Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 BCE and the rededication of the temple which had been defiled by King Antiochus and his Syrian Greek army.
On each of the eight nights we light an additional candle, eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jellied donuts) and spin the dreidel (four-sided holiday top), all to commemorate our liberation from oppression, freedom to worship, and finding light in the darkest of times.
Here at Congregation Am HaYam, we have festive Hanukkah services and programming that includes singing, decorating the Synagogue, enjoying the holiday food, exploring Hanukkah poetry, and having special learning opportunities about Hanukkah and the themes it raises.
Check the calendar for dates, times and place
Hanukkah 5783/2022 at Congregation Am HaYam
Hanukkah with Congregation Am HaYam 5783/2022. We have lots of opportunities to celebrate the Festival of Lights with your CAH family! And, our Shabbat services on the Shabbat preceding Hanukkah (December 16-17) will be filled with the aura and joy of Hanukkah: Hanukkah songs, lore, learning, readings, and more! See it all on the chart below! You can print this off and place it on your refrigerator or add the dates you plan to join us on your personal calendar. In any event, we look forward to celebrating Hanukkah with you!
| Sunday, December 11 (via Zoom) 4:30-5:30 PM | Hanukkah Songfest with Andrea Massion | Come prepare for Hanukkah with new and familiar songs! |
| Friday, December 16 (Live and via YouTube) 8 PM | Services and Hanukkah Celebrated (Led by Rabbi Sacks and Student Rabbi Maayan Lev) | Services for Shabbat, including Hanukkah songs and special readings, followed by a Oneg with Hanukkah treats |
| Saturday, December 17 (Live and via YouTube) 10 AM | Services and Hanukkah Celebrated (Led by Rabbi Sacks and Student Rabbi Maayan Lev) | Services for Shabbat, including Hanukkah songs, special readings, and discussion, followed by a Kiddush luncheon, including latkes/potato pancakes! Please RSVP to Brenda.bashful16@gmail.com by December 14. |
| Monday, December 19 (via Zoom) 7-8 PM | “The Life, Thought, and Legacy of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel” (with Rabbi Sacks) | Second Night of Hanukkah: Hanukkah Community Candle Lighting |
| Wednesday, December 21 (via Zoom) 11 AM-12PM | “Snapshots in Jewish History” (with Student Rabbi Maayan Lev) | Third Day of Hanukkah |
| Thursday, December 22 (via Zoom) 7-8 PM | Using Our Character Strengths/Middot Class (with Fran Lande) | Fourth Day of Hanukkah Hanukkah Community Candle Lighting connecting middot (character strengths) to Hanukkah! |
Click Here to play our Hanukkah Word Search Game, created by Rabbi Sacks