Celebrate Hanukkah with Us!
Lighting our Hanukkah Candles Together
Thursday, Dec 7 – Thursday, Dec 14 (except for Friday and Saturday), 6:15 – 6:30pm via Zoom
Each night, for a precious 15 minutes on Zoom, members will lead us in lighting our Hanukkah menorahs (chanukkiot) together, singing songs, and sharing stories.
Online Shabbat Service with Hanukkah Candle Lighting
Friday, Dec 8, 7pm via Zoom
Join us for a Zoom-only Shabbat Service which will include Hanukkah candle lighting. Have your chanukkiot and candles ready!
Hanukkah Party and Havdalah
Saturday, Dec 9, 4pm at the JCC
Bring your hanukkiah and candles and enjoy the beautiful lights as we kindle them together! We’ll have singing, games, stories, and fun – and we’ll also get to celebrate Havdalah at the end of the party.
We Hope You’ll Join Us!
קהילת עמנו אל
K’hilat Imanu El – Our Emanu-El Congregation
תורה
Torah
Study
עבודה
Avodah
Celebration
תקון אולם
Tikkun Olam
Mending the World
Shalom and thanks for visiting our Temple Emanu-El website
We are a Reform Jewish Congregation in Rochester, New York. Our members are Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and those drawn to Judaism, including multiracial, LGBTQ+, and interfaith households. We see ourselves as a family, where everyone’s participation is sought and appreciated. We invite you to attend our services and events, and share in our warm, informal approach to Reform Judaism.
Coming Up at Temple Emanu-El
Shabbat Service
Friday, Dec 1, 7pm at the JCC
Chevre Torah Study Groups Online
Saturday, Dec 2, 10am and 11:05am via Zoom
Jewish Holidays: Tradition and Practice
Wednesday, Dec 6, 7pm via Zoom
Hanukkah Candle Lighting Together
Thursday, Dec 7 – Thursday, Dec 14 (except for Friday and Saturday), 6:15-6:30pm via Zoom
Online Shabbat Service and Candle Lighting
Friday, Dec 8, 7pm via Zoom
Chevre Torah Study Groups Online
Saturday, Dec 8, 10am and 11:05am via Zoom
Hanukkah Party and Havdalah
Saturday, Dec 9, 4pm at the JCC
See Our Full Calendar of Services and Events
Rabbi Drorah Setel’s Dec 6 Message
This year, more than ever, the celebration of Hanukkah has led me to think about the different stories associated with the holiday. In the Books of Maccabees (not included in the Jewish Bible, but preserved in some Christian versions), Hanukkah originates as a festival rededicating the Second Temple after the Maccabees’ military victory over the Greek occupiers of Judea. The Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee, were militant warriors who championed the cause of Jewish sovereignty. Their revolt was fueled by a desire to resist Hellenistic influence and preserve the distinct religious and cultural identity of the Jewish people. For the Maccabees, power was synonymous with physical strength, military prowess, and the ability to assert independence in the face of external oppression.
