Shira and Dan Teich celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah, and the Jewish value of Kibud Av Va’Em (Honoring Your Parents)

Watch Shira and Dan’s Video!

Activity ideas:  Give gifts to parents and grandparents; adopt an elder who doesn’t have children for the evening or more; tell stories about family, maybe craft projects honoring family who have died; make a coupon book of things you will do for a parent or grandparent in the coming year; visit the graves of parents or grandparents who have died and leave a stone; buy a gift from Yad L’Kashish (Lifeline to the Elderly) in Israel or volunteer with or donate to Friends of Seniors!

Watch for these videos every morning in your inbox, or check the  Vassar Temple YouTube Channel.

We hope that you will join in the celebration by lighting, and celebrating these mitzvot, in your own homes!

How to Light Chanukah Candles

You can also celebrate religious freedom by joining Women of the Wall’s “It’s My Right To Light” Campaign, which is fighting for the inclusion of women in Israel’s national Chanukiyah lighting ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Don’t forget….Annual Chanukah Dinner and Service Friday 12/11
5:30 p.m. Annual pot-luck dinner. Bring a dairy dish for 12; Sisterhood will provide latkes, applesauce, challah, salad and beverages. Cost: $18 per family or $6 per individual. RSVP by Tuesday 12/8 to Roni Stein 223-5804 or roniagt99@aol.com Send your check to Vassar Temple Sisterhood with “Chanukah Dinner” on the memo line.

7:00 p.m. Our beautiful family-friendly Chanukah Menorah-Lighting Shabbat service, to which everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a menorah and candles.

More Chanukah resources:

Union for Reform Judaism Chanukah Resources Page

My Jewish Learning Chanukah Resource Page

May your Chanukah be filled with light and joy, and may we all bring light and joy to those who need it most!

Marsha and Glenn Tanzman celebrate the third night of Chanukah, and the Jewish value of Hoda’ah (Gratitude)

Watch Marsha and Glenn’s Video!

Activity ideas:  Write a thank you card to someone who isn’t expecting it; write a thank you card to another member of the household; make a list of things for which we are grateful, then make a “bouquet” of those things by making paper flowers and writing the items on them and use it to decorate the table next Shabbat; play the ABC Gratitude game as a family (name something for which you are grateful for each letter of the alphabet); see how many times you can say “thank you” to people during the day. Support an organization that sustains families, such as our local domestic violence shelter, Grace Smith House www.gracesmithhouse.org or Habitat for Humanity www.habitatdutchess.com

Watch for these videos every morning in your inbox, or check the  Vassar Temple YouTube Channel.

We hope that you will join in the celebration by lighting, and celebrating these mitzvot, in your own homes!

How to Light Chanukah Candles

You can also celebrate religious freedom by joining Women of the Wall’s “It’s My Right To Light” Campaign, which is fighting for the inclusion of women in Israel’s national Chanukiyah lighting ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Don’t forget….Annual Chanukah Dinner and Service Friday 12/11
5:30 p.m. Annual pot-luck dinner. Bring a dairy dish for 12; Sisterhood will provide latkes, applesauce, challah, salad and beverages. Cost: $18 per family or $6 per individual. RSVP by Tuesday 12/8 to Roni Stein 223-5804 or roniagt99@aol.com Send your check to Vassar Temple Sisterhood with “Chanukah Dinner” on the memo line.

7:00 p.m. Our beautiful family-friendly Chanukah Menorah-Lighting Shabbat service, to which everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a menorah and candles.

More Chanukah resources:

Union for Reform Judaism Chanukah Resources Page

My Jewish Learning Chanukah Resource Page

May your Chanukah be filled with light and joy, and may we all bring light and joy to those who need it most!

Introducing….

VASSAR TEMPLE CHANUKAH – 8 EIGHT NIGHTS OF MITZVOT

Chag Urim Sameach (Happy Festival of Lights)!

This Chanukah, the Vassar Temple Ritual Committee is performing Eight Mitzvot (Commandments) for Eight Nights of Chanukah.

Each night, a different member of our committee will be lighting the Chanukiyah (Chanukah menorah) and performing a special mitzvah for the day.

Watch for these videos every morning in your inbox, or check the  Vassar Temple YouTube Channel.

We hope that you will join in the celebration by lighting, and celebrating these mitzvot, in your own homes!

You can also celebrate religious freedom by joining Women of the Wall’s “It’s My Right To Light” Campaign, which is fighting for the inclusion of women in Israel’s national Chanukiyah lighting ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

May your Chanukah be filled with light and joy, and may we all bring light and joy to those who need it most.

Happy Chanukah,

Rabbi Leah R. Berkowitz

Sandra Mamis, Ritual Committee Chair, Vassar Temple

Video: Sandra Mamis and David Hecht explain the rituals of Chanukah, and the Jewish value of Nedivut (Generosity)

Activity ideas: Go shopping for a needy family; shop for a local “Toys for Tots” drive or for a food bank; visit an animal shelter and give them your old towels and sheets for bedding

Helpful Hints: How to Light Chanukah Candles

Don’t forget….Annual Chanukah Dinner and Service Friday 12/11
5:30 p.m. Annual pot-luck dinner. Bring a dairy dish for 12; Sisterhood will provide latkes, applesauce, challah, salad and beverages. Cost: $18 per family or $6 per individual. RSVP by Tuesday 12/8 to Roni Stein 223-5804 or roniagt99@aol.com Send your check to Vassar Temple Sisterhood with “Chanukah Dinner” on the memo line.

7:00 p.m. Our beautiful family-friendly Chanukah Menorah-Lighting Shabbat service, to which everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a menorah and candles.

More Chanukah resources:

Union for Reform Judaism Chanukah Resources Page

My Jewish Learning Chanukah Resource Page