C

hanukah is a big 
holiday at the 
Rodgers’ house in 
Oak Park. Evan, 9, Jared, 
6, and Noah, 3 like to 
sing Chanukah songs, 
bake together and watch 
Chanukah-themed videos 
over the holiday. Their 
family even helped start 
Chanu-Con!, a community-
wide Chanukah festival 
hosted by Beth 
Shalom of Oak 
Park that just 
completed its 
seventh year. 
The event draws 
hundreds of 
participants and 
features contests, 
activities, food 
and music. 
 Evan, 9, likes lighting 
the menorah, and going to 
synagogue for Chanukah. 
He likes that there’s a 
menorah on a table up on 
the bimah and remembers 
attending when everyone 
brought their own menorah 
to shul to light. 
His family has latkes 
and gelt, and he spins 
the dreidel to try and get 
a gimmel. His favorite 
Chanukah song is 
“Chanukah, O Chanukah,” 
which he says stands out 
because it’s both a good 
song and has latkes in it. 

“When I hear those 
words, it makes me a little 
bit hungry,” he says. “It is 
a yummy song because 
there’s yummy foods in it.” 
Evan is one of the only 
Jewish kids in his class 
and says he’s proud of 
his heritage. “I really like 
being Jewish,” he says. 
“We get to celebrate all 
kinds of holidays like Rosh 
Hashanah, Yom 
Kippur, Shabbat 
and Chanukah.” 
Jared, 6, 
likes eating 
chocolate coins 
and spending 
Chanukah with his 
family. The holiday, 
he says, is about 
“dreidels, coins, 
kippahs and candles on 
the menorah.” His favorite 
part of celebrating the 
holiday is attending 
Chanu-Con! at Beth 
Shalom and jumping in the 
bounce house. 
 And for youngest 
brother Noah, 3, his 
favorite thing about 
Chanukah is a dreidel, 
which he likes to spin. He’s 
a big fan of jelly donuts 
and wearing special 
Chanukah shirts on the 
holiday. Asked what’s 
on his favorite shirt, he 
replies, “A menorah.” 

Evan and 
Jared 
Rodgers

Chanu-Con! 
Chanu-Con! 
 and Beyond
 and Beyond

DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 39

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Great Chanukah gifts!
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Riding in a Car,
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NOT
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 in a Kangaroo!

The music is the magic!