Chanukah Happenings in the Greater Hartford Jewish Community 2011 Compiled by the Mandell JCC as a community service ***Please note that this is not a comprehensive list only items that were received by the Mandell JCC by December 6 are included. The December Dilemma Thursday, December 8 7:00 8:30 pm Congregation Kol Haverim, 1079 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury Join us for a multi-generational panel discussion where participants will share their experiences balancing Chanukah and Christmas celebrations within their interfaith families. Learn from others and find solutions for your family especially this year when Chanukah and Christmas overlap. Free and open to the community. RSVP to Pam Gardiner, pamandkyle@comcast.net or 860-267- 5776. Chanukah Tot Shabbat Saturday, December 10 9:30 am Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington Enjoy a fun Tot Shabbat service with Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett and sing some of your favorite Chanukah songs. Tot Shabbat is specifically for children 0 6 years old with their parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. A snack and craft will also be provided. Please RSVP to Joyce Sturm at 860-561-1055. Bagels, Blocks & Beyond 9:15 am - 10:45 am Early Childhood Center at the Emanuel Synagogue 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT A parent and me Hanukah program for pre-school aged children with music, stories, holiday themed snack, and a take home art project. Free and open to the community - RSVP appreciated. To RSVP or for more information call (860) 233-2774 or email School@emanuelsynagogue.org. Mitzvah Mall 10 am Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford Local non-profit organizations will be showcased and attendees can "buy" gifts that are truly meaningful, such as crayons for an after-school program, books for a library, toys for hospitalized children, or food for a homeless person. This event is sponsored by Congregation Beth Israel and the Charter Oak Cultural Center. The public is welcome. More info: www.cbict.org. Page 1 of 1
Chanukah Family Fest at Macy s 12 2 pm Macy s Westfarms Mall, 3 rd Floor Children s Department Entertainment with Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett of Temple Sinai and Jen "Kindermusik" Ludgin, PJ Library stories, face painting, balloon art, cookies, and more. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Mandell JCC. For more information www.mandelljcc.org. PJ Shabbat Friday, December 16 5:45 PM Chanukah Family Extravaganza Saturday, December 17 5:45 pm The Mandell JCC welcomes back the award-winning Mama Doni Band to the Herbert Gilman Theater stage with her "zany musical chicken soup of reggae, rock, disco, Latin, and klezmer" in a brand new Chanukah Family Extravanza concert. Rock out with songs like La Vida Dreidel and The Funky Gold Menorah in this lively musical event for all ages. Tickets: Free for JCC members; $5 per person, non-members. Box office: 860-231-6316 or tickets@mandelljcc.org. Kehilat Chaverim Sunday School Chanukah Festival 10am to Noon Watkinson School Dining Hall, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford For more information please contact Andrea Cobrin-Long, Education Director, kehilatchaverimss@gmail.com, 860-916-5998, www.kehilatchaverim.org Temple Beth Torah Chanukah Brunch Party 11 am Temple Beth Torah, 130 Main Street, Wethersfield Plan to join us as we celebrate the Festival of Lights. Spin some dreidels, eat some latkes and gelt, and sing a song or two! Latkes, bagels, salads, sweets and beverages - $7.50 per person, $20 per family maximum. Please RSVP by December 11 to Neil Gordon 860-529-9043. Chai Center Chanukah Bowling Party 3:00 4:30 pm Blue Fox Rock n Bowl, 1603 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury Celebrate Chanukah with you friends in the Farmington Valley! Price is $9.50 per bowler and includes shoes and two games. Make your own edible dreidels Page 2 of 2
and Chanukah crafts included. A great way to get into the Chanukah spirit for ALL ages! RSVP required by Friday, December 9 to Elana MacGilpin, 860-677- 1235 or emacgilpin@jewishhartford.org. SSDS s Annual Chanukah Bash featuring The Maccabeats! Monday, December 19, 6:30 pm West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107 For complimentary tickets, please call the school at (860) 561-0700 Sponsored by Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford, 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford. PJ Library Chanukah Story Times at Barnes & Noble Tuesday, December 20, 10:30 am Canton & Glastonbury Wednesday, December 21, 10:30 am Blue Back Square, West Hartford Come and hear your favorite PJ Library Chanukah stories and songs! Make a simple Chanukah craft to celebrate the holiday! FREE! Sponsored by the Mandell JCC and PJ Library. Edible Driedels and Chanukah Crafts Tuesday, December 20 4:00 6:00 pm Light the JCC s Chanukah Menorah and have fun making your own edible dreidel and crafts! FREE. Chanukah Art Contest Sponsored by Agudas Achim Synagogue Art work is due at Agudas Achim Synagogue, 1244 North Main Street, West Hartford by Tuesday, December 20. The winners will be announced at our monthly Shabbat dinner and displayed on our website, announcer and in our upstairs showcase! Art work may be emailed to the synagogue - agudas@sbcglobal.net or brought directly to the synagogue at the address above - painting, clay, weaving, etc. For more information please contact Alexis at the synagogue - 9 am to 1pm - 860-233-6241 or Renana Kadden at 860-236-2200. Outdoor Lighting of the Chanukiah Tuesday and Wednesday, December 20 and 21 5:45 PM Chanukah Children's Event Wednesday, December 21 4:30-7:30 pm Jump Zone, 15 Cheryl Drive, Canton Page 3 of 3
Sponsored by Agudas Achim Synagogue - $8 per child for Agudas Achim members, $15 per child for non-members (adults: $5.00 for food) Potato latkes and pizza will be served. Call for reservations 860-233-6241. Beth Sholom B nai Israel s Festival of Lights 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester (860) 643-9563, www.myshul.org The essential mitzvah of Hanukkah is "Pirsumay Nisa" making the miracle known to all. We do this by lighting candles, and the more public, the better. Thanks to Congregation B nai Israel, we now have a giant 10 foot high outdoor style Hanukiyah. It will be set up on the front lawn of the synagogue and will be lit most of the nights of Hanukkah. Plan to join us each night we have a candle lighting ceremony as listed below. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7:30 PM Hebrew High students and minyan-goers. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7:30 PM Board of Directors and minyan-goers. Thursday, Dec. 22, 5:45 PM Religious School students and parents. Friday, Dec. 23, 3:45 PM, Erev Shabbat early lighting. Sunday, Dec. 25, 4:30 PM Following special movie program* Monday, Dec. 26, 7:30 PM Minyan-goers. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 7:30 PM Minyan-goers. Latke Throwdown Thursday, December 22 4:00 6:00 pm Sample traditional and alternative potato latkes from our favorite JCC chefs David Jacobs, Ronny Siegel, Bonnie Weiner and sufganyiot (jelly donuts) from Marla Cohen. FREE. Chanukah Shabbat Service and Klezmer Dancing Friday, December 23, 7:30 pm Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford Jane Zande, 860-233-8215 x230, jzande@cbict.org Hanukkah Hop Friday, December 23 6:00 pm Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom, 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury Come and enjoy the fun. The Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom is holding it's annual Hanukkah Hop. This fun event is being held at the Friday night service on December 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm. There will be a live band, dancing, food and a guaranteed great time for all. Bring your menorah (for lighting), dancing shoes, and a healthy appetite for the latke feast. We will also be collecting unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots drive. If you have any questions, please contact Sue Krinsky at sjkrinsky@comcast.net. We hope to see you there! Page 4 of 4
The What s Up Band with special guests The Shlomones Saturday, December 24 7:00 pm Beth David Synagogue, 20 Dover Road, West Hartford Pre-Concert Refreshments with fresh sushi, latkes, falafel and ice cream begin at 6:45. $10.00/ticket. Contact Tracy Monday Friday, 9 am 2 pm - 860.236.1241 ext. 10 or beth.david.syn@snet.net or go to www.bethdavidwh.org for more information. Christmas Day Mitzvah Program Sunday, December 25 8 am 7 pm Hebrew Health Care, 1 Abrahms Boulevard, West Hartford Hebrew Health Care invites you to participate the 2011 Christmas Day Mitzvah Program. The program allows individuals in the community to volunteer at HHC so that staff who celebrate Christmas can take time to be with their families during the holiday. What can you do? We have a number of tasks that may appeal to you. For example, how about serving sandwiches and smiles at the coffee shop or selling candy and sundries in the gift shop? You can help during mealtimes by serving breakfast, lunch or dinner trays. If you prefer more clerical tasks you can answer phones on the nursing units. There are any number of tasks that are available including recreational activities, Bingo, manicures, transporting wheelchair-bound patients, delivering laundry and helping in the kitchen. The Christmas Day Mitzvah Program begins at 8 am and ends at 7 pm. Come for an hour or several hours. However you can help will be appreciated and we promise it will be rewarding for all of you! For more information or to register, please contact Ruthan Wein, Director, Volunteer Resources at Hebrew Health Care at 860.523.3818 or rwein@hebrewhealthcare.org. Don t wait, slots fill up fast! Synaplex at the Synagogue / Lighting the Hanukiyah Sunday, December 25, 2:30 PM through candle lighting Beth Sholom B'nai Israel, 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester Contact Saundra Roethel at tbsadmin@sbcglobal.net or (860) 643-9563. Complete event flyer is on our website, www.myshul.org Everyone is invited to join us for this family community wide event. We will begin with the movie "Lemonade Mouth" which tells the story of five high school students who meet in detention and form a band to stand up for their beliefs and to overcome their individual and collective struggles. At the conclusion of the movie and a bite to eat we will proceed as a group outdoors to light the Hanukiyah on our lawn. Come and enjoy our Festival of Lights! Chanukah Chinese Food and Movie Night Sunday, December 25 5:00 PM Page 5 of 5