Here comes Hanukkah

Holiday happenings are in full force – and today marks the first day of Hanukkah. 🕎

For those of you less-versed than Adam Sandler, Hanukkah or Chanukah, a.k.a. the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the Jewish people overcoming religious persecution (and the “miraculous” story of a lamp burning for much longer than it should have), celebrated every year over the course of 8 days. Festivities include lighting a different candle on the menorah every night, enjoying traditional food with your family (like sufganiyot + latkes), playing a few games of dreidel with the kids + exchanging small gifts with your loved ones. This year, Hanukkah begins tonight, Dec. 12, and lasts until the night of Dec. 20.

When Cola was first appointed as the state’s capital in 1786, seven Jewish men from Charleston were a few of the first to buy land in the city – and by 1830, ~70 Jews were among Columbia’s growing population. They brought several grocery stores + restaurants to Cola and also served the community as lawyers, physicians + educators. The Tree of Life Congregation was founded in 1896, and in 1912, Beth Shalom synagogue was founded.

Today, the Columbia Jewish community has flourished. Beth Shalom now hosts the Cutler Jewish Day School. In 2005, the Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center was constructed. There are groups at UofSC like Chabad and Hillel, and a Jewish Federation of Columbia that has a yo-pro group and hosts a slew of programs, like Shalom, Y’all. Some of our community’s most celebrated events include the local Jewish film festivaland food fests Bubbie’s Brisket and Bakery + The BIG NOSH presented by Tree of Life Congregation.

Here are some of the Jewish community’s upcoming Hanukkah events in Columbia:

State House Menorah Lighting & Car Menorah Parade | Dec. 12 (tonight), 3:30-7:30 p.m. | S.C. State House | 1100 Gervais St.
Giant Menorah Lighting And Chanukah Party | Dec. 14, 5-11:50 p.m. | Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center | 306 Flora Dr.| lighting of the largest Menorah in the Southeast
Harmony School Winter Concert | Dec. 14, 7-8 p.m. | Tree of Life Congregation, social hall | 6719 N Trenholm Rd. | free
Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Party | Dec. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Chabad South Carolina | 2509 Decker Blvd. | $12-50
Tree of Life Chanukah Celebration + Latke Dinner | Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m. | Tree of Life Congregation, social hall | 6719 N Trenholm Rd. | free to register | bring supper + your favorite menorah for the lighting
Beth Shalom Synagogue: Shabbat Evening Services | Dec. 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 5827 N. Trenholm Rd. | every 7 days until Jan. 19
Tree of Life Congregation: Shabbat Evening Services | Dec. 15, 7:30-9:30 p.m. | 6719 N Trenholm Rd. | every Friday
Beth Shalom Synagogue: Shabbat Morning Services | Dec. 16, 9:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 5827 N. Trenholm Rd. | every 7 days until Jan. 27 | Kiddush luncheon after services + Talmud study with Rabbi Case after Kiddush
Lights, Cocoa & Sufganyot | Dec. 17, 5-6 p.m. | Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center | 306 Flora Dr. | jelly donuts, latkes, hot cocoa + kids activities | free
Movie & Chinese Dinner: The Wedding Plan | Dec. 25, 6-8 p.m. | Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center | 306 Flora Dr. | free

If you know of any other Hanukkah events coming up that we missed, be sure to let us know.

December is my favorite month because it’s always full of giving, family + friends (and don’t forget the homemade food). It’s sometimes easy to get swept up in all the Christmas cheer and forget that everyone in our community isn’t focused on baby Jesus and Saint Nick. I encourage all of you to get involved in all the celebrations that this season has to offer – and possibly show some interfaith love + support.

Happy Holidays,

–Megan

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