While most of Chanukah falls during the winter holiday week, TI will be celebrating throughout December. 
Chanukah begins on Wed Dec 25, 2024 and ends on Thu Jan 2, 2025.

Events

TI’s World Famous Chanukah Party
Sun Dec 15 | 10:30a-1p

Our entire TI family will gather to celebrate Chanukah, staring with a family sing-along with our clergy, Chanukah trivia, a holiday story, and menorah lighting. Our Chanukah party will feature awesome food trucks, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a fire spinning show, Make-a-Bear/Give-a-Bear mitzvah project and so much more.

Young Family Chanukah Shabbat
Fri Dec 13 | 5:00p

A warm, musical, and accessible Shabbat and Chanukah experience, designed specifically for children ages 2-7 and their families, and led by our clergy. A festive family dinner will follow.

Congregational Chanukah Shabbat
Fri Dec 13 | 6:30p

Bring in the light with your TI family. Together we will fill our space with the light of community and song. Festive dinner to follow.

Registration is required and will be open until Wed Dec 11.

Women’s Group: Latkes and Vodkas
Wed Dec 18 | 7:30p

Come to TI dressed in Chanukah attire (ugly Chanukah sweaters encouraged!) and learn from Boozy Candles how to create two beautiful candles that you will take home. The night will be accompanied by delicious latkes, tasty cocktails, and appreciating each other’s company.

This event is open to all who identify as female.

Men’s Group: Festival of FLIGHTS
Tue Dec 17 | 7:00p

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the men of TI at Two Roads Brewing. We will enjoy an exclusive private tour, a flight of their unique brews, a pint of your choice, and food. Come dressed in your favorite ugly Chanukah sweater – this is a night you don’t want to miss. 

This event is open to all who identify as male.

Chanukah Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Friedman
Wed Dec 18 | 12p

Bring your lunch and learn about Chanukah with Rabbi Michael S. Friedman.

Hidden Gems of Judaism
Tue Dec 17 | 11:30a

Delve into aspects of Judaism you probably have never heard of before! Together with TI’s clergy, we will spend the year shining a light on texts and stories that they never taught you in Hebrew School!
 

Westport Town Pre-Chanukah Celebration
Mon Dec 16 | 6:15p

Meet Rabbi Friedman and Cantor Cadrain at the corner of Post Rd and Main St for an early Chanukah celebration with the entire Westport Jewish community.

Holiday Gift Drive
Dec 8-15

Each holiday season, TI partners with Ralphola Taylor Community Center YMCA in Bridgeport to provide gifts to children in need. Gifts must be unwrapped and dropped off at TI by Dec 15. More detailed info can be found below.

give a nightArtboard 1

Give a Night of Chanukah

Some families have the tradition of giving presents each night of Chanukah. We encourage you to Give a Night of Chanukah, directing the amount you would ordinarily spend on one night of gifts to tzedakah instead. 

Click below to find some tzedakah options that are important to our congregation. Of course, you can also feel free to choose a charity that is important to you.

giving and generosity

Giving and Generosity at the Holiday Season
Wed Dec 11 | 9:00a

The holiday season presents many difficult questions for parents of young children. how can we help our children focus on this season as a time of giving, in addition to receiving? How can I navigate my family’s celebration of Chanukah with other family members’ celebration of Christmas? What should I say to my kids when they ask about Christmas or Santa? Rabbi Friedman and Cantor Cadrain will lead an exploration of the many issues that challenge us at this particular time of year.

Cooking

Chanukah Recipes

In honor of the Maccabees’ oil lasting eight days, it is custom to eat foods made with oil during Chanukah. Click below to find recipes of Latkes and Sufganiyot (jelly donuts), two foods we specifically eat during this holiday.

Chanukah Blessings

On every night

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
 

.Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Chanukah

 Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Chanukah lights.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה 
 

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh. 

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.

On the first night only

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

 Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehechehyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higianu laz’man hazeh.  

 Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of all, for giving us life, sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this season.

Chanukah Songs