Jewish Home party goes on despite power outage

Just as Rabbi Sheldon Marder started lighting Chanukah candles Sunday, Dec. 18 as part of the Jewish Home's pre-Chanukah celebration, the lights went out.

Those who came to the Home to watch the yearly holiday show thought the lights were being dimmed to appreciate the candles. But no — the dimmed lights were not deliberate, as the Home was affected by the same power outage that knocked power out in many parts of San Francisco.

Sherie Koshover, director of communications for the Jewish Home, called it a "Chanukah miracle" that the power outage took place just after residents and guests had enjoyed an hourlong show.

"People had shlepped in through the storm, and it would have been really disheartening if the performance would have been interrupted," she said.

When the performance was over, the candlelighting proceeded, with the lights going out as the first candle was lit.

"I heard clicking, which was that we had just gone on emergency power," said Koshover. "The emergency lights in the corridor were lit, but for anyone who's not an insider, particularly the audience, it passed without notice."

The rabbi led the audience in "Rock of Ages." Only then did staff announce that the power was out, and that they would bring flashlights for those residents who needed them to get back to their rooms.