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We hope you enjoy this special Chanukah Connections filled with Kehillah events, candle lighting information, food tips, and much more.
Have a wondrous, light-filled holiday!
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Chanukah
Join us to celebrate!
 KABBALAT SHABBAT Friday, December 20
6:00 p.m.
Pre-Oneg in the Goldfarb Family Bistro
featuring latkes and other light bites;
6:30 p.m
Kabbalat Shabbat (please note early time!), with YEP! students singing Chanukah songs;
Oneg following services
Sufganiyot (jelly donuts), chocolate gelt, and other delights for our early celebration of Chanukah!
Please RSVP to Renee by Thursday.
CHANUKAH IN CAREFREE
Tuesday, December 24
5:30 p.m.
Congregation Kehillah member Scarlett Allison will represent Kehillah at the Town of Carefree Chanukah Celebration. Get all the details from the flier here!
Made your RSVP? Put both items in your calendar? Now read on for our annual collection of Chanukah wit & wisdom!
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When do we light the first candle?
Light the first candle of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22 (25 Kislev), at sunset or after sunset.
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Which way do you put in & light the candles? I can never remember!
Add candles to the chanukiah from right to left (like Hebrew writing).
But light them (with the shamash) from left to right -- think of it as "welcoming" the newest candle first, like a gracious host!
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Uhh.... I can't remember the prayers!
We understand! Chanukah comes but once a year!
Need a friendly reminder on how to light the chanukiah and what prayers to recite? Here are some links Rabbi Sharfman wants to share with you, and you can also listen to the prayers chanted by a Cantor.
Too tired from holiday prepping to click? Here you go:
First blessing
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.
Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who sanctified us by the commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah.
Second blessing
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who wrought miracles for our ancestors in days of old, at this season.
Add this third blessing on the first night only
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, shehecheyanu, v'kiyimanu, v'higiyanu la'zman hazeh.
Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.
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Wait! What do we do on Friday, when we light candles for Shabbat, too?
Easy peasy!
On Friday night, light the Chanukah candles before the Shabbat candles. And then on Saturday night, make Havdalah first, to end Shabbat; then light the Chanukah candles.
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I'm still a little lost
If you haven't celebrated Chanukah since you were a kid
~ OR ~
if you've never celebrated Chanukah
~ OR ~
if you're celebrating with friends or family who aren't Jewish
~ OR ~
if you want to help non-Jews learn more about Chanukah
~ OR ~
if you're looking for some fresh ideas . . .
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Did someone say "food"?
First, the basics: potato latkes and sufganiyot. Here's a great, basic latke recipe from Tori Avey, and a yummy sufganiyot recipe (with video) from Joan Nathan.
But why stop there? For Chanukah food ideas from around the world, see this article (with recipes) by food writer and filmmaker Susan Barocas.
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You're not going to write about food without writing about chocolate, are you?
You don't know us very well, do you? We would never do that.
We encourage you to enjoy guilt-free gelt by making sure your chocolate is certified "Fair Trade." This ensures that the
supply chain is
free of child labor and forced labor, and that farmers were paid a sustainable
price for their cocoa. You can
find Fair Trade items for Chanukah and other holidays here.
Cartoon from The New Yorker
If you're curious about how the tradition of Chanukah gelt originated, you can read this short explainer in the time it takes one chocolate coin to melt on your tongue. (Or why not read slowly & enjoy another coin?) |
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Children of all species are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Chanukah
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Sing it! (Or just listen)
This year's break-out Chanukah song is again by Six13, and it's Star Wars-themed (in case the image at left didn't clue you in).
P.S. - If it feels like there are way more Chanukah songs now than when you were just a little pisher, there's a reason for that.
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Where history meets modernity
Chanukah harkens back to 200 B.C., but that doesn't mean all Chanukah menorahs do, too. Explore chanukiahs by designers, artists, and craftspeople here. |
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Chanukah stylin' for hip dudes & dudettes
But who are we to question anyone's sartorial choices for Chanukah, when a Google search of "ugly Hannukah sweater" yields over 50,000 results?
(By the way, a Google search of "ugly Chanukah sweater" -- using Kehillah's preferred spelling -- yields only 1,990 results. Discuss.)
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And now for something completely ... serious
We invite you to take a few quiet moments to reflect on the meaning of Chanukah in our lives today with the help of these essays: (written in 2016) |
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Rabbi Sharfman, Renee Joffe, Gil Blumenthal, the Board of Directors and all of Congregation Kehillah! We look forward to seeing you this Friday.
And may your lights shine, on Chanukah and always.
"A light for one is a light for a hundred."
~ Talmud
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Congregation Kehillah
602-369-7667
Mailing Address: 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. 1630 #439, Phoenix, AZ 85050 |
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