Arnold Schwarzenegger Dances With Rabbi Cunin

SACRAMENTO, CA, DECEMBER 20- GovernorServing as emcee for the event was Michael
Arnold Schwarzenegger performed a symbolicHelfant, the President and COO of Marvel Studios,
menorah lighting at the State Capitol today aswho has been a friend of Chabad for two
part of the 12th annual Chabad Chanukahdecades. “Most days, I work with
celebration. The Governor joined with Rabbisuperheroes like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the
Boruch S. Cunin, Director of West CoastFantastic Four,” he said, “But today, I am
Chabad-Lubavitch, and other Chabadhere to celebrate with some very different
representatives to share messages of holidaysuperheroes… The people of Chabad are heroes
cheer with the people of California.who accomplish miraculous feats each day. As we
After greeting the crowd with “Shalom,”celebrate the miracles of Chanukah, they are
Governor Schwarzenegger called the people ofspreading a powerful message of hope and
Chabad “heroes” who have had “anlight.”
unbelievable impact on thousands and thousandsDavid Akov, Israel’s Consul General in S.
of people.” Standing before the Capitol buildingFrancisco, also spoke to the crowd in Sacramento.
in Sacramento, he thanked the charitable groupHe brought greetings from the Holy Land for
for its “great contribution to the state.”“the holiday of lights and freedom,” calling
Before the menorah lighting, the Governor recalledChanukah “a universal celebration all over the
how the Maccabees of ancient Israel defied theirworld.” Before the symbolic menorah lighting,
oppressors to reclaim the Temple andRabbi Cunin offered prayers and remembrances
experienced “the miracle of the oil” that litfor the victims of the natural disasters of 2005.
a menorah for eight days even though it wasFifteen Chabad schools from across California
only a single day’s supply. “The menorahwere represented onstage. Each school undertook
is a powerful symbol of faith,” Governora special Menorah Project, holding contests in
Schwarzenegger said, “It has been sustainedwhich their students hand-decorated menorahs to
by tradition and empowered by the courage ofconvey the holiday’s universal message and
the Jewish people.”beauty. One student from each school came with
During the event, Rabbi Cunin presented a large,his or her own creation to display for the
ornate dreidel as a gift to the Governor andGovernor. The unique menorahs included a colorful
people of California. The dreidel’s base wasLego candelabrum, a log covered with leaves, and
inscribed with a quote from the Lubavitchera line of candleholders made from
Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, that read:Schwarzenegger action figures atop the message,
“The spirit of Chanukah is experienced when“The Jewish people said: ‘I’ll be
we apply its joy, warmth, and light to our livesback.’”
not only with our loved ones, but with the entireThe Sid Engel Orchestra provided festive holiday
world.”music for the event, and there was also a
In his remarks, Rabbi Cunin said, “All theperformance by the Chabad Tiny Tots Choir. The
power everyone speaks of as the power ofchildren in the choir each had a headdress topped
Chabad is really the power of light, including thewith a symbolic flame, and they also wore silver
light of our Rebbe.” The Rabbi spoke of theletters that together spelled out the word
miracle of Chanukah and its enduring message of“Chanukah.”
light overcoming darkness, adding that, “TheAt the end of the celebration, donated gifts were
way we combat darkness is by lighting adistributed to audience members so that they in
candle.”turn could present them to someone less
Rabbi Cunin also noted that the Hebrew letter forfortunate during Chanukah. After helping distribute
light has a numerical value of 207 – which isthose gifts, Governor Schwarzenegger joined a
the exact number of years since the founder ofnumber of Chabad rabbis onstage for a
Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, was releasedhigh-spirited dance.
from his imprisonment in Czarist Russia. TheEditor’s Note: The schools represented at the
Rabbi’s liberation on the 19th day of theceremony were the Chabad Hebrew School of
Hebrew month of Kislev is a key date for ChabadGlendale, the Chabad Hebrew Academy of Long
Chassidism, since after his release he spread hisBeach, the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School
teachings on a broader scale than ever before.of Los Angeles, the Bais Rebbe Junior High for
Rabbi Mendy Cohen, Director of Chabad ofGirls of Los Angeles, the Chabad Youth Group of
Sacramento, told the audience that courage isNoe Valley, the Chabad Hebrew School of Palo
rewarded with miracles. He listed examplesAlto, the Chabad Hebrew School of Sacramento,
ranging from the Maccabees and the menorah, tothe Chabad Hebrew School of S. Clarita Valley,
Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s release from prison,the Chabad Hebrew School of S. Cruz, the
to the incredible growth of Chabad in CaliforniaChabad Hebrew Academy of S. Diego, the
under the guidance of the Rebbe. He also praisedChabad Hebrew School of S. Jose, the Chabad
Governor Schwarzenegger’s courage, andHebrew School of Sunnyvale, the Reisman Family
quipped that he is “the most powerfulChabad Hebrew School of Tarzana, the Chabad
Governor in the union, both physically andYouth Zone of Tri Valley, and the Chabad Hebrew
spiritually.”School of Walnut Creek.