Temple News

Ready or not – Chanukah is here!  Chanukah is our annual Winter Festival of Light.  It begins tomorrow evening, December 7, and lasts for eight nights and days.  We remember our people’s fight for religious freedom and their miraculous victory over their enemies.  As we light the candles of our Chanukiot we remember the miracle of our survival – despite all who have sought our destruction – and add hope to our lives.  In that spirit, I think we really need Chanukah this year.

So this evening we will prepare for Chanukah.  At 6pm, Sisterhood is hosting a “Vodka & Latkes” event at Temple.  At 7pm during Wednesday Night Live on Zoom we will discuss the holiday of Chanukah, including its story, history, traditions, and meaning for today.  Are all welcome to join with me.

I also want to invite everyone to join us for “Chanukah on the Avenue,” this Friday evening, December 8, beginning at 6:00pm.  We will start with the lighting of our outdoor menorah on St. Charles Avenue.  Then we will come inside for latkes, brisket, salad, and sufganiot (jelly doughnuts).  At 7:00pm we will gather in the Sanctuary for our special Shabbat of Chanukah Family Service, which this year will include our Children’s Choir, as well as members of the Panorama Band.  It will be a fun and exciting evening for all ages – we hope that you will plan on joining us.  Please help us by making a reservation for dinner on the Temple website.

The Chanukah celebrations will continue on Sunday morning with our Chavurah@Sinai students and Bim Bam Kids Club.  Classes begin at our regular 9:00am start time, and the festivities will kick off at 10:15am and end around 11:30am.  I am sure it will be a wonderful time.

There are many community Chanukah events throughout the eight days – please check out our website, weekly e-blast, as well as the Jewish Federation calendar for more information.

Many families have the tradition of exchanging gifts during Chanukah.  As you are searching for presents, I hope you will keep in mind our December Sinai Tzedek Project: this month we are collecting NEW cold-weather apparel (coats, hats, gloves, socks, and blankets) for the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter.  You can drop items off in the collection bin in the Temple lobby.  Thank you for your support!

I want to wish everyone a very happy Chanukah!