SANTA CLARITA, Ca. — Menorah Mountain, a Jewish-themed amusement park along the I-5 Interstate, opened recently to large crowds of orthodox, mainstream and recovering Jews throughout Southern California.

Adults and children, Jew and non-Jew alike, should find plenty to enjoy in the many rides, games, entertainment and food at this exciting new theme park. 

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“Enough with the Mouse already,” Golden recalls himself saying, “we wanted a place to celebrate Us!”
— Rabbi Meyer Golden, Menorah Mountain co-founder

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The park is the brainchild of two L.A.-area rabbis, Meyer Golden and Seymour Sherman, who were frustrated by the entertainment offerings for Hassidic families.  “Enough with the Mouse already,” Golden recalls himself saying, “we wanted a place to celebrate Us!”

Families might want to start the younger kids off on some of the more tranquil rides, like the Whirling Star of David (akin to Disney’s Mad Hatter spinning tea cups) as well as the Soviet Jewry-Go-Round.  A more primitive, but equally effective ride, is the Circle of Nacchus, with several 70’s-edition domestic station wagons chained together, moving slowly in a circle. 

For the more thrill-seeking teenagers and adults, there are numerous hair-raising options.  The Flailing Wall has riders strapped into seats that are raised up the side of the Wailing Wall replica before being submitted to a heart-stopping freefall to the foot of the wall.  The Dead Sea Roll is a modern roller coaster that turns upside down and back again as it rockets forward.  Riders are routinely seen with hands tightly clasped, praying it will stop.  The Rabid Rabbi is a frothy water plunge ride that leaves you drenched and repentant.

Most terrifying of all, however, are a pair of popular rides: The Guilt Trip and The Jewish Mother.  Both are variations of rickety roller coasters that have riders screaming their lungs out in fright and begging to get off.

For adults, at noon each day, there’s a musical review, Goys and Dolls, featuring gorgeous schiksas from all over the world, in the Barbra Streisand Performance Hall.

For lunch, kosher food offerings include Hebrew National hot dogs, gefilte fish on a schtick, and herring tacos — Mexican fish tacos served with a dollop of horseradish.  Other lunchspots include: Mah Jongg’s Kitchen, Shofar So Good, and One for the Kippah.  As you eat, you’ll likely catch an impromptu set of music by one of the strolling Klezmer bands roaming throughout the centrally located Chosen People’s Garden.

Hands down, the most popular game at the park is the Irv Rubin Shooting Gallery, where you can vent your frustrations at toy Nazi soldiers, white supremacists, Middle East terrorists and many others icons of intolerance who have given the Jews a hard time over the years.

In the evening, adults should be sure to mosey over to the trendy nightspot: Bar Mitzvah.

A typical day at Menorah Mountain theme park always culminates with the pageant known as The Circumcision Parade, where one lucky 8-day-old boy is featured atop a Menorah float, and each of the candles shoots fireworks when the boy’s ritual is completed.

Menorah Mountain is closed on Friday nights and Saturdays, Jewish holidays and Sammy Davis, Jr.’s birthday.