Photo Credit: Herbert Hitchon
Chanukah in Carefree
Fifth Anniversary!
Menorah lighting at the
Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion
November 28 – December 5th
5:30 pm MST
This is an outdoor event and we are also LIVE streaming every night.
Please use the links provided below for each specific night.
This year Chanukah in Carefree will be celebrating our Fifth year anniversary with a wonderful event on Community Night, the first night of Chanukah, on Sunday, November 28, 2021. Please join us and our chosen charity Foothills Caring Corps who will be lighting the menorah and leading the prayers and songs. After the ceremony we will have a celebration in the Pavilion with food, drinks, and live music. There will be a raffle and other surprises as we celebrate our five years of bringing Chanukah to the Carefree and greater community.
- 1st Night – Sunday, November 28
- Community Night – Fifth Anniversary Celebration
Foothills Caring Corps will lead the lighting and the whole community is invited to come and celebrate the 5th anniversary of Chanukah in Carefree with live music, food, drinks and raffles.
- Community Night – Fifth Anniversary Celebration
- 2nd Night – Monday, November 29
- Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association
This is a Jewish organization located in the North Scottsdale/Carefree/Cave Creek area. Bonnie Clewans, President DFJCA and Dorothy Gaynor, Cantorial Soloist will be representing the group in lighting the menorah and sharing information about the activities of the Association.
- Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association
- 3rd Night – Tuesday, November 30
- Martin Pear JCC (Jewish Community Center)
The JCC Early Childhood Center, Shemesh Camp, Sports Department and PJ Library will be lighting candles, ECC will lead us in song, plus we will have games, activities, and art to do with the children in the community.
- Martin Pear JCC (Jewish Community Center)
- 4th Night – Wednesday, December 1
- Phoenix Holocaust Association
A Great Miracle Happened: The Generation After the Holocaust – Janice Friebaum’s father was a Holocaust survivor from Warsaw, Poland. Currently serving as vice president of PHA, Janice will share her affecting story of growing up in the long shadows of trauma and loss, and how being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor has shaped her life.
- Phoenix Holocaust Association
- 5th Night – Thursday December 2
- Arizona Jewish Historical Society
Martin Richelsoph, a Cave Creek resident, will be lighting the menorah and discuss some of the archive work he is involved with at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. He will be joined by Dr. Lawrence Bell, Executive Director who will also bring some Chanukah spirit to this evening. His presentation will include information about AZJHS and the 100th Anniversary of the building.
- Arizona Jewish Historical Society
- 6th Night – Friday December 3
- The Bauman Family (Shabbat)
The Bauman family has been leading a heartwarming family Shabbat ceremony during Chanukah for all five years of this event in Carefree.
- The Bauman Family (Shabbat)
- 7th Night – Saturday December 4
- Jewish Social Group of Cave Creek and Carefree (Havdalah)
This group was founded by Ora Kurland in 2015. The group’s mission is to create a Jewish community in the Cave Creek/Carefree/North Scottsdale area through monthly events focused on Jewish holidays, values, culture and, above all, friendship. Tonight’s presentation will include the ceremony of Havdalah to mark the end of Shabbat.
- Jewish Social Group of Cave Creek and Carefree (Havdalah)
- 8th Night – Sunday December 5
- Temple Chai Musical Night with Cantor & Adult Choir
This evening will feature Cantor Ross Wolman & Temple Chai’s Adult Choir under the direction of Daniel Kurek. They will sing some classics and some new tunes. It will be a musical night to remember!
- Temple Chai Musical Night with Cantor & Adult Choir
In the Spirit of Giving…
Each year, Chanukah in Carefree helps to raise awareness and money for a worthy cause (Tzedakah) during this season of giving. This year 2021, we have chosen to give this Tzedakah to Foothills Caring Corps. Their mission is dedicated to promoting independence and enhancing the quality of life for Neighbors: older adults and persons with disabling conditions who reside throughout the Foothills Community. Some of the wonderful things they do for the community include transportation to medical appointments, recreational van program, mobile meals, mobility loan closet, friendly visits and phone calls, pet visits, grocery shopping assistance, minor home repairs, caregiver relief, basic technology help and neighborhood resources. Please consider a donation today during this season of giving.
Please consider donating
by clicking the button below…
Chanukah Events Calendar and LIVE Stream Links
INFORMATION ON CHANUKAH
Chanukah, or the Festival of Lights, commemorates the recapture of Jerusalem and re-dedication of the Temple in 139 BCE after it was looted and desecrated by the Seleucid Greeks. The re-dedication followed a series of improbable military victories over larger and better equipped forces by a group called the Maccabees (Maccabee means “Hammer” in Hebrew).
Not only was G-d’s providence evident in the military sense, but when the temple was cleaned and the Menorah (seven-branched candelabra) remade it was discovered that there was almost no oil available to burn for the lights, perhaps a day’s supply. In the great miracle of Chanukah, the lamps were lit and the oil lasted – eight full days until more was made available. These eight days are the reason for the length of the holiday according to legend.
Today we celebrate each year in early winter by lighting a nine-branched menorah or “Chanukiyah”. One candle commemorates each day of the miracle and a ninth is called the “Shammash” meaning “helper” or “servant” – it is used to light the others. The Shammash also has a connotation of “teacher”, one who coaxes learning from a student in the way a flame is brought from wax.
More recently, other fun traditions have sprung up including giving gifts, playing games including with the “dreidl” or 4-sided top and eating potato pancakes (“latkes”) fried in oil, of course! Happy Chanukah!
