Happy Chanukah Calgary!

I’ll be the first to admit that my only real exposure to Chanukah has come from television, and sadly, the Adam Sandler Chanukah Song from Saturday Night Live runs through my head as I write this.

Interested to learn more, I dug around and found that Calgary has a relatively small, but welcoming Jewish community.

Chanukah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that is observed for eight nights and days, which may occur at any time from late November to late December depending on how the calendar falls.  This  celebration commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC.

In 2012, Chanukah begins in the evening on Saturday, December 8 and ends in the evening on Sunday, December 16.

All Calgarians are welcome to join the celebration at the 24th annual Community Menorah Ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, December 11th at 5:30pm at the City Hall Atrium.

Families and friends will gather to share the light of Chanukah with special dignitaries from the City of Calgary, and representatives from our local Jewish organizations.

Highlights will include:

• Florence Shustack & members of ‘Take the Oy Train’

• School musical presentations by Akiva Academy & Calgary Jewish Academy Choirs

• Traditional, hot latkes  (For those who don’t know, latkes are delicious deep fried potato pancakes.  I wonder if they’ll be calling in the Stampede Caravan to help serve those puppies up?)

• Chanukah gelt for all children.  (I was not sure what gelt was until I Googled it.  As it turns out,  it refers to money, as well as chocolate coins, given to Jewish children during Chanukah.)

If you’re unable to attend this joyous event in person, you can watch it live from the comfort of your own home.  Details here.

A drop-off box for blankets, gloves, sleeping bags, scarves, parkas, and items of warm clothing will be available on-site where donations for Project Warmth will be gratefully accepted.

Tagged as: Chanukah, city hall, Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, Jewish Community Calgary, Menorah Lighting, Project Warmth