Source: Sacramento Bee
On June 5, 1999, the Sacramento Bee published an article on Rabbi Mendy Cohen, who is affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement and founder of Chabad of Sacramento. Cohen, like his Lubavitch movement, has been a charismatic figure in the Sacramento area and has aggressively made outreach efforts to area Jews with his brand of Orthodox Judaism. Cohen stated: "There is no such thing as Orthodox or Conservative or Reform. There is a Judaism that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and he gave it over to generation after generation. You don't change the rules when it gets tough." Cohen, shortly after founding Chabad of Sacramento in 1994, decided to light an 11-foot high menorah for Hanukkah on the steps of the California state capitol. Despite some negative reactions in the local Jewish community, the menorah lighting has been a success in recent years. Chabad of Sacramento has been competing with area Orthodox and Conservative congregations. It regularly draws 60-100 people for services and hundreds for holiday services.