Chanukah happenings - The Jewish Standard

Public lightings, special needs programming, gift-bringing (not just giving), and lots of latkes make up the Chanukah events taking place throughout our area beginning this Sunday. As of press time, here are the highlights, as assembled by Lois Goldrich and Beth Chananie:

December 10

Temple Beth-El in Jersey City will hold a Chanukah tot Shabbat, 10:30 -11:30 a.m. For pre-school children and their parents, it will be led by Sam Pesin, and includes storytelling, arts and crafts, music, and refreshments. Each child must be accompanied by at least one parent. (201) 333-4229 or office@betheljc.org.

December 11

The Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County in New Milford presents “Hanukkah-Fest with ShirLaLa in Concert,” 10 a.m. ShirLaLa features “outrageously hip, Jewish kiddie-rocker” Shira Kline, who combines teaching, storytelling, and performing. “Hanukkah-Fest” is a festival for the entire family, including arts and crafts activities, carnival games, and Chanukah-themed snacks. Free. (201) 262-9898, ext. 213, or e-mail events@ssdsbergen.org.

Temple Emanu-El in Bayonne will hold its pre-Chanukah family celebration, 2 – 4 p.m. Included will be baking and decorating Chanukah cookies. Free event, but pre-registration is required so there are enough supplies on hand. Charlene, (201) 437-7926 or (201) 436-4499.

Temple Avodat Shalom in River Edge celebrates Chanukah with performer Matty Roxx. There is a preschool party at 10:30 a.m., for 2- to 5-year-olds and their parents; and an interactive Chanukah concert for all ages – “Latkepalooza Tour” with Roxx at 11:30. Free. (201) 489-2463, ext. 201.

Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne holds “Chanukah: The Maccabees Go to the Sanctuary,” a family workshop for pre-k and kindergarten families, 10:30 a.m. (973) 595-6565.

The Wayne Y offers a variety of activities for children and families including a magic show with Wonderfun and a dance party with Mr. Eli, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Crafts, chocolate making, face painting, and games are all on the menu. Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Y’s Holiday Toy Drive. Sponsored in part by Sari Gross, recipient of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey’s Marge Bornstein Award for Volunteerism. (973) 595-0100, ext. 228.

Shirah, the Community Chorus on the Palisades, performs a Chanukah concert at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, 3 p.m. (201) 408-1465, or www.jccotp.org/thurnauer.

December 16

Temple Beth El in Jersey City will hold a pre-Chanukah family service and celebration from 7:30- 9 p.m. The event will include Shabbat and Chanukah prayers, songs and story, followed by latkes and games. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or game to donate to a local holiday toy drive. (201) 333-4229 or office@betheljc.org.

December 18

Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley in Woodcliff Lake presents “Moishe & Mendel’s Miracles: A Hanukkah Musical” – billed as a multi-generational theater experience, 10 a.m. Free. (201) 391-0801.

Temple Emanuel of North Jersey in Franklin Lakes hosts a community-wide Chanukah party with entertainment, games, and lunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is an unwrapped toy donation for underprivileged children, or a recipe for a recipe exchange. (201) 560-0200.

Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff offers “Chanukah Fun Day” and a concert, 11:30 a.m. A candle-lighting ceremony with the TBR Youth Choir and Zemer Rishon will be followed by a luncheon, games, and crafts. (201) 891-4466 or templeoffice@bethrishon.org.

Lubavitch on the Palisades will hold a family Pre-Chanukah party at 11:30 a.m., at 11 Harold St., Tenafly. (201) 871-1152 or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

Temple Beth El of Northern Valley in Closter holds a Chanukah party sponsored by the men’s club, 11:45 am. Pizza and drinks, public lighting. (201) 768-5112.

December 20

Bris Avrohom – Cong. Shomrei Torah Ohel Yosef Yitzchok of Hillside will sponsor a public lighting at 3:30 p.m. at Jersey City Town Hall, 280 Grove St.

The annual Bayonne Town Center public lighting takes place at 4 p.m. Light the first candle, sing the prayers and Chanukah songs, at the Networking Cafe: 418 Broadway (corner of 19th Street).

Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn offers a Jteen Chanukah Bowl, 5 p.m., at 30-02 Fair Lawn Ave. (201) 791-7200 or www.JewishFairLawn.org.

Chabad of NWBC hosts a public lighting at Wyckoff Town Hall, 5:30 p.m. Entertainment, hot Chanukah refreshments, and glow-giveaways. (201) 848-0449, or www.chabadplace.org.

Shomrei Torah in Wayne invites the community to celebrate the first night of Chanukah with a candle-lighting ceremony, latkes, and hot chocolate at 5:45 p.m. (973) 696-2500, or www.ShomreiTorahWCC.org.

The Friendship Circle sponsors a public lighting at 6 p.m. at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus. (201) 262-7172 or visit www.bcfriendship.com.

Temple Israel Community Center | Congregation Heichal Yisrael in Cliffside Park, which also serves Edgewater and surrounding communities, hosts two public lightings: 6 p.m., in front of the Cliffside Park Borough Hall; 6:30 p.m., in Edgewater’s Memorial Park, at the intersection of River Road and Route 5. (201) 945-7310.

River Vale Township and Valley Chabad host a Chanukah public lighting in front of the River Vale Town Hall at 6 p.m. A reception follows inside the council chambers with latkes, doughnuts, chocolate Chanukah gelt, and dreidels. (201) 476-0157 or www.valleychabad.org/chanukah.

The Chabad Jewish Center of Upper Passaic County holds a “Fire on Ice” community Chanukah party. An ice sculptor will carve a large chanukiah, followed by the lighting, latkes and doughnuts, chocolate Chanukah gelt, and crafts. Haskell Towne Center, 1069 Ringwood Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Rabbi Mendy, (201) 696-7609 or rabbi@jewishhighlands.com.

Lubavitch on the Palisades holds a public lighting in Closter at the corner of Piermont and Ruckman roads, 7 p.m. (201) 871-1152, or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

December 21

The Friendship Circle sponsors a Chanukah party for special needs children and their families at 310 South Drive, Paramus, 5 p.m. Volunteers will be on hand to ensure that the event meets the particular needs of the children. (201) 262-7172, or www.bcfriendship.com.

Valley Chabad invites families to help build and light the “world’s largest” Lego Menorah at Tice’s Corner Mall Community Center, 411 Chestnut Ridge Road in Woodcliff Lake, 5-7 p.m. Latkes, donuts, chocolate, candy, arts and crafts, and raffle of Lego clocks and watches sponsored by ClicTime. A designated section of the chanukiah will be built by Friendship Circle teen volunteers and their special friends. (201) 476-0157 or www.valleychabad.org/chanukah.

The Friendship Circle of Passaic County holds a Chanukah party for special needs children, “Bop till you Drop,” at JumpNasium, in Fairfield, for Jewish children from Passaic County, 6 p.m. Volunteers on hand to help. Goody bags, public lighting. Siblings welcome. (973) 694-6274, or www.fcpassaiccounty.com.

Lubavitch on the Palisades sponsors a public lighting in Demarest at the gazebo at the Demarest Duck Pond, 7 p.m. (201) 871-1152 or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

December 22

Valley Chabad lights the public chanukiah in Ramsey, at Ramsey Center, at the intersection of North Spruce and East Main Street, 6 p.m. Donuts, latkes, and music will all be on hand. (201) 476-0157 or www.valleychabad.org/chanukah.

Chabad Jewish Center of Upper Passaic County sponsors a public lighting at 7 p.m. at Wanaque Town Hall, 579 Ringwood Ave. (201) 696-7609 or www.JewishHighlands.com.

Lubavitch on the Palisades sponsors a public lighting in Cresskill in front of the Cresskill library, 7 p.m. (201) 871-1152 or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn will sponsor an adult Chanukah cafÃ© at 30-02 Fair Lawn Ave., 8 p.m. (201) 791-7200 or www.JewishFairLawn.org.

December 23

Temple Beth Or in Washington Township celebrates Chanukah and Shabbat with a “Lots of Lights” service, 6 p.m. A latke pre-oneg begins at 5:30. (201) 664-7422 or www.templebethornj.org.

Temple Sinai of Bergen County in Tenafly holds a Shabbat Chanukah dinner and family service starting 6 p.m. (201) 568-3075 or educationoffice@templesinaibc.org.

Cong. B’nai Jacob in Jersey City hosts a community dinner and Friday Night Live service at 6:15 p.m. Songs, latkes, and sufganiyot. (201) 435-5725 or bnaijacobjc.org.

Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel in Maywood holds a family-friendly kosher Chinese Chanukah dinner and celebration starting at 6:15 p.m. Student Cantor Lois Kittner will lead Shabbat and Chanukah songs and prayers. (201) 845-7550, ext. 1, or www.rtbi-online.org.

Temple Beth El of Northern Valley in Closter celebrates Chanukah starting at 6:30 pm. Latkes and cookies served. (201) 768-5112 or www.tbenv.org.

Temple Emeth of Teaneck holds its annual family Shabbat for Chanukah, beginning with dinner, 6:15 p.m.; services at 8. Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Center for Food Action. (201) 833-1322 or www.emeth.org.

Temple Beth El in Jersey City sponsors a Chanuka event at 8 p.m. (201) 333-4229.

December 24

Temple Israel Community Center | Congregation Heichal Yisrael in Cliffside Park (207 Edgewater Road), hosts a special Chanukah kiddush and luncheon following services (which begin at 9:30 a.m.). (201) 945-7310.

December 25

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly has a Chanukah Latkepalooza, 10 a.m.-noon. Musical performance by Matty Roxx followed by candle-lighting, crafts, pizza, sufganiyot, and latkes. (201) 408-1467.

Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn offers a “Chanukah Wonderland” at 30-02 Fair Lawn Ave., noon. (201) 791-7200 or www.JewishFairLawn.org.

Chabad of Fort Lee hosts a Chanukah celebration at 1 p.m. featuring acrobat Xaio Di from Asia. Refreshments and a light lunch. 808 Abbott Blvd. (201) 886-1238 or www.chabadfortlee.com.

Lubavitch on the Palisades sponsors a family Chanukah festival featuring the Jerusalem Boys Choir at 11 Harold St., Tenafly, 4 p.m. Dreidels, jelly doughnuts, and latkes will be available. (201) 871-1152 or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

December 26

Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck hosts a Chanukah concert wtih Shlock Rock, 3 p.m., to benefit Project Ezrah. (201) 836-6210, www.bethaaron.org/shlockrock/index.html, or shan1yael@yahoo.com.

The Friendship Circle hosts a public lighting at Petruska Park in Paramus, 6 p.m. (201) 262-7172 or www.bcfriendship.com.

Lubavitch on the Palisades holds a public lighting in Tenafly at Huyler Park, 7 p.m. (201) 871-1152 or www.chabadlubavitch.org.

December 27

The Friendship Circle hosts a public lighting at Bergen Town Center in Paramus, 6 p.m. (201) 262-7172 or www.bcfriendship.com.