Section 2 PLEASANTON WEEKLY Livingliving Festival of Ice Chabad of the Tri-Valley Plans Chanukah Celebration with Giant 500-Pound Ice Menorah
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December 19, 2008 INSIDE Real Estate ........... 31 Open Home Guide ..... 31 Section 2 www.PleasantonWeekly.com PLEASANTON WEEKLY LivingLiving Festival of ice Chabad of the Tri-Valley plans Chanukah celebration with giant 500-pound ice menorah by Janet Pelletier years ago from Brooklyn, N.Y., knew Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka Holtzberg, who were also from ast year, children used over 2,000 pieces of Legos to New York, personally. create a colorful and kid-friendly 9-foot menorah for “The menorah’s all about adding light, so we’re going to add the Jewish community’s Chanukah celebrations. these candles of light in honor and in memory of all the victims, But this year, the menorah will have an extra especially the rabbi from Chabad (in India),” Rabbi Resnick said. coolness-factor: the candelabra holding nine candles “Our response to terror and to darkness is by adding more light Lwill be carved out of a 500-pound block of ice. and more goodness and kindness to the world.” “You have to keep it interesting,” said Rabbi Raleigh Congregation Beth Emek, which is located on Nevada Court Resnick of Chabad of the Tri-Valley. off of Bernal Avenue, has also been preparing for Chanukah “Our goal really is to bring the joy of Chanukah to the commu- celebrations this month. Many of the events have already begun. nity and especially the children,” he added. “In the Jewish com- On Sunday, third-graders participated in a Chanukah Bash, munity, we want them to feel a sense of belonging, a sense that where they made menorahs and ate traditional foods such as they can celebrate the season as well and therefore, we always try latkes and sufganiot. doing things for the community that will bring new excitement, The congregation, which partners in many activities with bring something new Congregation Shir Ami and innovative.” in Castro Valley, will The ice menorah will hold a family day at the be kindled at 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Jewish this Sunday at Hart Museum on Dec. 25. Middle School, 4433 The day begins at 11 Willow Road. Hot latkes a.m. and attendees can (potato pancakes) and create holiday artwork sufganiot (doughnuts) and watch family- will be served and there friendly performances. will also be Chanukah- Admission is free. inspired crafts and On Dec. 12, Jewish music and dancing. Deborah Braunstein teens celebrated with The following a Chanukah party of Sunday, Dec. 28, there their own. They par- will be the annual ticipated in a short Chanukah Wonderland Shabbat service, ate lat- display, also hosted kes and played dreidel by Chabad of the Tri- and video games. It Valley, and celebration Teens from Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton and Congregation Shir Ami, was a chance for the at Stoneridge Shopping including Hana Hartman (far right), celebrated Chanukah recently, eating lat- youths to feel a part of Center. The event will kes and playing dreidel. something, said Hana kick off at 4 p.m. with Hartman, a Castro various activities such as an olive oil press show, wax candle Valley High School sophomore. making, face painting, Chanukah treats, games and crafts, live “Most of the time, the kids that we go to temple school with music, prizes and raffles. The lighting of a traditional menorah or synagogue with don’t go to our schools and we don’t get to will take place at 5 p.m. Admission is free and the entire com- see them often,” the 15-year-old said. “It’s a lot of fun to hang munity is welcome to attend. out in that environment. I hear from a lot of people that being The Chabad house erected a 9-foot menorah in downtown in a Jewish environment is a lot more rewarding than being in a Livermore Thursday, and Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena secular environment because even if you don’t know everyone will inaugurate the menorah in a ceremony on Tuesday. there, you have that one thing in common.” Rabbi Resnick said he estimates there are close to 10,000 Another regional group is the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, a Jewish people in the Tri-Valley area. relatively newer organization for people who are culturally “One of the reasons we do the Chanukah celebration in the Jewish but do not identify with the religion. They will be host- mall and outdoors—we’re trying to reach people who wouldn’t ing a Chanukah party at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday at the Bothwell necessarily just walk into the synagogue,” he said. Center, 2466 8th St. in Livermore. Guests are asked to bring a Chanukah begins at sundown Sunday and lasts eight days. potato and a brunch dish to share. This year, Rabbi Resnick said emphasis will be placed on For more information on Chabad of the Tri-Valley, visit a more somber tone—remembrance—for the Jewish couple www.jewishtrivalley.com. For information on Beth Emek, visit killed in the India terrorist attacks last month. Rabbi Resnick, www.bethemek.org and for information on Tri-Valley Cultural who moved to the Pleasanton area with his family three Jews, visit http://eastbaysecularjews.org or call 485-1049. N Illustration by Liquid Library *i>Ã>ÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊ iViLiÀÊ£]ÊÓäänÊU Page 21 Living Are you paying too much for COBRA? Now Showing Or do you just need individual or group health coverage at affordable rates? Call today to save money! The Boy in the Striped Pajamas locates the camp and meets an 8-year-old prisoner ★★★★ named Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) who finds solace in the hush near the high-voltage fence. 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