Thanksgiving and all its preparations and celebrations are now
over – a signal not to take a breath, but rather to focus on the next holiday: Hanukkah.
Without missing a beat, it seems, congregations and schools are gearing up for a festive Hanukkah season, parties are about to start, and shopping is underway to relieve some of the outright panic that is anticipated over the next few weeks. Since the holiday is on the ‘late side’ this year (the first night is Dec. 25), many events are slated to take place pre-Hanukkah, prior to schools’ winter breaks and family vacations.
While Hanukkah will be the feature section in the next issue of Jewish News, this is a good time to mark some dates, particularly of those taking place prior to the holiday, to get in the spirit. . . before everyone and everything is like a dreidel. . . spinning out of control!
✡️Shabbat Shenanigans featuring Junior Maccabees
Friday, December 6, 6 pm, Temple Israel
This program will feature sacred song, an interactive Jewish story, and Shabbat soul food for dinner. Children ages 12 and under will have a challenge to face: Like the Maccabees of old, they will find the sanctuary in a disheveled state. Their job will be to find the hidden menorah, put it back on its base, and (symbolically) re-light the oil lamps. Children will also be taught how to fashion s’vivonim (dreidels). RSVP to Temple Israel, 757-489-4550.
✡️Frozen Flames
Saturday, December 7, 7 pm, Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art
A festival of lights, latkes, and libations, this event is open to the Tidewater Jewish community, ages 22-45ish. $36/person, $54 including a +1.
For tickets and more information: JewishVA.org/FrozenFlames.
✡️Drinks & Dreidels
Thursday, December 17, 6 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple
A Hanukkah celebration for adults with latkes, vodka, an improv show, trivia competition, and more. $18/person until December 10; $25/person starts on December 11. For information, ohefsholom.org.
✡️Jewish Family Service’s Chanukah Gift Program
This program provides holiday gifts to local Jewish children and teens in financially struggling families. Many gifts are used by these children throughout the year.
How to help:
• Purchase new, unwrapped gifts, both fun and practical, for specific children and teens in need.
Donors may call JFS at 757-459-4640 for children’s wish lists.
• Go shopping and buy some extra items.
• Purchase gift cards from Amazon, Target, fast food restaurants, movie theaters, and grocery stores.
• Send a tax-deductible cash/check/credit card donation, and JFS will do the shopping.
All Hanukkah donations must be received by December 6. Checks should be made payable to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and sent to JFS, Attn: Maryann Kettyle, 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 400, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Gifts can also be dropped off in-person at JFS’s counseling office: Embrace Counseling, 260 Grayson Road, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, Va.
Jewish Family Service assists local Jewish families in need at all times of the year and will keep any surplus donations for use throughout 2024-2025. For more information, contact Maryann Kettyle, JFS case manager, at 757-459-4640 or MKettyle@jfshamptonroads.org.
Look for more Hanukkah happenings, a peak at some local dreidel collections, and plenty of other Hanukkah articles in the Dec. 16 issue of Jewish News.