Chabad of Simi Valley, in partnership with Chabad of Moorpark, will host the "Lights for Life" project to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

A "can-orah" will be constructed from cans of donated food and then lit at 4:30 p.m. Mon., Dec. 22, the second night of Hanukkah, at the Simi Valley Town Center near the koi pond.

Dignitaries and local officials will be present to deliver holiday greetings. The program will include Hanukkah music and dancing, traditional hot latkes, dreidels, a children's performance, a juggler and Hanukkah cookie decorating.

After the celebration, the menorah will be disassembled and the cans will be taken to local homeless shelters and food pantries.

Donations of canned food will be accepted at Chabad of Simi Valley, 4464 Alamo St.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the victory of a small Jewish force against the Greek empire, which was seeking to end Judaism as a religion. The lighting of menorah is a universal symbol of the ultimate triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.