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!