photo by: Ashley Golledge

A menorah is lit at the Lawrence Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in honor of the first day of Hanukkah. The lighting was hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.

Thursday night, on the first evening of Hanukkah, the University of Kansas’ Chabad Center for Jewish Life hosted a menorah lighting outside the Lawrence Arts Center.

Community members were encouraged to join the event via a virtual “Light Up Lawrence” livestream event. Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, led the event, which included a blessing, the lighting of the 10-foot menorah and the singing of “I Have a Little Dreidel” by Tiechtel’s sons. Rep. Mike Amyx helped light the menorah.

Tiechtel said this is the first time in Lawrence history — at least since Quantrill’s Raid — that a menorah will be lit publicly for the full eight days of Hanukkah.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel discusses the first day of Hanukkah at a menorah lighting ceremony at the Lawrence Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. The lighting was hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Rep. Mike Amyx and Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel light a menorah at the Lawrence Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in honor of the first day of Hanukkah. The lighting was hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

From left. Levik, Yisorolik and Yosef Tiechtel sing “I have a little Dreidel” at a menorah lighting at the Lawrence Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in honor of the first day of Hanukkah. The lighting was hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The children are the sons of Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel.