Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

A Special Chanukah Gathering will be held Sunday, the first night of Chanukah, on Dec. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. with a Chanukah Candle Lighting service with a Latke Party that evening. Congregation Sinai President Jack Gartner announced, “This event will be free and open to the entire Jewish community of the Greater Central Florida area. We will light candles and serve latkes with applesauce and sour cream, salad, jelly doughnuts, punch, water, ice tea and sodas.”

This Jewish festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights. Chanukah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew Calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabra with nine branches, called a menorah or a hanukkiah. One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the Shamash. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the Shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival. Chanukah festivities include playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and jelly donuts also known as sufganiyot, with dairy foods.

Joe and Lynn Goldovitz provide distinctively unique spiritual leadership. This organization serves as a house of prayer, assembly and study in which the spectrum of Jewish expression is cultivated, protected and nurtured. They provide educational programs for children and adults, bible study groups, bar/bat mitzvah study programs and group tours to Israel. They strive to educate adults and children in Judaism’s rich heritage with contemporary significance, while sharing Jewish culture, rituals, traditions and values.

For more information about the Chanukah Gathering or Friday night Shabbat services, membership and special events; contact: Congregation Sinai at: 1200 West Broad Street, Groveland, FL 34736 at the edge of Clermont. Phone 352-243-5353. Email info@congregation-sinai.org and visit http://www.congregation-sinai.org.