Menorah lightings in Mesa and Tempe bring Jewish community together

People attend a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Naftoli Blotner, 15, attends post-celebrations of a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

People attend a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Laibel Blotner leads a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Mesa Mayor John Giles attends a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Mesa Mayor John Giles attends a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Laibel Blotner leads a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

People attend a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Laibel Blotner leads a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Laibel Blotner leads a menorah lighting ceremony in Mesa on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Shmuel's son, Levi Tiechtel, sings Chanukah songs at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Levi Teichtel helps light candles at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Menorah lighting in downtown Tempe on Dec. 7, 2023.

ttendees sing prayers at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Prayers are said at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Menorah at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Hanukkah signs at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Meir Tiechtel, son of Rabbi Shmuel Teichtel dresses up as a dreidel for the first night of Chanukah on Dec. 7, 2023.

Judith Nichols teaches Elena Chen how to spin a dreidel at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Menorah at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Shani Kripor and her son Sam play with dreidels at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Levi Tiechtel, nephew of Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel, watches downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Judith Nichols teaches Elena Chen how to spin a dreidel at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Shani Kripor's daughter Sarah eats dreidel candy at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Shmuel Teichtel leads downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.

Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel introduces Tempe Mayor Corey Woods at downtown Tempe's Menorah lightning on Dec. 7, 2023.