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Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Reindeer light up an already glowing yard on Oak Crest Circle in Placerville. Many local homeowners decked the halls and then some this holiday season. See more photos on B4
The lights from the Highway 50 Christmas trees create a beautiful bokeh effect.
A colorful, glowing Christmas tree greets Highway 50 drivers coming into Placerville.
Blessed are all at menorah lighting Shelly Thorene Staff writer
A
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Food Bank of El Dorado County volunteer Elizabeth Olenchuk, 14, of Jackson places a cart full of food in the distribution line.
Outreach puts food on the table Shelly Thorene Staff writer
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The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians,
Barsotti Family Juice Co. and Francis Distributing joined community donors to sponsor the 25th Holiday Outreach distribution at the Food Bank of El Dorado County in Shingle Springs Dec. 20. The facility was prepared to serve 8001,000 households at the warehouse this season and 100 homebound residents received food delivered by the Tribal Fire Department and the Tribal Police Department, according to food bank founder Mike Sproull. Recipients showed proof of residence in El ■ See OUTREACH, page A9
DON’T MISS
menorah lighting took place at El Dorado Hills Town Center on Dec. 18, the fifth day of Hanukkah. The Jewish celebration commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greek army, rededicating the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and restoring its lamp, or menorah. Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum with the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Folsom and his family organized the event and was joined by soloist Yitzchok Friedman of St. Paul, Minn., who performed traditional music and a song dedicated to victims of the Bondi Beach shooting. The rabbi said he is originally from Australia and was personally affected by the loss of life there. El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf lit the shamash, or helper candle, used to light the others and spoke to the gathering about the importance of protecting and serving residents, stressing antisemitism has no place in El Dorado County. Rabbi Grossbaum’s message to the gathering centered around the idea
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Published bi-monthly in the Mountain Democrat and Village Life
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Above, El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, center, lights the shamash used to light the others as Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum, right, watches during the Dec. 18 Hanukkah event. Below, the Folsom rabbi, right, lights the menorah with soloist Yitzchok Friedman standing by at El Dorado Hills Town Center on the fifth night of Hanukkah. of being of service to others, like the shamash, the servant candle. “Fire has a special quality and like holiness, it is not diminished when shared,” Grossbaum said. “Your souls are the flame of God and can provide infinite light in this world. If we all share goodness, it overwhelms the darkness.” After the service, guests were treated to traditional potato latkes with applesauce, jelly filled doughnuts, both fried in oil, signifying the Hanukkah miracle that a single jar of oil, enough for one day, lasted for eight whole nights.
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