This Hanukkah, members of our community were once again able to come together and celebrate the holiday in person, a beloved tradition missed dearly since the pandemic began. The Jewish Federation and its neighborhood Kehillot brought together more than 1,900 people across our community for joyful, safe, family-friendly celebrations of the Festival of Lights. Following a year and a half of isolation, these cross-denominational events were an incredible way to knit our community more closely together and share the light of the holiday in the public square.
Local cantors brought warmth and joy with Hanukkah songs at the Old York Road Community Hanukkah Lighting.
The Kehillah of Center City Hanukkah Candle Lighting included a meaningful and joyous candle lighting and tasty jelly donuts in Rittenhouse Square Park.
The Kehillah of Bucks County Community Candle Lighting at Shady Brook Farm included crafts, singing, candle lighting and goodie bags, and was sponsored by the Bucks County Kehillah, Temple Micah and Shady Brook Farm.
The Kehillah of Lower Merion, Israeli American Council (IAC), Adath Israel and Kaiserman JCC spread the light together with Havdalah, a light show, DJ, prizes, art contest and featured special guest Linda White, the founder and creator of Imagination Play Project.
More than 700 people came together with the Kehillah of Buxmont and other local organizations for the Chanukah Unite festival. The event featured bouncy castles, games, candle lighting and fireworks – a much needed community celebration following the devastation of Hurricane Ida.
The Northeast Jewish Life Community Chanukah Celebration included music by Eliyahu Bass, latkes and other nosh by House of Kosher and candle lighting by various community members – one of the community’s first cross-denominational gatherings in quite some time.
The Kehillah of Chester County promoted two menorah lighting organized by The Chabad Lubavitch of Chester County and the Western Main Line: on the steps of the Historic Chester County Courthouse building in West Chester (where Kehillah of Chester County Chair Dave Gold lit the menorah), and at the Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook.
The Kehillah of Delaware County promoted Rabbi Tzvi Altein's (Chabad of Northern Delaware County - Broomall) Hanukkah Village event in Media and the menorah lighting event that Rabbi Yudi Gerber (Chabad in Aston) hosted at Glen Eagle Square in Glen Mills.