JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 39
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h, what fun was had by one and all at Congregation 
Beth Shalom’s Chanu-Con! “Chanu-Con! is a 
labor of love, put on by Beth Shalom volunteers 
who want to bring the community together at the inclusive 
event,” said Beth Rodgers, event founder and participant. “It 
is meant for people of all ages, as there is truly something 
for everyone at Chanu-Con!” 
The array of vendors included everything from art and 
skin care to food and books and so much more. 
Juliana Schewe-Jackson, director of fitness and education 
at Nature’s Playhouse, led a children’s yoga class. “Nature’s 
Playhouse had a wonderful time at Chanu-Con! We have 
participated in this event for the past few years and it’s 
always a fun time,” she said
 “This year, there were more children who attended the 
kids’ yoga class and they all seemed to have fun and enjoy 
the class.”
Longtime participant and local illustrator, muralist and 
author Howard Fridson, read his book Our Family Treasure 
to a room full of eager listeners. “Cathy and I have enjoyed 
the Chanu-Con! experience every year since Beth’s kids 
thought up the idea,” Fridson recalled. 
“It’s so great to see the shul full of people on that day. I 
always reserve a table to sell books I’ve illustrated. In fact, 
Beth wrote a book about the event and asked me to do the 
drawings. It’s called Welcome to Chanu-Con!”
Guests at Chanu-Con! also had a chance to enjoy live 
music by Matthew Ball as well as Joe Marks and Rob 
Gutman.
If you are feeling some post-Chanukah blues, don’t worry. 
The date is set for Chanu-Con! 2024. “We are excited to wel-
come everyone back for our ninth annual event on Sunday, 
Dec. 8, 2024,” Rodgers said. 

Oh, What Fun 
at Chanu-Con!

STORY BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN
PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN AND 
PROVIDED BY BETH SHALOM

Jackie Perlman, a multi-year 
vendor

Joe Marks and Rob Gutman play music for 
Chanu-Con! guests.

Howard Fridson and Yevgeniya 
Gazman

Matthew Ball plays music 
for Chanu-Con! guests.

Juliana Schewe-Jackson from Nature’s Playhouse leads children’s yoga.

Chanu-Con 2023 vendors at Beth Shalom