Chanukah is Coming to town....

 

December's art project became the creation of 'Marc Chagall' windows for the Social Hall.  The theme this year was the twelve tribes of Israel..students looked up symbols of one of the tribes, then made a stained glass window with sharpee markers on acetate. 

 

Ms. Margie Edelman always inspires the students to work hard and put their creativity to use!  

 

Cute face.

 

This student's window actually resembled one of the real Marc Chagal windows in Israel.

 

The final Religious school session before vacation featured spinning dreidels and eating gelt!

 

Laura Wenham and some student volunteers put the windows up this year...Ms. Edelman was grateful for the help!

 

These are the windows by day.....

 

The good people of the Garden City Jewish Center did two drives this year: a coat drive for the INN (ongoing), and a Coat and gift card drive for the immigrant students of Great Neck High School.  The latter drive was started by Marissa Krupen to benefit the students of a teacher- friend...one student had never had a coat before. He hugged his donation before putting it on.

 

Two friends showed off the newly installed stained glass windows.

 

Here is a view of the fantastic windows from outside, at night!  The Chanukah Party was December 23rd!

 

The GCJC caretaker, Lainie D'Vanzo pitched in and did a mitzvah by helping Peter Tittler and me set up for the Latke and dessert party.  Sharon Carbone also got right to work.

 

One of our newer families posed at the party.

 

A grandma watched her grandaughter light the Chanukah candles.

 

A sweet boy and his Grampa.

 

These siblings pose for me every year!

 

Another one of our great families showed off the windows.

 

Nice.

 

Notice they are having pancakes with that applesauce?😏

 

Great looking group!

 

Kids brought friends to join in the fun!

 

Ms. Carolyn Hoera and Debby Rood Goldman both wore dreidel headbands, and were not embarrassed!

 

The ice cream sundae making is really everybody's favorite part of the celebration! Save some coffee for Rabbi Goodman!

 

The students gathered before the Bimah as Rabbi got ready to read Too Many Latkes ( a Strega Nona type of story). 

 

We wish all of our members and their families a Happy Chanukah and safe, healthy holiday season!  See you in 2017!

November activities!

 

The Sukkah engineers took down this year's sukkah.

 

Which is more fun, guys? Putting it up or taking it down?  Either way, we thank these dedicated Temple members.

 

Cantor conducts an informal Hebrew class.

 

Rabbi Goodman leads a tutoring session.

 

The main project with Ms. Margie Edelman this past month, was the Joseph mural.  It is on display down in the hall of the Religious school.

 

You can see scenes of Joseph being dragged into captivity, working for Potiphar, and explaining his dreams of grandeur to his brothers.

 

The prison scene was embellished with paper clip 'chains'.

 

The students even designed and cut out the graphics.

 

Students made some Thank you cards for their families before Thanksgiving.

 

We have nice cooperation between friends.

 

Rabbi Goodman and Cantor Lavranchuk took the Juniors and Seniors to 7-11 for a reward! This is a highly anticipated activity!

 

A happy customer enjoys her junk food.

 

More happy campers during Sev Day!  

Looking forward, the students will be making Marc Chagall stained glass windows to decorate our Social Hall for Chanukah!  

Simchat Torah!

The holiday season ended with Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrations here at the GCJC. 

Three friends posed outside the Sukkah after decorating with signs and vegetables, chains and fruit.  It was in beautiful shape for the holidays...the sukkah gets deconstructed this Sunday, Oct. 30th.  Come help!

 

The Religious school students enjoyed their snack in this year's sukkah. Rabbi Stephen Goodman and Cantor Lavrunchuk demonstrated how to wave the lulav.

 

Students smelled the etrog during the sukkah snack.

 

After the Oct. 23rd pizza party, the congregation went into the sanctuary for the Simchat Torah service and parade.  Thank you to Steve and Gail Feldman and Margie Edelman for all the photos!

 

Our fearless leader, Rabbi Stephen Wise Goodman.

 

One of our new members.

 

Sisterhood President Deborah Zuckerman

 

Our current President, Howard Edelman

 

Former Sisterhood President Gail Feldman

 

More 'newish' members march with the Torah.

 

The one and only Norma Mindel!

 

Some of our youngest Temple members, in motion!

 

This year, seven new students were consecrated under the Torah scroll.

 

The children are told that one day, they will be able to read all those Hebrew words that are above them. They also received little miniature Torah scrolls of their own.

 

Welcome to all of our new and returning families.  We hope to see everyone at Friday evening services, pot luck suppers ( first Fridays of each month, at 7pm), early services (third Fridays of the month at 7pm), or at the Latke and Dessert Chanukah party on Friday, December 23rd!  Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, you should be coming to Friday services!