Chanukah 2023 at Congregation B’nai Israel

Love and Light! Thursday, December 7 through Thursday, December 14

From Menorah Contests and Sufganiyot to Candle Lightings and Latkes & Libations, create Chanukah memories with your CBI Family!

Scroll down to find out our Chanukah "ch"appenings.

events

Kantor Family Center for Justice Holiday Toy Drive

Friday, December 1 through Thursday, December 21

Help us spread the holiday spirit! We are collecting unwrapped toys and gift cards for children of all ages for our toy drive. Donations will be given to JAFCO Kids, Family Promise, and Give Back Christmas Feast to ensure children throughout the community have a toy to call their own this year.

Please drop off your donations in the blue bin in CBI’s Admin Circle during the below times or bring to Latkes & Libations, any Shabbat or Chanukarama.

  • Monday - Thursday: 9:30AM - 5PM
  • Friday: 9:30AM - 4PM

For questions, please call the office at 561.241.8118.

SLJ Family Menorah Contest

The Annual CBI Family Menorah Contest is an opportunity for parents and children to create a Jewish keepsake. It is our hope that families will work on the menorah together, learn and have fun together and create wonderful memories.

Please drop off your menorah in the SLJ office by Tuesday, December 5. Winners will be announced at Chanukah Shabbat on Friday, December 8.

NCECE Chanukarama

Sunday, December 3
3PM - 5PM

Come and enjoy carnival games and rides, a Mizfit Chanukah hip-hop dance class, latke market, arts & crafts by artNEST, DJ dance party, face painting, cookie decorating, jewelry making, popcorn chicken, hot dogs, falafel and carnival treats!

Please bring an unwrapped gift to donate to our toy drive.

Delray Beach Candle Lighting with CBI's Junior Choir

Thursday, December 7
6PM
Old School Square

Gather around for the majesty and tradition as we light the first Chanukah candle together as a community. The celebration will be hosted by City Commissioners and local rabbis, and will feature CBI's Junior Choir led by Miss Susan. Take part in the Festival of Lights and enjoy traditional holiday treats like latkes and sufganiyot, kids' arts and crafts, dreidels, and Chanukah gelt.

Light Up The Night Tot Shabbat

Friday, December 8
4:45PM - 6:15PM

Due to the number of anticipated attendees, doors will be open at 4:45pm to account for security procedures and the service will begin promptly at 5pm.

Please join us for a Shabbat service with Rabbi Keller followed by a kids dinner and a glow in the dark dance party featuring our DJ for the evening... Miss Susan!

Registration has closed for this event.

Chanukah Shabbat

Friday, December 8
6:30PM followed by Chanukah Oneg

Join us on the 2nd night of Chanukah for our family-friendly Chanukah Shabbat celebration! Let’s celebrate together with latkes and sufganiyot. We will announce the winners of our SLJ Menorah Contest and light our menorahs together.

Registration is required. 

PJ Library Light Up Chanukah Celebration

Wednesday, December 13
5:30PM - 7:30PM
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Campus

Join CBI Clergy, PJ Library, and the Jewish community for a Chanukah celebration including story time, arts & crafts, candle lighting and a concert.

Registration is required.

Latkes & Libations

Thursday, December 14
7PM
Pollock Family Courtyard

Celebrate the eighth night of Chanukah with our Clergy and your CBI for a Chanukiah lighting. Mix and mingle with some cocktails, latkes, and sufganiyot.

Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate to our toy drive benefitting local and Israeli children through the Kantor Family Center for Justice.

$18 for Members

$36 for Community Guests

Registration is required.

Volunteer at Town Center Mall's Give Back Christmas Feast

Monday, December 25

CBI partners with Town Center Mall and Boca Helping Hands to provide a holiday meal, toys and visit with Santa for members of our community.

CHANUKAH CHANDBOOK

The Meaning of Chanukah

The word “Chanukah” means “dedication” in Hebrew and commemorates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels (led by the Maccabees) over the armies of Syria and the subsequent liberation and “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem.

How to Play Dreidel

A favorite Chanukah activity is playing dreidel with friends and family. Legend attributes this custom to Jews during the time of the Chanukah story who would grab a dreidel and start to play if Syrian soldiers entered the house during Torah study or prayer. Four Hebrew letters — nun, gimel, hey, and shin — adorn the sides of the dreidel; they represent the words nes gadol hayah sham, meaning “a great miracle happened there.” If you don’t know how to play this family-favorite, click below for a video tutorial.

Chanukah Recipes

Foods fried in oil are traditionally eaten during Chanukah. In the Chanukah story they symbolize the miracle of oil that burned for eight days instead of one. Here are some yummy recipes that you can make with your family:

Lighting the Candles

The lighting of Chanukah candles goes according to a specific order and has blessings that accompany it.

On the first of Chanukah’s eight nights, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shammash, or “helper” candle, which has its own designated spot (usually in the center), and another candle. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Chanukah, nine candles (the shammas plus eight others) are lit.

The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (just as Hebrew is written), but are lit from left to right. The shammash candle is always the first one lit and is used to light the others, starting with the left-most one.

Before lighting the candles (but after placing them in the menorah), we recite the blessings. Click below to download a printable PDF of them.

Family-Friendly Chanukah Playlist

Whether you're hosting a Chanukah party or simply want to turn on some Jewish tunes as you light the candles with your family, this Spotify playlist will keep you rockin’ all Chanukah long!