The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is a festival of lights symbolized by the lighting of a menorah for eight days to commemorate the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century. During the temple’s rededication, a small amount of oil miraculously lit its nine-candle menorah for eight days, the roots of a tradition. Throughout metro Atlanta, Jews and gentiles alike will honor this event by gathering to light menorahs — and hopefully spark a light of acceptance, understanding and tolerance.
“As opposed to other Jewish holidays, Hanukkah’s message is about religious liberty and freedom,” said Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz of Chabad of North Fulton. “It’s important to celebrate it in the most public way because it’s a message to people that every human being, especially in the land of the free, has a right to celebrate and practice their religion as they wish.
“Especially in these times when antisemitism is so prevalent, it’s even more important now to get the message to the streets,” Minkowicz added. “We’re putting specific emphasis on creating Hanukkah events in the public space to take religious liberty to the masses, Jewish and non-Jewish.”
Credit: Photo courtesy of Atlantic Station
Credit: Photo courtesy of Atlantic Station
There is no set date for Hanukkah (or Chanukah), which is always on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the movement of the sun, the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar — based on both the sun and the moon. But the holiday usually starts in late November or early December; this year it’s from Dec. 25 until Jan. 2, 2025.
Because of Hanukkah’s late start, some annual celebrations have already taken place. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, for instance, hosted its yearly Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 15 with performer Michael Levine talking to young ones about the traditions and presenting a special musical performance.
“He breaks Hanukkah down to a kid-friendly level, and they end up dancing and singing along,” said Rebecca Jackson, a museum spokesperson. “It’s a cool way for non-Jewish children and families to learn about a holiday that maybe they don’t celebrate in their home but has a beautiful message.”
Hanukkah on the Beltline, an event with Congregation Bet Haverim, took place Dec. 2 where folks gathered at the Krog Street Tunnel and then walked down the Beltline singing and carrying illuminated lanterns.
“We’re trying to bring Judaism to the world,” said Sara Elan, chief operating officer at Chabad Intown. “We want more Jewish people to do Jewish things.”
Credit: Photo courtesy of Jamestown
Credit: Photo courtesy of Jamestown
While Hanukkah is a family holiday, some celebrations bring an extra kid-friendly kick. For instance, menorah lightings in Alpharetta, Marietta, Decatur and Dunwoody will have live entertainment, music, food and games. Meanwhile ceremonies at Alpharetta’s Avalon complex and in Marietta engage fire departments to bring a hook and ladder truck for a “chocolate gelt drop.” Gelt is a Yiddish word meaning money or gold. Oftentimes chocolate gelt — chocolate candy wrapped in gold foil to look like coins — is given to children at Hanukkah to help teach them about wealth and charity.
“The gelt drop is a favorite, and the younger kids bring their own toy fire trucks to the menorah lighting to be like the firemen,” said Mia Shull, 11, who lives in Johns Creek and attends the menorah lighting at Avalon. “The firemen extend the ladder all the way to the top and then drop gelt. We use gelt when we play dreidel.” Dreidel is a four-sided spinning top played during Hanukkah.
While some of the activities are cherished traditions, other Hanukkah traditions are more contemporary, such as eating Chinese food.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Chabad Intown
Credit: Photo courtesy of Chabad Intown
Chabad Intown celebrates Hanukkah with menorah lightings in Virginia-Highland, Ponce City Market, Decatur and Atlantic Station. But it also sponsors a Chinese dinner, which is a “kinda funny take on Jews having Chinese on Christmas,” said Elan. A chef whips up a kosher vegetarian Chinese meal on Dec. 25 at Chabad Intown’s Poncey-Highland neighborhood headquarters, and the community is invited to “get more Jewish and just show up,” she said.
Congregation Gesher L’Torah in Alpharetta also sponsors a Chinese dinner and movie on Dec. 25. The General Muir, a New York-style Jewish deli, is serving Chinese Xmas Eve Eve dinners on Dec. 22 and 23 that also would be perfect for Hanukkah. The restaurant, near Emory University, is fixing a Hanukkah dinner for two nights, Dec. 27-28, as well.
For Mia, celebrating Hanukkah at Avalon is a “nice way to be with other Jewish people in my community to collectively celebrate this amazing holiday. It’s important for us to be all together and, especially in times like this, to just be proud to be Jewish, and it’ll reflect on other people as well. If they see us proud of being Jewish and having fun, maybe they’ll join us.”
Has she ever brought non-Jewish friends to a menorah lighting ceremony? “No,” she said. “But it’s not a bad idea. I think I will.”
HANUKKAH HAPPENINGS
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Dec. 25
Light Up Downtown Alpharetta with Chabad North Fulton and the city of Alpharetta will feature a giant menorah lighting as well as latkes, doughnuts, music and crafts. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 25. Free. 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 678-297-6000, alpharetta.ga.us.
GLT Hanukkah Party. 5:45 p.m. menorah lighting, 6 p.m. Chinese dinner and a movie, Dec. 25. $10 per person, $36 maximum for a household. Congregation Gesher L’Torah, 4320 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta. 770-777-4009, wearegesher.org.
Hanukkah Family Fun Day with games, crafts and learning activities. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 25. Free. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. 678-812-3993, atlantajcc.org.
Celebrate Chanukah with Chabad Intown. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 25. Music, live entertainment, prepackaged Chanukah treats, dreidels. Suggested donation, $18. Corner of North Highland Avenue and St. Charles Place. 404-898-0434, chabadintown.org.
Chanukah Chinese dinner. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 25. $50 per person (suggested) or pay what you can. Jeff’s Place at Chabad Intown, 730 Ponce de Leon Place. 404-898-0434, chabadintown.org.
Menorah lighting with Chabad Buckhead for a family-friendly evening that includes live music, latkes, doughnuts, beverages, kids crafts and family games. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 25. The Veranda at Buckhead Village, 217 Buckhead Ave. 770-954-4312, buckheadvillagedistrict.com.
Dec. 26
Celebrate Chanukah with Chabad of North Fulton. 5 p.m. Dec. 26. Free. 12615 Broadwell Road, Milton. 770-410-9000, chabadnf.org.
Ponce City Market Menorah Lighting with Chabad Intown. 6-7:30. Dec. 26. Lighting event free. Attendees can celebrate the Festival of Lights with food, drinks, music and children’s activities. $18 (suggested). 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-898-0434, chabadintown.org.
Menorah Lighting with Chabad of Kennesaw. 5-7 p.m. Dec. 26. Free. 2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave., Kennesaw. 770-424-8274, kennesaw-ga.gov.
Flame Chanukah Party. Celebrate with young Jewish adults, with a lighting ceremony and after-party with a live DJ, latke and doughnut bar. 7-11 p.m. Dec. 26. $40-$60. Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-898-0434, yjpintown.org.
Dec. 28
CYP Chanukah Party sponsored by Chabad Young Professionals of Buckhead and Brookhaven. 8 p.m. Dec. 28. $40-$50. Bar Thirty, 30 Irby Ave. 770-954-4312, cypbuckhead.org.
Menorah lighting led by Rabbi Joseph Prass of Congregation Ner Tamid with Hanukkah music, raffles, prizes, free hot chocolate, doughnuts, latkes and chocolate gelt drop. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28. Free. Glover Park Stage, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta. 678-264-8575, mynertamid.info.
Dec. 29
Kesher Torah Family Chanukah Party with menorah lighting, latkes, spinning dreidels. 3-5 p.m. Dec. 29. $36 per person. Kesher Torah Atlanta, 5075 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 470-746-6627, keshertorahatlanta.org.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Avalon/Rafterman
Credit: Photo courtesy of Avalon/Rafterman
Menorah Lighting at Avalon with Chabad of North Fulton, with a sculpted ice menorah, gelt drop, music, entertainment and refreshments. 5-6 p.m. Dec. 29. Free. The Living Room (located between Café Intermezzo and Five Daughters), 400 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. 770-765-2000, experienceavalon.com.
Decatur Menorah Lighting with Chabad Intown, featuring music, entertainment, dreidels, doughnuts, hot latkes and crafts for children. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29. $18 suggested donation per family. 509 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-898-0434, chabadintown.org.
Menorah Lighting at Avenue East Cobb with Chabad of Cobb, with family-friendly activities, Hanukkah treats, gelt drop with the Cobb County Fire Department. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 29. The Plaza at Avenue East Cobb. 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-971-9945, avenueeastcobb.com.
Menorah Lighting. 4-5 p.m. Dec. 29. The Plaza at the Forum Peachtree Corners, 5515 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners. 770-368-8811, theforumpeachtree.com.
Dec. 30
12th Annual Menorah Lighting with Rabbi Zalman Charytan from the Chabad Jewish Center. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 30. Free. Doyal Hill Park, 4410 Cherokee St., Acworth. 770-974-8813, acworthtourism.org.
Chabad Intown Grand Menorah Lighting. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 30. Celebrate with treats and activities. Free but RSVP is required. Atlantic Station, 1380 Atlantic Drive. 404-410-4010, atlanticstation.com.
Dec. 31
Car Menorah Parade with Chabad of North Fulton will feature a lineup of cars with menorahs in them. 5 p.m. Dec. 31. Free. Starts at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, and finishes at Newton Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. 770-410-9000, chabadnf.org.
Various times
Donuts and Dreidels with Baby, sponsored by PJ Library, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and JBaby. Sandy Springs: 4-5:30 p.m. Dec. 25. Ages 2 and under, and big siblings. Intown: 5-6:30 p.m. Dec. 25. Ages 2 and under. East Cobb: 5:45-7 p.m. Dec. 26. Ages 8 and under. Brookhaven: 3-4 p.m. Dec. 27. Ages 8 and under. Free. Specific location will be given upon registration. 404-873-1661, jewishatlanta.org.
About the Author
