Chanukah fun for the family begins in Greater Hartford on Nov. 28, with activities planned for the Mandell JCC’s West Hartford campus beginning Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015.

Submitted photo

Submitted by Larah Winn, Mandell JCC

With Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, just around the corner, the Mandell JCC is ready to celebrate, with fun for the family, including readings, candle lightings, tastings, and hands-on activities to celebrate Chanukah at various locations throughout Greater Hartford and at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT.

Chanukah celebrations at the Mandell JCC begins on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. with DIY Chanukah with Rita Brownstein, a hands-on holiday workshop creating decorative paper dreidels to take home and use throughout Chanukah.

Also new this year is the Chanukah Fair: Eight Days of Fun Rolled into One! on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. Families will celebrate the first night of Chanukah by tasting delicious latkes, Painting their own Chanukah pottery with the Claypen, creating your own wooden menorahs, listening to PJ Library stories, making holiday cards and more.

Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., the entire family can enjoy a festive concert with Israeli Defense Force soldiers performing live Israeli music.

Daily candle lightings will also take place in the Chase Family Gallery starting Sunday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. The Friday, Dec. 11 candle lighting will be at 3:30 p.m

The Mandell JCC is also involved with Chanukah activities throughout Greater Hartford, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.

Stop by the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, for Simsbury Celebrates Chanukah for an evening of Chanukah crafts, edible dreidel making, dreidel games and card decorating.

The celebration continues Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Blue Back Square Annual Holiday Stroll in West Hartford.

Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m., is Intergenerational Chanukah Fun! New this year, PJ Library and Hoffman Summerwood join together for Intergenerational Chanukah Fun with Chanukah songs, PJ Library stories and a Chanukah craft at the Hoffman Summerwood Community, 160 Simsbury Rd., West Hartford. Throughout Chanukah PJ Library of Greater Hartford will also be offering story times at Barnes & Noble at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, Canton on Dec. 8 at 11 a.m.; Blue Back Square, West Hartford on Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m.; and Somerset Square, Glastonbury on Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m.

The Chanukah Fair is Free with a $10 fee for Claypen art and DIY Chanukah with Rita Brownstein is $10 per person adults only. To register contact the Member Services Center, 860-236-4571.

For more information about PJ Library events, contact Jane Pasternak, 860-231-6342, [email protected].

For more information about the IDF musical ensemble, contact Michal Abramoff, 860-231-6333, [email protected].

For more information on the Mandell JCC’s Chanukah events, contact Elana Macgilpin, [email protected], 860-231-6327 or visit www.mandelljcc.org.

For news and updates, follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook and Twitter.

The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, and a member of the JCC Association of North America. All dates and programs subject to change.