Chanukah

Community-Wide Events

Home Hosted Community Meals
Shabbat, December 16/17
We're so excited to facilitate an opportunity for folks from all across the FTJC community to come together and share a meal leading up to Chanukah! If you would like to participate as a host or a guest, please fill out this form by sundown on December 9th. Meal matches will be sent out by December 12th. Feel free to reach out to secretary@ftjc.org with any questions!

Latkepalooza 
Sunday, December 18, 3:15-5:15 PM (TIME CHANGE)
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle Social Hall
Join us for an afternoon of fun as we get ready for Chanukah! There will be latkes with all sorts of toppings, sufganiyot for Rimonim kids to decorate, music, and Jewish learning to do together. Save the date and if you're interested in volunteering, please reach out to secretary@ftjc.org. 

Share the Light Parade with the Heights Jewish Community
Sunday, December 18, 4:00 PM
Location: Fort Tryon Park to Bennett Park
A light parade gathering at Fort Tryon Park's Cafe Lawn, then walking down Fort Washington Ave. to Bennett Park with awe-inspiring homemade lanterns celebrating Chanukah and culminating with a public lighting of the chanukiah (Chanukah menorah), singing, sufganiyot (Chanukah doughnuts), and lots of fun! Registration requested but not required here.

Community Lantern Making Events
Sunday, December 4, 1:00-4:30 PM
Sunday, December 11, 1:00-4:30 PM
Location: The Y, 54 Nagle Ave.
Opportunities to create your own lantern art to be used in the Share the Light parade -- Lanterns will be produced under the guidance of the Y's art expert. Bring your creativity and help us share the light! No previous experience necessary, no registration necessary.
 

Classes for Adults

Should We Really Keep the Oil Burning?!
Sunday, December 11, 8:15-9:30 PM
Zoom
Jewish learning with FTJC’s student clergy intern, Amalya Volz. We all know the story: one day of oil miraculously lasted for eight, which we commemorate every Chanukah. How should we approach conserving the resources of our environment so that our planet will also last for a long time, perhaps even moving beyond using oil for fuel at all? We will discuss the recent teshuvah (rabbinic legal opinion), “On the Mitzvah of Sustainability,” as part of the Rabbinical Assembly's International Seminar for Halakhic Study.

Latkepalooza Learning
Sunday, December 18, 2:00-4:00 PM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle
Two classes will be offered during the festivities of this event (see above). Details to come!

Rimonim: Youth & Families Celebrations

Zera’im (Newborn to 3 years old)
Chanukah Yoga
Saturday, December 17, 10:45-11:30 AM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle, Penthouse
We invite grown-ups to join their little ones for a Chanukah-themed special Shabbat Yoga, with FTJC movement educator Pam Skop.

Nitzanim (Pre-K-2nd Grade)
Chanukah Play
Saturday, December 17, 10:00-10:40 AM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle, Classroom 2
We invite Nitzanim to learn about Chanukah through movement, games, and songs with Diya Moushahwar.

Shorashim (3rd-5th Grade)
Torah Stories: Chanukah Edition
Saturday, December 17, 10:45-11:30 AM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle, Classroom 1
We invite Shorashim to learn about Chanukah through drama and games with Diya Moushahwar.

Anafim (Middle School & up)
Movie Night
Saturday, December 10, 5:30 PM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle, Social Hall
FTJC and Hebrew Tabernacle middle-school and high-schoolers get together for Havdalah, a movie on the big screen, and special Chanukah treats.

Early Chanukah Celebration with Better Together
Sunday, December 11, Time 9:00-11:00 AM
Location: The Y at 54 Nagle Avenue, Wien House Hobby Room
Better Together is a monthly educational and social program that brings together middle schoolers and elders in the community; enrollment is open on a rolling basis. Please join Better Together for a special Early Chanukah Celebration! If interested please e-mail diya@ftjc.org

At-Home Resources
Rimonim is excited to offer at-home resources, including recipes, crafts, and activities for children of all ages. Please click here to view a song sheet, featuring Chanukah songs in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino. Lyrics and links are provided for whichever songs may be new to your family! 

Recipes to try
-Zucchini Sticks: enjoy a veggie-friendly alternative to all the delicious fried sweets 
-Stained Glass Cookies: play with light while baking and eating these cookies
-Qatayef: popular cheese-stuffed pancakes from the Syrian-Jewish and Arab world at large
-Fried Plantains: delicious favorite from the Caribbean

Chanukah activities & crafts
-Handprint Menorahs
-Glowing Pathway
-Clay Menorah
-Mad Libs
-Learn about Chag HaBanot
-Create colorful Chanukah collage cards
-Learn about this history of Caribbean Jewery through making a Secret Menorah
 

Prayer Services

Shabbat Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Saturday, December 24, 9:00 AM
Hebrew Tabernacle Social Hall
A full morning with three Torah scrolls, Parashat Miketz, plus Hallel, special Torah readings for Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh, and a special Haftarah for Shabbat Chanukah. A wide range of children's services and learning on Chanukah and Shabbat themes!

See the FTJC calendar for additional Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and weekday services during Chanukah