Want to do something on Chanuka? Here are some ideas

By Lee Chottiner December 10, 2009, 5:32 pm 0 Edit

If the latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) don’t weigh you down, then there’s plenty to see and do for Chanuka this year in the Pittsburgh area.
Jews will celebrate with parades, public menora lightings, parties, latkes (lots of them) and lots of dreidel games.
Here’s a list of community Chanuka doings this year in Pittsburgh and its suburbs. To be sure, it’s not a complete list, for activities near you, check with your local synagogue.
Squirrel Hill JCC
• First Night Candle Lighting, Friday, Dec. 11, 4:15 p.m. — There also will be a song session followed by hot chocolate and donuts in the Ostrow Palm Court. For the following nights, candle lightings will be 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 12 through 15; 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 16; 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 17; and 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 18.

• Chanuka Family Party, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 5:15-7:30 p.m. — The JCC, Shalom Pittsburgh and Chabad will sponsor this program, which begins with the candle lighting in the Palm Court. The activities include a Maccabi obstacle course, storytelling in the Dreidel House, a game of pin the tail on the menora, a sufganiyot eating contest, Israeli dancing and karaoke, crafts, Chanuka bingo, cookie decorating and Mike the Balloon Guy. The party is free to the public. Bring a nonperishable kosher food item for the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Call Liza Baron at (412) 521-8011 Ext. 241, or Becca Lehner at (412) 992-5222.
South Hills JCC
• Community Chanuka Celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. — There will be a candle lighting followed by a community songfest, children’s sand art and games, a Lego menora building contest, an olive press, a dreidel spinning contest, food, swimming, gym play and storytelling. The JCC-South Hills, Beth El Congregation, Temple Emanuel, Chabad of the South Hills, Beth Israel Center of Pleasant Hills, Beth Israel Congregation-
Washington Pa., Congregation Ahavath Achim-The Carnegie Shul are co-sponsoring the event. Contact Ann Haalman at (412) 278-1975, Ext. 204, or ahaalman@jccpgh.org for more information.
Chabad
• Annual Menora Parade, Sunday, Dec. 13 — The caravan of some 100 cars with electric pipe menoras strapped to their roofs will leave the Chabad Lubavitch Center at 4:45 p.m. and parade through streets of Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and Oakland before finishing at SouthSide Works. There, a menora lighting will be held.
• Grand Menora Lighting, Monday, Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m. — The lighting will take place in the portico of the City-County Building, Downtown. Jewish leaders and dignitaries will be on hand.

(Lee Chottiner can be reached at leec@thejewishchronicle.net. or 412-687-1005.)