“Best Hanukkah Events in New York City” – Time Out New York
This holiday season, Emanu-El members of all ages enjoyed a variety of events and celebrations prior to the Festival of Lights!
On Thursday, December 8, Emanu-El Downtown hosted a joy-filled Chanukah Fun House on West 21st Street. Babies, kids, and their grown-ups joined us for a faux candle lighting with Rabbi Sarah Reines and Cantor Sara Anderson, followed by a concert with Morgan from T’kiya (our Shabbat Together! teacher), CJ from Ramblin’ Dan’s, and a story time visit from Shaquanakah the Chanukah Llamakah.
Kids also enjoyed spin art, creating a city of light, and clay dreidel-making with Chelsea maker space The Giant Room. And of course, there was a donut robot, pizza, and latkes with plenty of applesauce for everyone. All attendees left with a llama, a Happy Llamukah book, dreidels, gelt, and candles to continue the celebration when Chanukah begins.
“This was an amazing time to come together to publicize the miracle of Chanukah and celebrate our emerging Emanu-El Downtown community” – Dina Mann, Director, Emanu-El Downtown
On Sunday, December 11, the Temple Emanu-El community gathered together to enjoy Legos, lights, latkes and more! Festivities began with Young Families: Chanukah Celebration in Greenwald Hall with Rabbi Ehrlich and Hadar Orshalimy and continued with a DJ-hosted dance party, treats from Pop-Up Bagels and Doughnuttery, Chanukah-themed Lego activities with Bricks 4 Kidz, a bounce house, ball pit, crafts–and a giant Lego menorah!
For adults, Warren Klein, Bernard Museum Curator, presented an illuminating lecture, “Let There Be Lights: Chanukah Lamps Through the Ages,” which was followed by an olive oil demonstration and tasting.
View the photo gallery, check out the links below for more press coverage, and learn more about Chanukah at Temple Emanu-El, which begins the evening of Sunday, December 18.
The Temple Emanu-El Chanukah Festival is made possible by the generous support of Sandra and Norman Pessin, Carolyn and Bruce Silberstein, Robert Fagenson, and Michael Israels and Family.
