CELEBRATE CHANUKAH WITH CONGREGATION BETH EL
The Festival of Lights always falls during the darkest time of year, reminding us to seek out and even become sources of light in our world. Add your light to our community’s celebrations this year!
The Stars Shine Bright at Connections in December! Friday, December 12th at 1pm
Come to Beth El on Friday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. to see talented congregants sing! Dance! Tell a story! And more! Our star-studded lineup includes Bill Zarchy telling stories, Bruce Carter on piano!, Winifred Davis, Marlene Getz, Rabbi Ira Rosenberg, Ellen Faden, Sharon Friedman, Sara Kupor and her folk-dancing crew, AND the Beth El Chorus will share their talents. Stay and schmooze at the dessert social after the show (but no lunch.) Come support your friends and enjoy time together as we bring light to the darkness!
Shine Your Light - Beth El’s Chanukah Festival, Saturday, December 13th, from 4:00-8:00 pm
Help us bring in ALL OF THE LIGHTS with Beth El’s Shine Your Light Festival! Feel free to come for one, or all, parts of this ruach-filled evening, including:
A Chanukah performance for families with young children (and the young at heart!)
Havdalah followed by a Chanukah-inspired community dinner
Limos and Latkes (6th-12th grade teens only!)
Elementary school-aged activities (kids only!)
A special showing of Kadima’s Drama Chug Play
A special Chanukah Concert by Beth El’s Chorus (for everyone!)
Israeli Dancing
A Moth-style Story Hour hosted by Beth El’s B-REDI Team (Belonging through Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion).
Join Rabbi Ira for an exploration surrounding the many stories of Chanukah! Who were the Maccabbees? What is the Miracle of Oil all about? What is real and what is our sacred myth? We’ll answer all of these questions as we explore the three major texts of Chanukah from our Talmud, Josephus, and Maccabees. Click here to register for dinner beforehand!
CHANUKAH PUPPET SHOW FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
Saturday, December 13th at 4:00 pm
Warm up for your Chanukah celebration with Zaide, and Raisel the Camel, as they attempt to make latkes while various creatures interfere , including a mischievous and hungry fox.This show combines music, puppetry, and audience participation. The performers seamlessly weave the magic of Jen Miriam and members of Octapretzel together to create a fabulous show. The artistry and personalities of the puppets are stellar: and keep the audience involved and dancing throughout the show in the joy of make-believe and storytelling. The show ends with a messy and hilarious conclusion!
LIMOS & LATKES
Saturday, December 13th
Did you ever wonder what would happen when you gathered a bunch of teens, stuffed them with latkes, and threw them into limos to try to complete as many scavenger hunt challenges as possible? Wonder no more because Limos & Latkes is back and ready to bring all the light this Chanukah!
Join us Saturday, December 13th from 5:30-8:30pm for our middle schoolers and later that evening, 8-10:30pm for our high schoolers. Note: there will be separate limos by grades (and friends!). If you have any further questions, please email Brianna@bethelberkeley.org.
Click here to register for Limos and Latkes
$60/teen. Limited spots available. Latkes included.
Priority registration to Congregation Beth El teens ends December 4!
Kindly requesting grown-ups on pick-up duty to please coordinate with your teens on your preferred pick-up outside of Beth El (we need space inside the parking lot for the limos). Thank you!
ZOOM CHANUKIAH-LIGHTING HOSTED BY
BETH EL'S RITUAL COMMITTEE
Sunday, December 14th - Monday, December 22nd 6:00 pm
Join your Beth El community from home - or wherever you’ll be! - every night of Chanukah as we make the blessings, light our chanukiot together and sing some Chanukah songs!
Note: there will be no separate Zoom lighting on Friday December 19th, as we’ll light together at our Shabbanukah service.
Click here to join on Zoom!
Sun, November 30 2025
10 Kislev 5786
EVENTS
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Library Committee
Monday, Dec 1st 1:00p to 4:00p
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Ritual Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 2nd 7:00p to 9:00p
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Daf Yomi Talmud Group
Wednesday, Dec 3rd 6:30p to 7:30p