Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, known as the “Festival of Lights.” The first observance of Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays in Sacramento was in 1849. Moses Hyman held services above his jewelry store on Front Street and helped to establish the B’nai Israel Congregation with Albert Priest. Albert Priest was a partner in the mercantile firm, Priest, Lee, and Company, who sold mining goods at Sutter’s Fort from the summer of 1848 until the company relocated their store to the corner of 2nd and J Streets in the spring of 1849. On June 4, 1852, Alexander Myer, Charles Friedman, Joseph Levison, and Albert Priest, the officers of the Association of the Children of Israel, purchased the Methodist Episcopal Church on 7th Street between M (today Capitol Ave.) and L Streets. On September 3, 1852, the building was dedicated by the B’nai Israel Congregation making it the first congregational owned synagogue in California. The first service at the synagogue in September 1852 was ...