Chanukah 2017

Chanukah Happenings Around Atlanta

From menorah building to menorah lighting to menorah parading, event options abound on our Chanukah 2017 calendar.

By Atlanta Jewish Times December 8, 2017, 7:04 am Edit

Johns Creek, whose only mayor in its decade-long history has been Chabad of North Fulton member Mike Bodker, continued its tradition of lighting a dreidel as well as a Christmas tree with a celebration at Newtown Park on Nov. 30.

Chanukah starts around 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, and ends around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, but public events for children, young adults, families and congregations have already started. Here are some of the events available. Visit www.atlantajewishconnector.com to find more. Did we leave out your event? Email editor@atljewishtimes.com so we can add it.

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

Chanukah with Rabbi G. Rabbi Brian Glusman adds Chanukah to the Shabbat, Me & Rabbi G program at 5 p.m. at the Marcus JCC. 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4161.

SUNDAY, DEC. 10

Chanukah bazaar. The 42nd annual Chanukah bazaar at Congregation Or VeShalom, 1681 N. Druid Hills Road, Brookhaven, runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3; orveshalom.org/ovshanukkahbazaar or 404-633-1737.

Menorah workshop. Chabad of Peachtree City helps children build their own chanukiot at 1 p.m. at Home Depot, 2715 Highway 54 West, Peachtree City. Free; RSVP to shternie@chabadsouthside.com.

Guys’ night out. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel offers “Wings and Wisdom” for men at 8 p.m. at 5355 London Drive, Sandy Springs. Email netanelfriedman@atlantakollel.org for details.

TUESDAY, DEC. 12

Family celebration. Rabbi Brian Glusman leads the festivities, including a menorah lighting, the J Dance Company and free sufganiyot, at 5:15 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; atlantajcc.org.

Light Up Kennesaw. The Chabad Jewish Center lights Kennesaw’s largest menorah on the Campus Green of Kennesaw State University at 5:30 p.m., then serves latkes and other refreshments inside the student center. Free; www.facebook.com/events/1785559708184633.

Menorah lighting. Chabad Intown lights a giant menorah and provides latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more at 6 p.m. at City Green, 21 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates. Free; chabadintown.org/chanukah.

Menorah lighting. Congregation B’nai Torah holds a community lighting ceremony at Town Brookhaven, 4330 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven, at 6:45 p.m. (gather at 6:30), including songs, dreidels and treats. Free; www.bnaitorah.org.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13

Babyccino. The weekly mommy and toddler program with a focus on Chanukah continues at 10:30 a.m. at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta. Free but registration required; hs@chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000.

Family celebration. Rabbi Brian Glusman leads the festivities, including a menorah lighting, camp songs and free sufganiyot, at 5:15 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; atlantajcc.org.

Light Up Brookhaven. The city’s holiday celebration from 6 to 7 p.m. at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, includes a Chanukah display. Free; www.facebook.com/events/131694777540693.

Acworth menorah lighting. The Chabad Jewish Center of Kennesaw lights a giant menorah and hears from Mayor Thomas Allegood at 6 p.m. at 4461 Main St., downtown Acworth. Free; www.facebook.com/events/145210829376511.

Chanukah on ice. Chabad Intown lights a giant menorah and provides latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more, plus $10 tickets for the ice skating rink, at 6 p.m. at Atlantic Station’s Central Park in Midtown. Free; chabadintown.org/chanukah.

Menorah lighting. Chabad of North Fulton celebrates the festival at the Avalon at the Living Room on Avalon Boulevard at 6 p.m. Free; www.chabadnf.org or 770-410-900.

THURSDAY, DEC. 14

Family celebration. Rabbi Brian Glusman leads the festivities, including a menorah lighting, Howie the Great and free sufganiyot, at 5:15 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; atlantajcc.org.

Starlight spectacular. Chabad of Atlanta/Congregation Beth Tefillah lights a glow-in-the-dark menorah with Mayor Rusty Paul, provides a chocolate coin drop with the Sandy Springs Fire Department, and provides music, crafts, food and games during its annual celebration at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Sandy Springs, 6110 Blue Stone Road. Free; www.bethtefillah.org or 404-843-2464.

Menorah lighting. Chabad Intown lights a giant menorah and provides latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more at 6 p.m. at Ponce City Market’s lawn, Old Fourth Ward. Free; chabadintown.org/chanukah.

Mah-jongg. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, holds a special Chanukah game session at 6:30 p.m. Admission is a $5 gift card to any retailer; RSVP to office@bshalom.net.

Vodka & Latkes. The Marcus JCC Young Adults program holds its annual Chanukah party at 7 p.m. at Rose Bar & Lounge, 3115 Piedmont Road, Buckhead. Tickets $18 for JCC members, $22 for others; atlantajcc.org.

Zumba party for women. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, holds a menorah lighting, provides plenty of delicious fried Chanukah treats and offers Zumba to burn off some of the calories at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10; www.chabadnf.org/womens or 770-410-9000.

Trivia night. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, celebrates Chanukah at 8 p.m. with a trivia game night, including a Formaggio Mio tasting and an open bar, for teams of eight to 10 people age 21 and up. Entry is $28 per Beth Jacob member or $35 per nonmember; RSVP by 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at www.bethjacobatlanta.org/chanukahgamenight.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15

Shabbat dinner. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds a Chanukah family dinner at 6:15 after Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:15. Admission is $18 for adults and $12 for children for members, $25 and $15 for nonmembers; register by Dec. 10 at www.yith.org.

Community dinner. The Kehilla in Sandy Springs, 5075 Roswell Road, holds a festive meal at 6:15 p.m. after Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 5. Dinner is $20 for members, $23 for nonmembers, $5 for children ages 2 to 12; RSVP by Dec. 12 at www.thekehilla.org/channukah-dinner.

Dinner. Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs, holds two dinner seatings, at 5:30 p.m. (before the 6:30 Shabbat service) and at 7:45 (after the service), with latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more. Dinner is $15 for adults, $7.50 for children 4 to 12, free for 3 and under; templesinaiatlanta.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 16

Latkes and lox. The Sixth Point celebrates the holiday with Shabbrunch at 11 a.m. at the Garden Hills Recreation Center, 339 Pine Tree Drive, Atlanta. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door; thesixthpoint.org/event/latkes-lox-shabbrunch.

Havdalah and menorah lighting. Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser helps Congregation B’nai Israel, 1633 Highway 54 East, Jonesboro, celebrate at 6 p.m. Free; bnai-israel.net.

Bluegrass concert. Nefesh Mountain performs at Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is a $5 donation to Drake House; www.bethtikvah.com.

Vodka and Latkes. Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, East Cobb, holds a party for its seniors group at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $18; RSVP by Dec. 8 to www.etzchaim.net/vodka.

Promukkah. InterfaithFamily/Atlanta holds its annual prom-themed holiday party, including a bring-your-own menorah lighting, at 8 p.m. at the Industrious offices on the eighth floor of the west side (elevators near West Elm) of Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Old Fourth Ward. Tickets are $10 without or $18 with alcohol in advance, $18 or $25 at the door; www.facebook.com/events/156746835076882 or www.interfaithfamily.com/promukkah.

Comedy show. Amanda Marks and David “HT” Rosen bring “The Brisket Belt Show” to the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge, 644 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, for adult-only stand-up comedy and Chanukah fun at 8:30 p.m. to benefit Rebecca’s Tent. Tickets are $15 (cash only at the door); freshtix.com/events/brisketbelt.

Wine, Dine & Shine. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds Havdalah and a party with comic mentalist Ronnie Baras at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $18; www.yith.org.

Party. Congregation Ner Hamizrach, 1858 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, celebrates with music, food and children’s activities at 8:30 p.m. Free; www.nerhamizrach.org or 404-315-9020.

SUNDAY, DEC. 17

Family fun. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel’s ASK Brookhaven & Buckhead and ASK Dunwoody celebrate the festival with families with children up to age 10 at 10 a.m. at Hippo Hop, 1936 Briarwood Court, Northeast Atlanta. Admission is $10 per family; www.atlantakollel.org/event_detail.php?event=359.

Military social. Jewish War Veterans Post 112 holds its first semi-formal Chanukah social with sufganiyot and latkes supplementing its usual monthly kosher breakfast buffet, a display of military chanukiot dating back to 1849, a military lighting ceremony, and a “Chanukah at Valley Forge” presentation at 10 a.m. at Berman Commons, 2926 Womack Road, Dunwoody. Admission is $10 (pay at the door); RSVP to jwvpost112@gmail.com.

Family celebration. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., Buckhead, offers music, arts, crafts, a game room and food from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is $8 per family in advance, $10 at the door; form.jotform.com/73195184215154.

Party and benefit. Congregation Dor Tamid, 11165 Parsons Road, Johns Creek, holds a family Chanukah party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and collects tzedakah to help the Houston JCC and Houston synagogues recover from Hurricane Harvey. All donations collected during the party will be matched by an anonymous donor. Free; dortamid.org or 770-623-8860.

Children’s fun. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park, downtown, working with the Marcus JCC and Jewish Kids Groups, celebrates Chanukah with songs and stories from Rabbi Brian Glusman at 11 a.m. and noon, stories at 1 and 2 p.m., and art projects all day. Tickets are $15.95; childrensmuseumatlanta.org/calendar/celebrate-hanukkah-a-cultural-exploration.

Carnival. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds a family celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free (bring an unwrapped gift to donate to Children’s Hospital); www.yith.org.

Family party. Temple Kol Emeth, 1415 Old Canton Road, East Cobb, holds a celebration for all ages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including music, games, competitions and, starting at 12:15, free lunch. Free; register at www.eventbrite.com/e/chanukah-for-all-tickets-39330069296.

Golf cart menorah parade. Chabad of Peachtree City leads the mobile menorah parade from the Lake Kedron Park boat ramp at 3:45 p.m., culminating in a menorah lighting at Peachtree City’s City Hall, 151 Willowbend Road, at 4:30. Free; www.chabadsouthside.com.

Menorah lighting. Chabad Intown lights a giant menorah and provides latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more at 4 p.m. in the Yeah! Burger parking lot at the corner of Virginia and Highland avenues, Virginia-Highland. Free; chabadintown.org/chanukah.

Party. The Kroger grocery at the Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2205 LaVista Road, holds a free, kosher Chanukah party with food and crafts from 4 to 7 p.m.

Family party. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, holds a Chanukah party with dinner, games, crafts, music and a silent auction from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 5 to 12, free for children under 5 (registration closes at 5 p.m. Dec. 13); bethshalomatlanta.org/family-chanukah-party-and-silent-auction or 770-399-5300.

Car parade. After its menorah lighting, Chabad Intown leads a menorah car parade from Yeah! Burger, Virginia-Highland, to the Chabad house at 928 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland, at 5:15 p.m. Free; to sponsor or drive with a menorah, contact Chabad Intown by Dec. 10 at admin@chabadintown.org or 404-898-0434.

Party. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel Morningside Center at Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., celebrates with food and games at 5:15 p.m.; bring a gift worth up to $10 to participate in a white elephant game. Free; www.anshisfard.org.

Camp night. Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, celebrates Chanukah and summer camp with In the City Camp, Camp Ramah Darom, the Marcus JCC’s day camps, PJ Library, Camp Judaea, Camp Barney Medintz and its own preschool camp with music, crafts, games and food to purchase from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free; www.bnaitorah.org (RSVP to RSVP@bnaitorah.org).

Coin menorah lighting. Chabad of Cobb raises money for Children’s Healthcare by lighting the world’s largest coin menorah at 5:30 p.m. at East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road. Free but donations being collected; www.chabadofcobb.com.

Menorah parade. Chaya Mushka Children’s House Elementary & Middle School, 135 West Wieuca Road, Sandy Springs, leads a menorah parade at 5:30 p.m. from the school to Congregation Beth Tefillah, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs. Free to parade, $72 to purchase a menorah (kosher food also available to purchase); RSVP by Dec. 12 at tiny.cc/cmchparade.

MONDAY, DEC. 18

Menorah lighting. Chabad Intown lights a giant menorah and provides latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and more at 6 p.m. in Decatur Square. Free; chabadintown.org/chanukah.

Menorah lighting. Congregation Ner Tamid lights a giant menorah at Marietta Square at 6:30 p.m. Free; www.mynertamid.org.

Hawks and Heat. In cooperation with Chabad of Georgia, the Atlanta Hawks hold their fifth annual Jewish Heritage Night, including a menorah lighting, at 7 p.m. with a game against the Miami Heat. Tickets (including a free T-shirt to the first 200 buyers) are $24, $52, $58 and $64; hawks.com/jewishheritage.

TUESDAY, DEC. 19

Community party. Federation holds a celebration with a menorah lighting, sufganiyot, a mac-and-cheese dinner, music and more at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, East Cobb, at 6:30 p.m. Free; RSVP appreciated at jewishatlanta.org/community-hanukkah-event.

Concert. Virtuoso violinist Boris Savchuk performs at 7 p.m. at a gala at Berman Commons, 2026 Womack Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.bermancommons.org.