After the sun goes down tonight, Jews begin celebrating the eight-day festival of Hanukkah. Each evening, two short prayers will be recited, the menorah lit, the hymn “Ma’oz Tzur” (“Rock of Ages”) may be sung, thus ending the religious observance of the holiday. Then it’s time to party.
Most Hanukkah evenings are spent engaged in child-oriented activities – dining copiously on fried potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts, spinning the dreidel to see who wins the pot of gold chocolate coins. Then presents! Add in the increasingly popular lights and tinsel decorations and you might have the makings for a too-kid-friendly holiday.
So what’s a grownup to do? Playing a rousing game of dreidel isn’t quite as satisfying after the 25th year. Yet, there is that yearning to celebrate and rededicate one’s Jewish connections – and breathe free of kiddy activities.
Going out is a great option.
Roey Shoshan, director of young adults at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, said the JCC is planning lots of events for Hanukkah, including a nightly menorah lighting, but he is especially interested in engaging young adults, working to keep them involved during the years after they leave the nest and maybe wouldn’t come back to the JCC until they become parents themselves.
The JCC’s party, which will be on the rooftop bar at Shout in Midtown will include lighting the 6th candle of Hanukkah with the JCC’s Rabbi Brian Glusman. There will, of course, be latkes and jelly doughnuts, but the atmosphere will be hipper, with a DJ and cocktails as part of the festivities.
Hank Aldort of the Mosaic Outdoor Club of Georgia said he is looking forward to his group’s annual Hanukkah party at The Clubhouse at Academy Park in Alpharetta. The group, a generally older crowd which meets year-round for hiking, biking, kayaking and camping, is hosting a dinner to celebrate the festival.
“We’ll eat, because that’s kind of a Jewish thing to do,” Aldort said. “I came to Atlanta about 10 years ago and I got involved with Mosaic because we’re essentially another family.”
A new group, PunkTorah, also is looking forward to its first Hanukkah “meltdown,” said executive director Patrick Aleph. The event will feature live music and a No-Limit Texas Dreidel competition, a mash-up of poker and dreidel.
PunkTorah is a nonprofit for people who may have lapsed in in their observance of Judaism or in their synagogue attendance, Aleph said. “Maybe they’ve had bad experiences and are trying to find a way to come back on their own terms.”
In Atlanta for three years, the group offers eBooks, websites, Jewish music and kabalistic meditation. The group also operates an online synagogue, OneShul.org, with live streaming prayer services and other events to help Jews build connections, Aleph said.
“Working in an online community, we see how marginalized people are,” Aleph said. “People have 5,000 Facebook friends but nobody to call for the holidays.”
Judaism is about covenantal relationships, Aleph said. “You could say that Hanukkah has become connected with Christmas, but whenever it is, it’s a good time to connect with people. That’s the overriding principle of Judaism, people taking care of each other.”
Here is a calendar of the community events.
Synagogues have activities, as well, which were too numerous to mention. The events listed occur during Hanukkah and Christmas, a day because the Jewish community often uses for volunteering and acts of chesed, or loving-kindness.
5th Annual Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. 5:30 p.m. at the Downtown Woodstock Park. Hot latkes, chocolate gelt, lighting of the tallest menorah in northwest Cobb and Cherokee counties and greetings from elected officials. Chabad Jewish Center, 678-460-7702.
Grand Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Celebration. 4:30 p.m. Sunday. At the intersection of Virginia and Highland avenues. Chabad Intown, 404-898-0434.
Menorah Lighting in Downtown Decatur, 6 p.m. at the intersection of Clairemont and West Ponce de Leon avenues. Sponsored by Chabad Intown, 404-898-0434.
Georgia Aquarium Underwater Menorah Lighting. Every night during Hanukkah. 225 Baker Street N.W. 404-581-4000.
Klezmer Local 42. Athens-based klezmer band. $10 at the door. 8 p.m. Steve's Live Music. 234 Hilderbrand Dr. N.E., Sandy Springs. 404-418-6177.
Young Adults Vodka & Latkes, sponsored by Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 7 p.m. Thursday, Shout - Midtown, 1197 Peachtree St. N.E. Dancing and cocktails on the rooftop deck. $20 ($15 for JCC members). Includes one drink ticket, all-you-can-eat latkes and photo magnets. 678-812-4055, roey.shoshan@atlantajcc.org. Buy online: www.atlantajcc.org/pldb-live/adults/14126/?back=pldb_active.
Mosaic Annual Hanukkah Party.7 p.m. Dec. 15. The Clubhouse at Academy Park, Academy Street, Alpharetta. Members free/$10 nonmembers, $5 for teens and kids. Includes dinner, BYOB, bring a dessert to share. 770-312-4333. http://MosaicGA.com.
First Annual PunkTorah Southern-Fried Hanukkah Meltdown at Hub Atlanta, sponsored by OneShul Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish News, ModernTribe.com and Kopel Law Firm. Dec. 15, 7 p.m., 318 Cherokee Avenue S.E. Performance by Sunmoon Pie, Middle Eastern hors d'oeuvres, latkes, cash wine/beer bar, raffle, No Limit Texas Dreidel, gift swap ($5 to $10). $12 cover. Info: Patrick Aleph, patrick@punktorah.org. Buy online: http://punktorah.org/2012-hanukkah-party-sponsorship-page.
Shir Harmony 10th Anniversary Concert and Celebration. 3 p.m. Dec. 16, Steve's Live Music, 234 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs, $10. Shir Harmony, an Atlanta-based eight-member women's a cappella group will celebrate their 10th year as an all-female group, embodying the significance of music in the Jewish faith. www.steveslivemusic.com/shir-harmony-10th-anniversary-concert-and-celebration
ACCESS to Celebrations: A Gala Event to Support AJC ACCESS. 7 p.m. Dec. 16 Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd. N.W. Latke Bar, Hanukkah candle lighting, special guests, general reception. $36 minimum donation; $100 VIP early reception starts at 5:30 p.m. Includes entrance to the history center's "Passport to Celebrations" exhibits. Cocktail attire recommended. The event honors Georgia's political, diplomatic, community and religious leaders for their record of bridge-building. www.atlantahistorycenter.com/cms/Passport+to+Celebrations/491.html/.
Jew Jam 2012. 8 p.m. Dec. 24, Steve's Live Music, 234 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Net proceeds will benefit the Jewish Family & Career Services' Emergency Assistance Fund. $19.50 advance, $30 at the door (cash only). www.jewjam2012.com/.
B'nai Brith Annual Pinch Hitters Hospital Volunteer Program. Dec. 25, Volunteers will work four-hour shifts in nonmedical capacities at 13 hospitals and assisted living facilities on Christmas Day to give employees the day off. Sign up online at www.pinchhitters.org or call 770-392-1175 or 770-640-5091.
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