
Candle lighting
The Chanukah Blessings
Menorah lit
Maoz Tzur
Hora
Chaim Fogelman - Heveinu Shalom
Hora
Chaim Fogelman - Dreidel

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