Chanukah

Community-Wide Events

Festival of Lights: the Y's Chanukah Fair -- at Hebrew Tabernacle!
Sunday, December 2, 3:00-5:00 PM
Location: Hebrew Tabernacle Social Hall, 551 Fort Washington Ave at 185th Street
A family-fun event co-sponsored by FTJC and many local synagogues, organized by the YM/YWHA. Come check out Rimonim's activity table and join the Washington Heights-Inwood community Chanukah celebration at the Y Festival of Lights. Advance ticket purchase highly recommended, as the event has sold out in years past! Go to  www.ywashhts.org/hanukkahfor more information and tickets.
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Chanukah Candle-Lighting: FTJC Around the Heights
Tuesday, December 4, evening hours
Locations: three private homes of FTJC members
While distracted by turkey, stuffing, and relatives this week, next week is Chanukah! Let us help you think about donuts! We are hosting get-togethers around the neighborhood and encourage folks to come together for some nosh and candle lighting on Tuesday, December 4th. Please click here to sign up to attend one of our three home hosted locations. Please bring a kosher parve or dairy nosh--check with the host and see FTJC's Kashrut Guidelines. If you can’t bring something, we ask you to make a modest  contribution to the shul: $5 for an individual or $10 for a family. Please RSVP by next Sunday, December 2nd.

Rimonim End-of-Chanukah Family Celebration
Sunday, December 9, 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Castle Village Community Room, 110 Cabrini Blvd.
Join Rimonim: A Family Learning Community at FTJC as we celebrate the last night of Chanukah together. Festivities will include games, snacks, candle lighting and more!

Children & Families Celebrations

Shabbat Mornings featuring Chanukah themes will proceed according to the  normal schedule for all age groups on the Shabbat morning before Chanukah (12/1) and the Shabbat morning during Chanukah (12/8).

Monthly series programming for December will also feature Chanukah themes:

Zera’im (Newborn to 3 years old)
Seeds of Shabbat, Seeds of Chanukah
Saturday December 1, 4:00-5:00 PM
Home-hosted. Please RSVP to youth@ftjc.org for the address.
This month's  Seeds of Shabbat program will feature Chanukah songs and stories. A lovely way for grownups and little ones to hang out, socialize, sing, and play.

Nitzanim (pre-K thru 2nd Grade)
Sprouting Mitzvot: Lighting Candles with Community Elders
Saturday, December 8, late afternoon & early evening
Home-hosted. Please RSVP to youth@ftjc.org for the address.
During this month's Sprouting Mitzvot program, we will learn about both the Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles and the Mitzvah of visiting the elderly by lighting candles with some of our community elders.  Exact time and locations will depend on participation. If you are interested in participating in this program, please RSVP to Mira Kessler at mira.kessler@ftjc.org.

Shorashim (3rd Grade thru 5th Grade)
God-Talk! What's a Miracle?
Saturday, December 8, late afternoon & early evening
Home-hosted. Please RSVP to youth@ftjc.org for the address.
In this monthly class we learn about God—we ask “Big Questions”: What is God? What does Judaism have to say about God? Is God a person, a thing, an idea, a force? How does the language and imagery we use affect the way we conceive of and talk to God in our prayers and private reflections? This month's God Talk will focus on Chanukah, the miracles and God's involvement in them. Stay tuned for location.

Prayer Services

Shabbat Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Friday, December 7, 4:20 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv
Penthouse Minyan: HT, 2nd Floor (one flight of stairs)
Heimish Minyan, home-hosted location TBD (wheelchair accessible)
Our usual song-filled Friday evening welcoming of Shabbat in community.

Saturday, December 8, 9:00-11:30 AM
Hebrew Tabernacle Social Hall, 1st floor (enter on Fort Washington Ave. at 185th St.)
A full morning with three Torah scrolls, Parashat Miketz, plus Full 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!

Saturday, December 8, 4:05-5:35 PM
Hebrew Tabernacle Penthouse, 2nd floor (one flight of stairs)
Close out Shabbat with Minchah (afternoon prayers), Se'udah Shelishit (third meal of Shabbat) with singing and learning, and Ma'ariv (evening prayers). Shabbat ends at 5:14 PM.

7th Morning of Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Sunday, December 9, 8:45 AM
Home-hosted location TBD: Please e-mail ritual@ftjc.org for location
Our usual Sunday morning minyan, home-hosted and enhanced with Full Hallel and special Torah readings for Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh.