Jewish centers and schools reach out during Hanukkah

Jews around the world celebrate the festival of Hanukkah for eight nights, beginning tonight. Some Southland Jewish institutions take the economy into account during their observances.

The Hanukkah play this weekend at Temple Emanuel Academy Day School in Beverly Hills will likely sell out, said principal Doris Finestone. This year, she added, administrators are doing more to persuade the audience to contribute food, clothes and gifts.

"We’ve already donated some to an organization, Vista del Mar, which is a school, orphanage for children in West Los Angeles, and there are bins in our synagogue lobby where they’re collecting for the Jewish Federation who will then disseminate it for those in need."

Hanukkah commemorates the hard-fought victory of a Jewish army thousands of years ago.

Pre-schoolers at the Silverlake Jewish Community Center learn about the holiday through songs. Center Director Ayana Morse wrote new lyrics to a popular tune. "On the first night of Hannukah my sweet child said to me, tell me the Hannukah story."

She said teachers also focus on Hanukkah’s deeper meaning. "It’s all about bringing in the light into the darkest time of the year, thinking of all the small miracles that happen in our lives… …the other part of Hannukah is really about the power of believing in something and that if you believe in something anything can happen."

The center decided to help members and neighbors who have a hard time in this economy. It won’t charge an admission fee at this year’s Hanukkah festival.

Susie Forer-Dehrey, chief operating officer of Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, said a lot of families hope for miracles large and small. The 155-year old organization served 100,000 people this year, many of them non-Jews, at 17 locations.

"We’re seeing a lot of clients, who at one point were our donors, to be honest with you, and so if they’re coming to our food pantries or they’re coming to our offices for counseling, or we’re able to provide home delivered meals to them, or they’re coming to our meal sites, senior centers, many of these people were not in that situation two, three, four years ago."

Forer-Dehrey believes Hanukkah’s message of group and individual resiliency cuts across religious boundaries.