We invite you to end your week and welcome Shabbat with us as we celebrate Hanukkah together!

Hanukkah doesn’t start until December 25 this year, and since many in our congregation may be away, we’re celebrating early! Join us as we bring the warmth of Hanukkah into the cold of winter with a celebratory oneg including hot and cold treats, foods, and much more. Participate in fire and ice activities, art projects and so much more! Come dressed as you normally would for Shabbat OR if you want to be a bit more festive, wear an ugly Hanukkah sweater, a favorite pair of Hanukkah pajamas, or dress in red to bring the heat or blue if you want to play it cool. 

5:00 pm – Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner

At 6:00 pm and again after the service — Have something to eat (to tide you over or as your dinner), a drink (we offer a full bar, plus non-alcoholic options), and connect with your community.

Kids are always welcome, and they’ll be able to eat before (and after) the service, play Connect 4, Jenga, and cornhole games, create at a coloring table, and do other arts & crafts activities.

6:25 pm — Candle lighting in the Sanctuary. Bring your own hanukkiyot and we’ll supply the candles!

6:30 pm — Our Shabbat service begins. We’re thrilled to have Rabbi Gabby Dagan of Or Hadash, our twin congregation in Haifa, Israel join us this evening.

ABOUT RABBI DAGAN

Rabbi Dagan was born in the development town of Hatzor Ha-Gelilit in the north of Israel to a traditional Morrocan-Iranian Orthodox family. Gabby was educated within the Orthodox stream of the Israeli education system and in a B’nei Akiva Yeshivah. Following his army service as a Religious Affairs Officer, Gabby left the Orthodox way of life for academic studies. He has a BA in Sociology, Anthropology, and Politics and an MA in Jewish History from Haifa University. Rabbi Dagan has served as a congregational rabbi in Haifa for the last 13 years and is now in partnership with Rabbi Naama Dafni Kelen as co-senior rabbis of Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa, Israel.

Watch the Livestream

After the service — Stay for our special Hanukkah oneg!

RSVP HERE

The Women of WHC’s Judaica Shop will also be on hand with a special pop-up shop so you can stock up on all the Hanukkah essentials. (Pro tip: they also have awesome gifts too!)

Special thanks to our musicians who add so much to the service. We wouldn’t have them without the support of the Irene & Abe Pollin Music Program Initiative.

This year’s Shabbat Hanukkah celebration is generously sponsored by Emily and Marc Gerson through the Susan and Stephen Porter Memorial Fund.

This week’s featured menu items include:
(GF – Gluten-free, V – Vegetarian, VG – Vegan)

PRE-ONEG (The Simple Greek)

• Grilled Shredded Chicken (GF)
• Falafel (VG)
• Pita Bread (V)
• Tzatziki (Contains dairy. May contain gluten.)

ONEG

• Latkes — Bethesda Bagels (V – contains egg) & from Red Bandana Bakery (GF, VG)
• Mini Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts) — Attman’s Potomac Deli (V) & Sticky Fingers (VG)
• Churros — Churros, Inc. (VG)
• Sno Cones (GF, VG)

If you would like to sponsor a portion of a future Shabbat@WHC to celebrate a milestone or honor a memory, please contact Margaret Cohen, Director of Philanthropy, at mcohen@whctemple.org.