Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Beth Meyer Synagogue at these virtual and in-person events.
Night 1: Sharing Stories of Light — Virtual Community Candlelighting and Storytelling Celebration
Thursday, Dec. 10, 7:00 p.m. (ZOOM)
We are partnering with the JCC, Jewish Family Services, and Jewish Federation for a festive community night of a Chanukah candlelighting, singing and storytelling. The event will feature master storyteller, Gerald Fierst, who will delight us with tales from Jewish folklore. Community members are also welcome to share their Chanukah memories. Please see details on how submit your story. This event is free but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Night 2: Candlelighting and Welcoming Shabbat
Friday, Dec. 11, 5-5:30 p.m. (ZOOM)
Join us for the light of Hanukkah and Shabbat candles, and blessings with the Solomon family. We will create a web of light as we begin Shabbat with community and connection.
Night 3: Hanukkah Concert with Joey Weisenberg Open to the Community
Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. (ZOOM)
Light the third candle with our Beth Meyer Community followed by a concert with world-renowned musician, Joey Weisenberg. Joey is a multi-instrumentalist musician-composer, prayer leader, award-winning author and master teacher. He has devoted himself to opening up the sounds of people singing together in community. The founder and co-director of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, which aims to cultivate the grassroots musical-spiritual creativity of the Jewish people, Joey works to educate and train communities around the world to unlock their musical-spiritual potential and make music a vibrant, joy-filled force in Jewish life.
Night 4: Kadima Hanukkah Virtual Escape Room and Candlelighting
Sunday, Dec. 13, 4-5:30 p.m. (ZOOM)
We know that everyone really enjoyed our High Holidays virtual escape room together, so we are doing another one that is Hanukkah-themed! It is through the same company as the previous one, so it will be a similar set-up of answering clues and typing in the password together on teams. This time we will end with a candlelighting together over Zoom. Please RSVP by emailing programming@bethmeyer.org so we know how many games to get.
Night 5: Shining Light on Jews of Color: Speaker Night with Tema Smith
Monday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. (ZOOM)
Tema Smith is dedicated to building a meaningful and inclusive Jewish community through her work as a researcher, trainer, writer and engagement professional. Tema will talk with us about her experiences as a Jew of Color, how we might think in new ways about becoming more inclusive of Jews of Color in our our own community, and how these themes connect to the deeper spiritual messages of Hanukkah.
Night 6: Hanukkah Trivia Night
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (kids and families with young children) and 8-9 p.m. (adults) (ZOOM)
Join us for one or two sessions of Hanukkah-inspired trivia. Each session will include three rounds of trivia with prizes for winners. The earlier session is geared to families with young children along with elementary and middle school students. The later session will be geared to older teens and adults of all ages.
Night 7: CANCELED: Community Candlelighting at Beth Meyer Synagogue
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. (IN-PERSON)
Dec. 16 update: Due to inclement weather, our Community Candle Lighting is canceled this evening. Instead, we invite you to light your candles at home and connect with friends and family virtually, if possible. Also, if you have not yet registered and want to light candles with others tomorrow night, please register for our final Hanukkah event, Candlelighting Across Raleigh-Cary, and we will email you with the location of a candlelighting location that has space available.
Final Night: Candlelighting Across Raleigh-Cary
Thursday, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. (IN-PERSON)
Join us for small group gatherings hosted by Beth Meyer members/staff across our area. Gatherings will be outdoors and all are welcome, whether you live in that neighborhood or beyond. Bring your own Hanukkiah (menorah) and candles as we bring light into the dark night and share our tradition with our neighbors — Jews and non-Jews alike. It will be a great chance to build community, schmooze, and celebrate the holiday with new friends. Please register and we will email you with the location of a candlelighting location that has space available.
