December 26, 2024

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

Today is the first day of Chanukah, which was never canonized in Jewish texts. The main reason for this is because the Rabbis viewed the violence and the bloodshed of the Maccabees’ victory over the Greco-Syrians as incompatible with the Jewish values they were promoting. Instead, over the millennia, Jewish thinkers and teachers chose to focus on the lovely idea of our “Festival of Lights.” As we gather with family and friends to continue the tradition of lighting our chanukiot, spinning the dreidels, eating latkes and sufganiyot, and enjoying the spirit of the season, I feel the comfort of rallying behind the idea of light in darker times.

Being together to celebrate is a hallmark of this time of year, and I am proud of the many ways the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center’s programs connect our community members to each other. What a joy to see a sold-out crowd enjoying an annual tradition -- A Very Jewish Concert on Christmas Day presented by Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Jazz orchestra, part of our Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center Arts, Culture & Learning programming. The sounds of Klezmer, Yiddish, Chassidic, and Israeli songs expertly arranged and influenced by American jazz, swing, and blues filled our Beifield Auditorium and our audience enjoyed every minute.

Throughout the week, it has been wonderful to see scores of children on campus enjoying our mini camp program. Our littlest campers (children ages 2 – Pre-K enrolled in our Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center) participated in cooking, science, gardening, music & movement, sports, and more. At our Dale & Ed Filhaber Mini Camp at the J (for children in Kindergarten - 5th Grade) participants enjoy creative, fun-filled days playing games, gaga, basketball, soccer, kickball, crafts, and even get to swim. Our Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department is hosting almost 40 children and teens for Camp Kavod Winter Break Mini Camp which is comprised of both on- and off-campus camps. Activities include drum circle, yoga, a New Year’s Eve Dance Party with Mr. Jean, and field trips to local attractions including Off the Wall, the Palm Beach Zoo and the Cox Science Museum, bowling and movies. Seeing the hundreds of people in our community coming together through these wonderful programs fills me with pride. There is so much to do and there are so many ways to connect with our Levis JCC and with our community. I hope you will visit us online to find a program, activity or event. I look forward to welcoming you to our Levis JCC!

This week’s Torah portion is Miketz (At The End) in the book of Genesis, the first of the Five books of Moses. In it, Joseph’s imprisonment finally ends when Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows that are swallowed up by seven lean cows, and of seven fat ears of grain swallowed by seven lean ears. Joseph interprets the dreams to mean that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of hunger and advises Pharaoh to store grain during the plentiful years. Our community is enjoying a time that is full of growth and prosperity. More and more people are flocking to our area, new housing developments are being constructed, restaurants and venues are full. This feels very much like “years of plenty” and I am proud that the Levis JCC – building on our more than 40-year history here in Boca Raton – continues to be the place so many people turn to when seeking ways to enjoy, be enriched, to find community, and find one another. Wishing you all a chag Chanukah sameach. Enjoy this “Festival of Lights” and this holiday season.

Light candles Friday night at 5:15 pm
Shabbat ends on Saturday night at 6:11 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Happy Chanukah!
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty