Hanukkah 2015 is just a few short days away and the best part of this Hanukkah (besides the latkes, dreidels, presents, and gelt mmm….gelt)–is that it includes two weekends this year, giving us even more time to spin our dreidel.
In order to help you get in the holiday mood, we’ve rounded up a list of family-friendly Hanukkah events throughout the NY metropolitan area that are scheduled for the first half of this eight day festival of lights (and delicious fried food.) Busy this weekend? Not to fear, we will be serving up another list of events happening during the latter half of the holiday next week.
Hanukkah 2015 begins at sundown on Sunday, December 6th, and continues until sundown on Monday, December 14th.
Brooklyn
Hanukkah Workshop with Dreamcoat Experience
PJ Library and Dreamcoat Experience come together for an interactive Hanukkah workshop with movement, puppetry, and storytelling. For children ages 3 – 6 yrs. and their grown-ups. RSVP requested.
Park Slope Jewish Center, 1320 8th Avenue @ 14th St.
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 – 11:45 a.m.
Olive Pressing Workshop
Learn about the ancient art of olive-pressing and make your own olive oil and hand-made wicks to use in a Hanukkah menorah. Free with museum admission.
Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway
Sundays, Dec. 6 & 13, Sessions @ 12:30 & 2 p.m.
Hanukkah – A Miracle of Wonders
Crafts, cooking, sports, and a group candle lighting ceremony.
Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, 7802 Bay Parkway
Sunday, Dec. 6, 12:30 – 3 p.m.
Bronx
Hanukkah Gym-Bo
Begin your morning with bouncy time in the gym followed by a Hanukkah celebration, make-your-own-menorah craft, a Hebrew story time, and brunch.
Riverdale Y, 5625 Arlington Avenue, Bronx
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Manhattan
Upper East Side
Family Havdalah & “Maccabee Mishegoss” with Jonathan Geffner!
Say goodbye to Shabbat with a family Havdalah ceremony and then get ready to laugh during ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner’s, “Maccabee Mishegoss” show. A light dinner will be served. RSVP requested but not required.
Congregation Or Zarua, 127 East 82nd. Street
Saturday Dec. 5, 5:20 – 7 p.m.
92Y Hanukkah Festival
Make your own dreidels, menorahs, and holiday cards and burn off some energy with Hanukkah games and activities.
92 Y, 1395 E Lexington Ave
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Hanukkah Celebration & Latke Dinner
Celebrate Hanukkah with candle lighting, songs, and a latke dinner. RSVP required.
Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 East 51st St.
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Upper West Side
A Rocking Hanukkah Celebration for All Ages
Hanukkah crafts for kids, followed by “Any Way You Light It”, a concert by renowned Jewish singer and songwriter Naomi Less. Concert to be followed by holiday treats. RSVP requested.
West Side Institutional Synagogue, 190 Amsterdam Ave. @ 69th St.
Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 – 6 p.m.
PJ Library Challah for Hunger Kick-Off & Hanukkah Storytelling
Get excited for Hanukkah with crafts, stories, Hanukkah treats and a challah taste test. Also learn about Congregation Rodeph Sholom’s new Challah for Hunger program – a new series of monthly family challah baking experiences designed to raise money to fight hunger.
Book Culture, Columbus Ave.
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m.
Young Families Hanukkah Celebration
Experience an interactive Hanukkah show with Dreamcoat Experience featuring singing, dancing, and the miracles of the holiday. Hanukkah treats and community candle lighting after the show. RSVP requested.
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, 270 West 89th Street,
Monday, Dec. 7, 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.
Washington Heights/Inwood
Hanukkah Celebration @ the Y
Celebrate Hanukkah with live music, holiday treats, face painting, crafts, and PJ Library story time.
YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, 54 Nagle Ave
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Long Island
Hanukkah Extravaganza
Carnival games, face painting, live entertainment, and Hanukkah treats. RSVP requested.
HANC Plainview, 25 Country Drive, Plainview
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Bagels & Blox–Hanukkah
A Hanukkah celebration with PJ Library story time, free play, crafts, and music and movement. For children ages 0 – 5, RSVP requested.
Temple Judea, 333 Searingtown Road, Manhasset
Sunday, Dec. 6, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Hanukkah Happening & Summer Camp Fair
Hanukkah crafts, singing and treats. After you celebrate, daydream about summer while checking out
Jewish day camp and sleepaway options.
The Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Avenue, Huntington
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friedberg JCC Community Hanukkah Celebration
Celebrate Hanukkah with live entertainment, candle lighting, crafts, face painting, and Hanukkah treats.
Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Court, Oceanside
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hands-On Hanukkah – two locations
Drop by the Smith Haven mall or Walt Whitman mall for Jewish Without Wall’s annual Hanukkah fun complete with cookie decorating, appearances by Jester Jim and JoJo the Dreidel, crafts, face painting, music, and community service projects.
Smith Haven Mall, 313 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove
Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 – 4 p.m.
Hanukkah Candle Lighting
Join Sid Jacobson JCC each weeknight of Hanukkah for candle lighting, songs, crafts, and holiday treats.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills
Monday – Thursday, Dec. 7 – 10, 4:45 p.m.
Family Hanukkah Sing-A-Long with Sifriyat Pijama & The Schechter School of Long Island
Warm up your spirits and voices with Hanukkah songs and Hanukkah treats while exploring different holiday customs from around the world. RSVP requested.
Schechter School of Long Island-Lower School, 1 Barbara Lane, Jericho
Monday, Dec. 7, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Hanukkah Story Time
PJ Library story time with Shelter Rock Jewish Center
Barnes & Noble, 1542 Northern Blvd, Manhasset
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5 – 6 p.m.
Westchester
Taters without Tots
Sip some wine at this grown-ups only event while you make latkes and bake rugelach with a variety of toppings. RSVP requested.
Baked by Susan, 163 Grand Street, Croton-On-Hudson
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Little Ones Laughs, Latkes and Lights
Get in a Hanukkah mood with latkes, crafts, games, music, and candle lighting. RSVP requested
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, 2125 Westchester Avenue East, Rye
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.
