Celebrating the Festival of Lights, a summary of local Chanukah events
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
by John Ehrlich
Chanukah, the eight-day Jewish holiday and festival of lights commemorating the Maccabee-led victory over Syrian-Greeks and recapture of the Jerusalem Temple 2100 years ago begins Wednesday evening, December 1, at sundown. Families will celebrate by lighting candles, gathering for family dinners, exchanging gifts, enjoying traditional songs and games including Dreidel spinning, and share traditional foods cooked in oil like potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts.
Here is a brief summary and schedule of area Chanukah events to brighten the holiday.
Chappaqua/Millwood
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester (Reform)
220 South Bedford Road
Chappaqua NY 10514
(914) 238-3928
Friday, December 3
5:30 p.m.: Party celebration: songs, crafts, dreidels, dinner and fun for the entire family. $10 fee per person, please RSVP.
6:45 p.m.: Candle lighting: special outdoor ceremony consecrating Beth El’s new facility.
7:15 p.m.: Shabbat family worship service.
Pleasantville
Pleasantville Community Synagogue (Non-denominational)215 Bedford Road
Pleasantville NY
(914) 769-2672
Wednesday, December 1
7:00 p.m.: Healing Service: Rededicating Our Souls
Thursday, December 2
6:15 p.m.: School Chanukah Celebration
Friday, December 3
7:00 p.m.: Chanukah Tot Shabbat
7:15 p.m.: Shabbat Service and Chanukah Service
600 Bear Ridge Road
Pleasantville NY
(914) 741-0333
Sunday, December 5
12:00 p.m.: Chanukah Gift Factory and Shalom Sesame Launch Party
Make gifts to give to family and friends for the holidays in our incredible Gift Factory
▪ 12:15 and 1:15 p.m. screenings of Shalom Sesame
▪ Help fashion a Miracle Quilt with things you are thankful for during this “Season of Miracles”
▪ Create edible dreidels
▪ Eat latkes and other treats
▪ Make gifts to give less fortunate children at The Cottage Schools of the Jewish Child Care Association in Pleasantville
Shalom Sesame Launch Party: Can Grover Find the Missing Menorah?
Join the Rosenthal JCC (and some 115 other JCCs across the continent) as Middle East meets West with some very special – and occasionally furry – guests from a new series set in Israel from the creators of Sesame Street.
Bedford/Katonah
Temple Shaaray Tefila (Reform)89 Baldwin Road
Bedford Corners NY
(914) 666-3133
Friday, December 3
6:30 p.m.: Spiritual fun-filled evening; Traditional holiday dinner.
7:30 p.m.: Shabbat service and congregational menorah lighting ceremony.
Sunday, December 5
10:30 a.m.: Family Chanukah program including ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner, puppet partners and more. Brunch. No charge, but please bring an unwrapped toy for the UJA/Federation toy drive.
Thursday, December 9
12:00 noon: Lunch n’ Learn: A presentation of Chanukah music old and new. Cantor Herman was a professional musician for many years: a pianist and singer working in popular music as a bandleader, sideman, studio musician and composer. He is currently full-time Hazzan at Bet Torah of Mt. Kisco.
Lunch will be served at Temple Shaaray Tefila. The cost is $12, which should be sent to Temple Shaaray Tefila, 89 Baldwin Road, Bedford Corners, New York 10549. Payment is required by the firm cut off date of December 2. Your check is your reservation. Sorry, no walk-ins.
133 Railroad Road
Bedford Hills
(914) 666-6065
Call for information.
Armonk
Congregation B’nai Yisrael (Reform)
2 Banksville Road
Armonk NY 10504
(914) 273-2220
Call for information.
Mt. Kisco
Bet Torah (Conservative)60 Smith Avenue
Mt. Kisco, NY
(914) 666-7595
Saturday, December 11
8:00 p.m.: A Festival of F(Light), an evening of rock, jazz and world music as Bet Torah soars to new heights with an all-star cast of musicians featuring Cantor Randy Herman, Magda Fishman and The Guthrie Brothers.
$10 for non-members.
Briarcliff Manor
Congregation Sons of Israel (Conservative)1666 Pleasantville Road
Briarcliff Manor, NY
(914) 762-2700
Monday, December 6
4:00 p.m.: Chanukah program
7:00 p.m. Latke Palooza
11 Orchard Road
Briarcliff Manor, NY
Wednesday, December 1
6:00 p.m.: Pocket Park Menorah Lighting (near Chilimark Flowers) in Briarcliff; music, refreshments and dancing.
Thursday, December 2
6:00 p.m.: Pocket Park Menorah Lighting at Village Hall in Sleepy Hollow. Music, refreshments and dancing.
Sunday, December 5
12:15 p.m.: Hoop n’ Hanukah at Briarcliff Manor Middle School with basketball wizard Jack Ryan; latkes and donuts. Tickets are $7.00.
Pound Ridge/ South Salem
Pound Ridge Jewish Community (Reform)Services at Stevens Memorial
Route 123 and Shady Lane
South Salem
(914) 234-6635
Call for information.
Please note that times are subject to change.
Great overview. Look forward to your coverage of Christmas services as well!
