Fire Chief David Gerboth lights the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Dozens of Salem residents gathered Sunday to light a menorah and celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah.
The annual Light Up Salem event, organized by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, begins with a car parade.
Participants then gather at Mirror Park to light a giant menorah, receive a blessing from Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein, dance and enjoy jelly doughnuts.
A participant arrives at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein and sons, Yossi and Yaakov, chat with their police escort after they arrive at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Stephanie McGough, Chaya Perlstein, 17, and canine friends Heather and Django at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Attendees at the Light Up Salem event create a craft project at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Lisen Cronin shows the various dreidels available for attendees to take at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein chats with Keizer Mayor Cathy Clark at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dylan Kidd and Jeff Bell, Salem firefighters, wait to raise the fire truck ladder to light the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein tells the story of the menorah to the attendees with Rosa Perlstein at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Attendees listen to Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein tell the story of the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Mayor-Elect Julie Hoy speaks to attendees at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein gets the gelt ready to throw down to the crowd with Fire Chief David Gerboth and Fire Captain Lake at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Police Chief Trevor Womack, Fire Chief David Gerboth, and Fire Captain Andy Lake prepare to ascend in the fire truck ladder to light the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein recites the blessing before lighting the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Attendees sing along with Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein as he recites the blessing over the menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein, Fire Chief David Gerboth, Police Chief Trevor Womack, and Fire Captain Lake throw gelt to the crowd at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Aubry Chamblin, 8, shows off the golden gelt she picked up at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. The golden gelt could be exchanged for a gift certificate. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ian Diaz holds Loelisse Diaz at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Katrina and Quincy Palomo enjoy another traditional treat, jelly doughnuts, at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Yossi Perlstein holds Maayan Nowak, 3 months, at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The lit menorah at the Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Light Up Salem event held at Mirror Park on Sunday, Dec 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
