First graders from Desert Torah Academy Day School’s choir sing for the crowd at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The Dancing Dreidels perform at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Rabbi Shea Harlig lights the menorah for the start of Hanukkah as David Dahan recites blessings at an event hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The Dancing Dreidels perform at a menorah lighting hosted by the Chabad of Southern Nevada for the start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The Dancing Dreidels perform at a menorah lighting hosted by the Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore addresses the crowd next to Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The Dancing Dreidels perform at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Rabbi Motti Harlig holds his son Mendel Harlig, 2, at a menorah lighting hosted by the Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first start of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Rabbi Shea Harlig addresses the crowd at a menorah lighting hosted by the Chabada of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Rabbi Motti Harlig holds his son Mendel Harlig, 2, at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The crowd watches the entertainment at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Lena Levy breaks a glowstick with her son Jacob Levy, 5, at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The Dancing Dreidels perform at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Henny Attal, 6, from left, dances with Roza Metal, 6, and Yehudis Markel, 6, at a menorah lighting hosted by Chabad of Southern Nevada for the first day of Hanukkah on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday night in downtown Las Vegas to welcome the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which began at sundown, with the lighting of a giant menorah.
The celebration will continue through the evening of Dec. 30.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem after it had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had tried to Hellenize the Jews.
