16 | NOVEMBER 14 • 2024 J
N

F

rom its founding to its 
upcoming ninth annual 
installment, Chanu-Con! is 
first and foremost a “Community-
Wide Chanukah Festival.” Beth 
Rodgers, the event founder 
and leader, goes to all lengths 
necessary to make sure everyone 
feels welcome to attend and to 
participate fully in the shopping, 
activities and food.

“We are very excited to be 
taking Chanu-Con! into its ninth 
year,” shared Rodgers. “We are 
thrilled to be bringing in new 
sponsors, vendors and activities 
to go along with many returning 
people and facets of the event. We 
can’t wait to welcome everyone on 
Dec. 8!”
One new sponsor and children’s 
activity facilitator this year will 
be Row House 13 Mile, owned by 
Jake Segall and Jamie Parker. 
“I’ve been going to Beth Shalom 
since I was a young child and 
now, along with my significant 

other and business partner at Row 
House, I am glad to give back to 
the community that has supported 
me so much over the years,” Segall 
said. “We hope that having a 
fitness facility involved in Chanu-
Con! will inspire people to seek 
the strength the Maccabees found 
in those days of miracles.”
Returning children’s activity 
facilitator, Habonim Dror Camp 
Tavor, doubled down this year and 
committed to being a new event 
sponsor in addition to facilitating 
creating dreamcatchers. 

Randy Lubratich, community 
engagement coordinator at 
Habonim Dror Camp Tavor, said, 
“We’re so excited to be part of 
Chanu-Con! at Congregation Beth 
Shalom and to reconnect with this 

amazing community. It’s a great 
chance for everyone to get to know 
Camp Tavor and for us to get to 
know them!” 
She added, “Events like this 
let us bring some of the fun and 
creativity we have at camp right 
to kids and parents. Tavor is all 
about creating a fun, inclusive 
and welcoming space for kids 
from second to 12th grade. We’re 
passionate about helping campers 
grow into kind, confident young 
people who care about the world 
and their Jewish identity, and 
events like Chanu-Con! give us the 
chance to share that mission with 
even more families. We can’t wait 
to bring a little bit of Camp Tavor’s 
spirit to the community and 
show how much fun and growth 

our campers experience every 
summer!” 
There are also lots of returning 
activities, vendors and sponsors. 
Chanu-Con! guests can look 
forward to great holiday shopping, 
live music, 50/50 raffle, magic and 
so much more. Again this year, 
guests can shop for fine art from 
the Safrai Art Gallery of Jerusalem.
This year, delicious kosher food 
from Soul Café will be available 
for purchase. Soul Cafe is part of 
Friendship Circle of Michigan, 
which is also participating in 
Chanu-Con! for the first time 
this year and will be facilitating a 
creative activity for all to enjoy.
Admission to Chanu-Con! 
is free. Donations are always 
welcome. 

The fun starts Dec. 8 at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Ninth Annual Chanu-Con!

YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Details
Chanu-Con! takes place Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1-5 p.m. at 
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601 Lincoln St., Oak Park. 
The event is free. Learn more at bit.ly/chanucon2024.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BETH SHALOM

Guests can shop for 
art from the Safrai Art 
Gallery of Jerusalem.

A scene from last 
year’s Chanu-Con!

