The festival of lights lit up the Wyoming State Capitol on Monday when officials held their annual Chanukah Menorah lighting ceremony led by Shluchim Rabbi Zalman and Raizy Mendelsohn.
“People from all walks of life join us; it’s open to the public. Jewish non-Jewish, right, left, rich, poor, it doesn’t matter, we’re getting rid of all the boundaries just coming together to celebrate,” said Raizy Mendelsohn, Co-Director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Wyoming.
Host Chabad Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn said this holiday celebrates light winning over darkness as he recounted the history of Nuremberg Laws and Kristall Nacht.
“Now more than ever, the story of a world filled with the bright lights of the Menorah is vitally important in this time of great darkness,” said Rabbi Mendelsohn.
Governor Mark Gordon and the First Lady, lawmakers and other officials were also there.
“Just celebrating the diversity that we have in our community, I think that’s very precious, and I wanted to be here to be part of that today,” said Mayor Patrick Collins.
Jewish community members and former Secretary of State Max Maxfield were in attendance, who started the celebration in the Capitol 15 years ago.
“It belonged in a very special honored place, and it was just a terrific honor on my part to be able to facilitate that,” said Maxfield.
The Cheyenne Youth Symphony, food, and treats were also there to help lift spirits as the Menorah was lit.
Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, the new shliach to Laramie, Wyoming, is seen addressing the crowd.