IN GUILFORD

Menorah Lighting on Nov. 28
Chabad of the Shoreline is hosting a menorah lighting on the first night of Chanukah, Sunday, Nov. 28 4-4:30 p.m. on the Guilford Green (across from 55 Whitfield St.). The festive event will include a fire show, music and holiday treats.  For information or to RSVP: https://www.jewishshoreline.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/5314500/jewish/1st-Night-Menorah-Lighting-on-Guilford-Green.htm.

Simply Tsfat Chanukah Concert on Dec. 5
Celebrate the last day of Chanukah at a concert hosted by Chabad of the Shoreline, featuring the music of Simply Tsat of Israel. To be held Sunday, Dec. 5, 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St. in Branford. Hailing from the northern Galilee city of Tsfat, the trio presents a vibrant musical blend of powerful lyrics and soulful tines in the Chassidic mystical tradition. Menorah lighting and refreshments will follow the concert on the library terrace. Admission is FREE, but space is limited. Reservations are a must. For more information, email chabad@snet.net or call (203) 533-7595. For a Zoom link to this live event, email chabad or visit facebookcom/yossiyaffe.

IN NORWALK

Outdoor Public Menorah Lighting on Dec. 1
The community is invited to an outdoors Menorah lighting ceremony on the front lawn of Norwalk City Hall, facing East Ave., on the 4th night of Chanukah, Dec.1 at 5 p.m. Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht of Beth Israel Chabad will be emcee of the event, together with Rabbi Levi Stone. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling will be on hand for the lighting. Live music will accompany the ceremony. Pre-packaged Chanukah gelt, cookies and dreidels will be distributed to all. Admission is FREE. For information: (203) 247-6289.

Chanukah celebration & candle lighting at Stew Leonard’s, Nov. 28
Stew Leonard’s Norwalk store, located at 100 Westport Ave., hosts its 30th annual menorah lighting celebration on Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. The celebration starts with Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht of Beth Israel Chabad of Westport/Norwalk lighting an 18-foot menorah. Following by a celebration with live entertainment and pre-packaged Kosher refreshments. Traditional dreidels and chocolate gelt will be distributed to all. 

IN SOUTHBURY

Chanukah Celebration on Dec. 4
Schmooze with friends and enjoy a night of Israeli dancing, latkes and libations (which will be served outside owing to the pandemic, so dress warmly!). Adults ONLY. Hosted by the Jewish Federation of Western CT, 444 Main St North in Southbury. On Saturday, Dec. 4, 7 – 9 p.m. Proof of vaccination and masks required. Tickets: $18. RSVP by Nov. 30 to https://form.jotform.com/213134996280156

IN WEST HARTFORD

“Fire on ICE” on Nov. 28
Chabad of Greater Hartford’s popular “Fire on ICE – Chanukah @ Blue Back” celebration will take place on Sunday, Nov. 28 (the 1st night of Chanukah)  at 4 p.m., in front of West Hartford’s Town Hall (to enable an “In-person” celebration as well as a “Drive-in” option for this year’s event). Highlights include: A concert by the popular Israeli singer/songwriter Yoni Z; a master ice sculptor will sculpt a raw block of ice into a giant menorah; Chanukah kits (as available), filled with games, crafts, cookies, Chocolate gelt, raffles, prizes and face-painting, hot drinks from Starbucks and food for sale. Once again, the West Hartford Fire Dept. will hold its  “Great Chanukah Gift Drop” in which they ‘rain’ down treats on kids from atop their long ladder.

The event is FREE. Register at ChabadHartford.com/fire.

The music of Mozart, Vivaldi…and Chanukah on Dec. 5
A concert with Cantor Joseph Ness and Cantor Stephanie Kupfer on Sunday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.. Tickets: $25/ seniors (65+) and students; $2/FREE for children 12 & under. For tickets, visit: tinyurl.com/BacktotheMusic. Tickets also available at the door. Virtual tickets also available. At Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Ave. in West Hartford. Free parking, Handicap access.   

‘Chanukah Hop,’ Nov. 28-Dec. 4
The Emerging Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is hosting a four-day series of special events for Chanukah that will include the lighting of the menorah. All events are free and take place in West Hartford. Masks are required indoors. So-sponsors by Dignity Grows, Spiritual Life Center, Hillel U of Hartford, and Momentum.

For reservations: email Rebecca Lenkiewicz at rlenkiewicz@jewishhartford.org. Here’s what Chanukah Hoppers have will enjoy: 

Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. — Dignity Grows Packing Party at Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Rd.
Monday, Nov 29 at 7 p.m. — Interfaith Candle lighting at Spiritual Life Center, 303 Tunxis Rd.
Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. — Share career experiences with UHart Hillel at the Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Ave.
Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5:45 p.m. — Family Chanukah Celebration. Address provided upon registration.

CT’s Jewish Federations ‘Shine A Light on Antisemitism’ on Dec. 6

With the goal of drawing attention to the number of antisemitic incidents on a dangerous upward spiral all across the country, the Jewish Federations of Connecticut, together with their respective Jewish Community Relations Councils, the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) and ADL Connecticut, will join together to present “Shine A Light on Antisemitism” during the holiday of Chanukah. 

The statewide program, presented in partnership with NAACP, Urban League, the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford, will be held on Zoom as the Festival of Lights comes to a close on Monday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. It will feature a musical presentation by Cantor Julia Cadrain of Temple Israel in Westport; a talk by Oren Jacobson, co-founder of Project Shema; and a personal story told by Ellie Cooper of Middlefield, a recent college graduate and ADL volunteer.

The Chanukah event is part of “Shine A Light on Antisemitism,” a nationwide awareness campaign launched by the Jewish Federations of North America, to counter the unsettling increase in antisemitic incidents in North American.

According to the annual ADL survey, there were 185 antisemitic incidents in Connecticut in 2020. During the same period, ADL tabulated 2,024 reported antisemitic incidents throughout the United States. This is a four percent decrease from the 2,107 incidents recorded in 2019, but is still the third-highest year on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.

In addition to attending the virtual event, the community is encourage to use the hashtag #shinealightCT on their social media accounts during Chanukah (November 28 – December 6) to voice their support for the Jewish community.

Visit www.shinealightCT.org for more ways to help.