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In Unity

Diverse group celebrates
Havdalah with song, dance.

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n Nov. 12, a diverse group
gathered outside the
West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center to celebrate a
musical Havdalah service held in con-
junction with Shabbat Unity programs
taking place throughout the world.
Rabbi Sasson Natan of Keter Torah
Synagogue led the Sephardi Havdalah,
including some lively traditional
melodies. Rabbi Yoni Berger of Hillel
Day School recited the Ashkenazi
Havdalah. Hillel students Eli and
Gabriel Gordon held the Havdalah
candles in loving memory of their
mother, Jennifer Lanxner, a beloved
teacher at Frankel Jewish Academy.

Milk & Honey Catering provided hot
soups.
Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of Bais
Chabad Torah Center told the group,
"Shabbat, which is devoted to God,
community and family, has always
united the Jewish people, and the
Havdalah service carries that unity
into the entire week:'
Ben Opengeym's keyboard playing
inspired some exuberant dancing. A
refugee from the former Soviet Union,
he'd never experienced Shabbat or
Havdalah before coming to the U.S. "I
was really touched, seeing everyone
dancing and excited about Havdalah,"
he said. *

Gavriel and Eli Gordon of Franklin hold Havdalah

Rabbi Shneur Silberberg

candles in memory of their mother, Jennifer

Lanxner.

The Cohn

family of West

Bloomfield:

Max, Jason,

Erika and

Abbie.

Harvey Aidem and Daniel Keyes, both

Issac ben Ezra of Keter Torah with

of West Bloomfield

Rabbi Yoni Berger of Hillel Day School

16

December 15 . 2016

Last year's Chanukah Wonderland

Holiday Fun

Updated Chanukah Wonderland
returns to Orchard Mall.

C

hanukah Wonderland, now in
its eighth year, will open to the
public Dec. 21-26 at Orchard
Mall, bringing fun-filled crafts, activi-
ties, holiday foods and pure Chanukah
joy to young and old alike.
The Wonderland will include famil-
iar crowd-favorites such as the world's
biggest dreidel-shaped moon-bounce,
a hands-on olive making demonstra-
tion, doughnut and latke-making and
a Chanukah Tot Town, plus exciting
new opportunities such as design a
Chanukah T-shirt, holiday movie cor-
ner, Chanukah game show and plenty
more for the entire family. In total,
there are some 30 entertaining and
fun-filled activities and crafts to enjoy.
A 10-foot can-menorah (or
CANorah) will be on display at the
Wonderland. All are encouraged to
bring along canned food when visiting
Chanukah Wonderland to help build
this unique menorah, which contrib-
uted close to 400 lbs. of food to the
hungry last year.
This year's Wonderland will include
an 8-foot custom-designed Coin
Menorah (or COINorah), which is
made of stained wood and Plexiglas
and will double as a giant charity
box (the branches are made to be
filled with coins). Proceeds from the
COINorah will benefit local charities
including Yad Ezra, Friends of the IDF,
JARC, Jewish Family Service and oth-
ers.
Highlights of Chanukah Wonderland
include Wednesday night's Children's
Chanukah-themed yoga and Chef
Cari's food truck. On Sunday, Home
Depot representatives will be on hand
for a workshop at which children will
learn to build their own wooden crafts.
The grand finale will take place
on Monday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m. Titled
"Unite to Ignite the evening will fea-

ture the Chicago Boys Acrobatz and
the CANorah-lighting celebration.
There will be latkes, doughnuts and
Milk and Honey-catered soups.
At the event, winners of the IN
Art Chanukah Art contest will be
announced and their awards distrib-
uted. There is no charge to attend the
Monday night festivities.
"Our goal at the Chanukah
Wonderland is for people to celebrate
and share in the joys of their Jewish
heritage and traditions:' said Rabbi
Shneur Silberberg, outreach director
at the Sara and Morris Tugman Bais
Chabad Torah Center
"Unfortunately, we've seen and
heard too much divisive behavior and
rhetoric recently:' he added. "Let's take
this opportunity to come together to
celebrate a holiday that celebrates the
victory of good over evil and empha-
sizes our ability to bring light to the
darkness:'
Chanukah Wonderland also offers
a fascinating educational experience.
Every half hour, there will be an olive
press demonstration. Children can
watch olives be pressed into oil while
hearing the Chanukah story, which
culminated in the kindling of the olive
oil-filled menorah in the Temple.
The cost of admission to Chanukah
Wonderland is $5. There is no charge
for Monday night's grand finale festivi-
ties.
Chanukah Wonderland is presented
by the Bais Chabad Torah Center in
partnership with the Orchard Mall and
Kroger and with the help of numerous
sponsors and donors.
For more information, visit www.
ChanukahWonderlandMl.com or
contact Rabbi Shneur Silberberg at
rabbishneur@baischabad.com or (248)
207-5513. *

