December 2010 News 

 
Chanukah 2010

 
With a flurry of activity over Chanukah, the JRCC hosted a variety of events, from kids programs to seniors’ activities and everything in between. In total, almost 2,000 people attended 30 events over the 8 days of Chanukah. See page ?? for a collage of event photos, and visit www.jrcc.org/photos for even more pictures.

 
Grand Public Menorah Lighting
The JRCC’s annual Public Menorah Lighting was a festive event that attracted over 200 people to Mel Lastman Square on the first night of Chanukah. Participants braved the cold to watch the formal lighting of the Menorah by JRCC rabbis and local dignitaries, including Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, MPP Peter Shurman, Toronto City Councilman James Pasternak and Mario Racco. In addition to the Menorah lighting ceremony and heartfelt words of inspiration and community atmosphere, the audience was also treated to a performance by the Chabad Boys Choir led by acclaimed pianist Gershon Wachtel, a tantalizing fire show, and traditional Chanukah doughnuts and potato latkes.

 
Chanukah Wonderland Carnival
The eighth annual JRCC Chanukah Wonderland Carnival brought a dizzying array of family activities to the CHAT campus in Richmond Hill to the delight of about 1,000 participants. Parents and children enjoyed an afternoon full of different holiday themed crafts and activities, including menorah making, donut cooking, an olive press demonstration, and Chanukah-themed rides, while live music played throughout the day. Children were also able to win prize tickets at various professionally constructed carnival booths and then redeem their tickets for toys and other prizes. Every hour featured a different show, including an ancient olive press demonstration, a master juggler, a clown show, and a children’s rally.

 
Community Chanukah Parties
Each JRCC branch held its own unique Chanukah party, complete with a menorah lighting and Chanukah refreshments like doughnuts and latkes. 
The JRCC West Thornhill held a Wine & Cheese evening for adults that allowed people to mingle and socialize in a warm and friendly environment at the new center on Centre Street. The event featured Chanukah-themed party activities, and several bottles of fine wine were won by participants who succeeded in solving holiday riddles.
The JRCC @ Rockford celebrated with a Melave Malka (post-Shabbat meal) with a Chanukah theme, great entertainment and a game show to break the ice and set the celebratory mood. 
The JRCC Thornhill Woods’ Chanukah Café evening for adults at the Richmond Hill Country Club attracted over forty couples and some singles for an elegant evening featuring pasta and salads, desserts, as well as a menorah lighting, video presentation, and an interactive game show. 
The JRCC S Richmond Hill began its Chanukah Café evening with a lighting of a giant outdoor Menorah, which was attended by Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow and seventy community members. Participants were then treated to a gourmet home made dairy buffet and a warm, festive atmosphere at the party that followed.
The JRCC East Thornhill served falafel and latkes at its post-Shabbat Chanukah party, which also featured a film presentation about the Rebbe’s relationship with various IDF officials, giving the evening a distinctly Israeli flavor. Fascinating stories shared by Arkady Ulitsky and Chiena Zaltzman gave the evening a personal touch.
The JRCC Thornhill Woods Chanukah Bowl family party at Woodbridge Bowl drew a large crowd for an evening of activities for family and children, including the lighting of a menorah made of bowling pins. 
A special party was also held for the residents of the Promenade Towers condominiums, which were warmed by the JRCC West Thornhill Chanukah lights. Residents of the buildings came out to celebrate, shmooze, and of course partake in the latkas and doughnuts. Special thanks Yaakov Gryn, Yaakov Kozak and Igor Litovsky for volunteering to organize this event.
The JRCC of Concord held a warm and intimate Chanukah evening at its centre, serving latkes and doughnuts and offering neighborhood residents an opportunity to socialize.

 
Seniors’ Chanukah Events
The JRCC hosted five Chanukah parties for seniors in various seniors’ residences, with music and refreshments and lively atmospheres. JRCC volunteers, some in conjunction with the Healthy at Home initiative, provided an uplifting Chanukah experience to over 200 residents, bringing the Chanukah holiday spirit to the elderly in our community.

 
Teen Chanukah Events
Despite snow and frigid temperatures, current participants and alumni of the JRCC @ Rockford Bat Mitzvah Club enjoyed a wonderful Chanukah party. The girls had a chance to enjoy themselves, and also thought of others less fortunate by wrapping Chanukah gifts which will be given to sick children. The Bat Mitzvah Club instills the value that becoming a bat mitzvah is not just about having a party but also the responsibility that comes with becoming an adult. To register your daughter or for more information please contact [email protected].
Teens of the JRCC East Thornhill branch celebrated Chanukah with a “limo hop”. A stretch limo carried them to different stops, with a menorah lighting and chanukah gelt at one place, a Chanukah Jeopardy game at a second location, and a stop at King David Pizza for some latkes.

 
Hebrew School Chanukah Events
The JRCC Hebrew School celebrated Chanukah with a special performance at the CHAT North Campus immediately preceding the JRCC Chanukah Wonderland Carnival. Students were then treated to doughnuts in celebration of Chanukah and their fine performance. Each Hebrew School location also held its own Chanukah party.
The JRCC West Thornhill Hebrew School hosted an enjoyable family Chanukah party. The students made edible menorahs and put on a performance for their friends and family members. Special thanks to the teachers Mrs. Hochman and Mora Talia for organizing the performance and the event. A grand family bingo game, latkes and doughnuts topped off a night of festive celebration.

 

 

 
19 Kislev Gathering

The JRCC West Thornhill hosted a community-wide gathering in honor of the 19th of Kislev, known as the “New Year for Chassidus,” commemorating the release of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, from Czarist imprisonment on false charges of treason, thus enabling him to continue his life’s work. Guest speaker Rabbi Sholom jacobson inspired the crowd with his stories and thoughts as he reflected on the meaning of the day, and a special edition of Tanya, the central book of Chassidic thought authored by the Alter Rebbe, was printed at the event to be distributed to participants and area residents. The evening also served as the grand opening of the new JRCC West Thornhill centre on Centre Street. Visit www.JRCCWestThorhill.org for more info about the centre and its programs.

Loaves of Love
Mothers and daughters of all ages came together, led by Nechama Dina Jacobson, for an evening of Challah baking. Mrs. Jacobson shared some tips and tricks to making the perfect Challah, and everyone kneaded and braided their own challahs and recited the accompanying blessings and prayers. Participants also made an extra Challah to share with a friend or neighbor in need of some extra love. “Challah is a perfect expression of the melding of our material and spiritual lives,” explains Mrs. Jacobson. “There is nothing more representative of our physical life than bread, yet at the same time Challah making, especially when connected with the mitzvah of helping others and loving your fellow, is an intensely spiritual experience.”

Got Zodiac?
Rabbi Levi Jacobson continues his monthly lecture series called “This Month,” exploring the zodiac sign and unique energy of each month. “I really appreciate Rabbi Jacobson’s ability to encapsulate the various elements of what the month represents and connect it to real life issues,” explains Rudy, who enjoyed last month’s lecture and plans to continue. The series has been well-attended thus far, and continues next month with the month of Shevat and its sign, Aquarius. Lectures take place at the JRCC West Thornhill (www.JRCCWestThornhill.org).

Chanukah @ Vaughan Secondary School
Participants in the Jewish Student Club at Vaughan Secondary School were treated to a special visit with Rabbi Levi Jacobson, who also provided Chanukah doughnuts courtesy of the JRCC West Thornhill. The treats were sweet, and so was the animated discussion with the rabbi on Chanukah and its relevance to today’s day and age.