Celebration begins for Hanukkah
Area events slated to commemorate Jewish festival
Sundown Sunday night marked the beginning of Hanukkah as people around the Valley geared up to celebrate.
For Rabbi Michael Beyo, CEO of the East Valley Jewish Community Center (JCC), Hanukkah is all about community.
Hanukkah is the eight-day “festival of lights”, beginning between late November and December; depending on where the 25th day of Kislev lands in the Jewish calendar. As a whole, Hanukkah honors the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem as well as a series of miracles, most famously including a one-day supply of oil to light the Temple’s menorah lasting eight days.
“One of the good things about the JCC is that we’re really open for the community. We’re not a religious institution, we’re Jewish culturally,” Beyo said. “We have many, many of our members that have been with us many years. We have families that are interfaith where one member of the family may or may not be Jewish and we’re all celebrating and sharing in this together.”
Beyo also noted the importance not only for him but for the community as a whole of establishing a “familyoriented” celebration for the holidays.
“That’s a beautiful part of everything that we do where we’re just here for the community and we’re happy to celebrate it together,” Beyo said.
This year, the East Valley JCC celebrated with a “Lots of Latkes” party beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
“By now we have over 100 people that have signed up to come,” Beyo said of the event. “We’re gonna have live music and something for the kids. We always do something like that for the community. Hanukkah is one of those Jewish holidays where there’s a lot of fun and excitement.”
That element of “fun” is what makes Hanukkah so special, Beyo noted, like playing dreidel, grandiose menorah lightings, large gatherings and the spread of favorites such as gelt, latkes and Sufganiyot.
Additionally, Beyo told The Arizona Republic about the East Valley JCC’s efforts to further connect with young people of faith via TikTok titled torah.tok.
“We’re starting a new series of TikTok about Jewish
history and Jewish culture with the first few starting on the story of Hanukkah,” Beyo said. “We’re gonna come out every day of the eight days with a new TikTok and we’re gonna continue this new program for the rest of the year with three or four videos a week,” Beyo said.
The campaign is aimed at engaging Gen Z or as Beyo calls it the “TikTok generation” in a fun and entertaining way by presenting stories and issues in a different way than traditionally taught.
Beyo continued by explaining the importance of connecting with younger generations in a no-nonsense way to further educate them on the reality of the Jewish faith.
“We’re doing it purposefully this way because I think that a lot of the youth are way smarter than the way I was when I was their age.” Beyo said.
Hanukkah events around the valley:
Community Menorah Lighting in Carefree When: Dec. 18-25 at 5:30 p.m. Where: Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy Street, Carefree, AZ 85377
Each night of Hanukkah, a 6.5-foottall menorah will be lit starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. Each night, a different community group or family will lead the lighting. Children will receive gift bags for each evening as well as chocolate Hanukkah gelt for everyone.
Menorah Lighting in Downtown Tempe
When: Monday, Dec. 19 at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: 24 E. Sixth Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
The first annual menorah lighting will be taking place at 6th Street Park on the second day of Hanukkah. Attendees will be able to get food from a kosher food truck from the Arizona Kosher Pantry.
Hanukkah at Crescent
When: Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. Where: 308 N. 2nd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Crescent Ballroom will be celebrating the fourth night of Hanukkah with live music, latkes, Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), Brooklyn Beer from New York City and a menorah lighting.