Cary Hanukah Festival: Tuesday Dec 20
Story by Leslie Huffman. Photo by Calamity Sal.
Cary, NC – Tuesday evening, December 20, 2011, beginning at 4 p.m. come to the Cary Arts Center to participate in the Jewish Cultural Festival. This event takes place on the first night of Hanukah, celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The Town of Cary is partnering with the Chabad of Cary, The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary and Beth Shalom to host the first Jewish Cultural Festival in Cary. All citizens are welcome to join in the festivities.
“I am glad we have this Festival,” says Rabbi Ariel Edery of Beth Shalom Synagogue. “It is great for our community to celebrate our common values and ideals, but also to honor and cherish the richness of the variety of our different cultures, traditions, ethnic heritages and religious beliefs.”
Rabbi Edery continued, “Interestingly, this what the Hanukah holiday is actually about. When we remember the Maccabbees’ struggle to practice their religion in freedom, and light the candles of the Menorah, we affirm both our belief in the American value of freedom of religion, and in appreciating how our community is made stronger and richer by a plurality of traditions being kept and honored, and – as we do here – coexisting, cooperating, and sharing.”
Fun, Unique, & Educational Activities
Enjoy traditional Jewish foods, crafts and hands-on activities for children, entertainment, educational displays and the lighting of a nine-foot Menorah!
- Artistic Menorah and dreidel displays
- Candle dipping
- Clay dreidel making
- Make your own menorah
- Olive oil pressing
- Educational displays
Performances Times
- 4:30 p.m. Jewish / Israeli Dance
- 4:45 p.m. Olive Oil Pressing Demonstration
- 5 p.m. Beth Shalom Children’s Choir & Play
- 5:30 p.m. Jewish / Israeli Dance
- 5:45 p.m. Beth Shalom Singers
- 6 p.m. The Only One Club – Storytelling & puppetry by Andrea & Rabbi Ariel Edery
- 6:45 p.m. Lighting of the Menorah
- 7:30 p.m. Performance by nationally known musician Dan Nichols.
Canned Food Collection & Art Displays
Marvel at a menorah constructed out of donated canned goods. Donations will be accepted at the Cary Arts Center from December 5 – 19th. Donations not only helps create the “Can-struction Menorah”, but also supports those in need in the community. All canned food donations will go to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, who will then distribute donations to local shelters and pantries.
Cornell Box Art Displays by the Beth Or 3rd and 4th graders are unique shadow boxes modeled after the artist Joseph Cornell. These shadow boxes reflect Jewish and personal themes from their daily lives.
Happy Hanukah!
How Many Ways Can You Spell Hanukah?
Hanukah is a Hebrew word, so there is no correct (or incorrect) English spelling.
Chanukah, Hanukkah, Chanuka, Channukah, Chanuka,Hanuka, Hannukkah – they are all the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Truly a success!! Thank you Town of Cary, for hosting this festival. And, many thanks to all the volunteers and organizers. Here’s to an even bigger celebration next year!!
Yes, what an awesome event. Brotherhood at its best, with its over 500 in attendance. Sharing cultures.
Hopefully next year will bring out an even larger group of attendees from all religions
I think the Town was overwhelmed by the HUGE attendance last night! I worked downstairs in the clay dreidel making area and we almost ran out of clay! Someone said that by 5pm more than 500 people had visited the Arts Center. It was a huge success for Jews and non- Jews alike.
What a great rime of the year when people of so many faiths celebrate holidays.
And the communities at large, although they are of different faiths celebrate in different ways, what we do all have in common is that we are in a land where we may worship in freedom. Happy & Healthy New Year to ALL.
Ed