Hundreds gathered Sunday night at Pioneer Courthouse Square as Portland lit the first candle of its public Hanukkah menorah — a downtown tradition that began in 1984. The lighting kicked off eight nights of celebration with music, dancing, food and community, even as speakers addressed a deadly Hanukkah attack in Australia and emphasized that light would prevail over darkness. Security was visible throughout the event. 📸 Click the link in our bio to read the full story and see dozens of more photos. The public menorah will be lit nightly through Dec. 21. —Reporting by Mark_W_Graves #Hanukkah #Portland #PioneerCourthouseSquare #PortlandEvents #JewishCommunity #FestivalOfLights #Hanukkah2025 #PDX #PortlandOregon #Community #Faith #Tradition #Photojournalism