Find Humanistic Hanukkah Celebrations!
Celebrate Hanukkah Humanistically!
We welcome ALL — including newcomers and non-members — to participate in Hanukkah programming with one (or many!) of our local affiliated communities/congregations! In 2020, we will connect to the meaning of the holiday online, due to necessary safety measures caused by COVID-19. Please see the information below, listed by state, for date, time, and cost (if any) for the upcoming holiday celebrations.
The transliterations for Hanukkah below are those of the community’s sponsoring the events. How do you spell Hanukkah? Hanukkah is spelled in Hebrew letters: חנוכה (Het, nun, vav, kaf, hey).
SOCIETY FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM
“Eighth Night, Eighth Light” Online Hanukkah Party and Menorah Competition
Top Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card!
December 17, 2020, 8:00 pm EST
YOU’RE INVITED! Bring the whole family for an international gathering of Humanistic Jewish households, as we light the eighth and final Hanukkah candle together. Also bring your MOST UNUSUAL MENORAH for a competition with prizes for the top three entries—however you define “unusual” (could be unusually rare, unusually beautiful, totally impractical, ridiculously whimsical, etc.). We would also like to hear about your WILDEST LATKE RECIPE, the only criteria being that it has to actually be edible. By humans.
ARIZONA
Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: President Rich Aver, (480) 865-4710, oradaminfo@gmail.com. Or Adam’s Calendar.
- Zoom Family Hanukkah Celebration
- Sunday, December 13th at 9:30 am MST
- The program will be presented by the Youth Education students.
- Everyone is welcome to attend
- Write to oradaminfo@gmail.com. An invitation will be sent to you the day before the event.
Secular Humanist Jewish Circle
Contact: Susan Rubin, 4131 East Coronado Drive, Tucson AZ 85718, (520) 577-7718, srubinaz@comcast.net, SHJC’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
CALIFORNIA
Adat Chaverim, Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Cantor Jonathan Friedmann, PO Box 261204, Encino, CA 91426, (888) 552-4552, info@HumanisticJudaismLA.org. Adat Chaverim’s Calendar.
RSVP: 888-552-HJLA (4552)
Pacific Community of Cultural Jews 
Contact: For further information call 714-739-1366 or email PacifComm@aol.com.
- Zoom Chanukah celebration
- December 12, afternoon time TBD PST
COLORADO
Beth Ami, Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Sheila Malcolm, Madrikha. BethAmiInfo@gmail.com. Beth Ami’s Calendar.
- Zoom Chanukah Shabbat on
- Dec. 11 at 6 pm MST/ 8 pm EST
- Open to all
- Contact BethAmiRSVP@gmail.com for link.
CONNECTICUT
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Fairfield County
Contact: Steven Getz, PO Box 82, Westport, CT 06881, (203) 293-8867, info@humanisticjews.org. CHJ Fairfield’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (including Maryland and Virginia Suburbs)
Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Rabbi Jeremy Kridel; president Larry Lawrence, PO Box 42014, Washington, D.C. 20015, (202) 686-1881, info@machar.org. Machar’s Calendar.
- Zoom Hanukkah Celebration
- December 13, 2020, 5:00 – 6:30 pm ET
- Songs, menorah lighting, magician, and treasure hunt
Please register at this link. After registration you will receive a confirmation with a link for the party.
YouTube video: Rabbi Jeremy Kridel presents: “What is Hanukkah and How Do You Light the Menorah” Click here.
FLORIDA
Contact: BJ Saul, P.O. Box 2579, Boca Raton, FL 33427, (561) 443-1769, info@bethadam.com. Beth Adam’s Calendar.
- Shabbat Celebration with Hanukkah songs followed with an Oneg social all on Zoom
- Friday Dec. 18th – 7:00 pm EST
- Register at contact information above.
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Margo Moore, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34231, (941) 929-7771, CHJSarasota@hotmail.com. CHJ Sarasota’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
Humanistic Jews of Tampa Bay (HJTB)
Contact: Faith Oremland at hjtbinfo@gmail.com.
ILLINOIS
Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community
Contact: Rabbi Jodi Kornfeld, Deerfield, IL 60015, (847) 945-6512, info@bethchaverim.net. Beth Chaverim HJC’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation
Contact: Mike Lippitz, chair, 2100 Half Day Road, Deerfield, IL 60069, (847) 383-5184, info@kolhadash.com. Rabbi Adam Chalom. Kol Hadash’s Calendar.
- Humanistic Hanukkah Havdallah
- Saturday December 12, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CST
- See supply list at this link.
- Register at this link.
MARYLAND
Baltimore Jewish Cultural Chavurah
Contact: Art Starr, 2 Stitchberry Court, Reisterstown, MD 21136, (410) 493-2473, baltimoresecularjews@gmail.com
- Saturday December 12, 7:30 pm EST
- Facilitated by Rabbi Jeremy Kridel
- Contact Ron Oday, ron.oday2017@gmail.com to register.
MASSACHUSETTS
Kahal B’raira, Boston Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Lidia Pruente, 765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, (617) 431-3994, info@Kahalbraira.org. Kahal B’raira’s Calendar.
- Saturday, December 12, 5:00 pm EST
- Candle lighting, service and songs. Please bring menorah and four candles
- Break Out Rooms at 5:30 pm for crafts and activities for the young and young at heart.
All are welcome, advance registration is appreciated. Click at this link.
This meeting will have automatic captions. If you have other accessibility needs, please let us know on the registration form. We will make every effort to accommodate advance requests.
MICHIGAN
Birmingham Temple, Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Rabbi Jeffrey Falick, 28611 W 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, (248) 477-1410, info@birminghamtemple.org. Birmingham Temple’s Calendar.
- Birmingham Temple, Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
- On Zoom, Candle lighting each night at 6 pm EST beginning Thursday December 10
- Friday, December 11 Chanukah Candle Lighting will be part of the Shabbat Service
Zoom links or instructions to join will be in the Newsletter. Click here.
MINNESOTA
Or Emet, Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Scott Chazdon, 4316 Aries Ct, Eagan, MN 55123, (612) 251-2178, president@oremet.org. Or Emet’s Calendar.
- Online Hanukkah Party
- Saturday, December 12, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm (CST)
- Hanukkah candle lighting, games, music and presentation by children from the Jewish Cultural School
- Time for socializing.
- Contact Scott Chazdon for registration information.
NEW JERSEY
Kahal Chaverim, NJ Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Charlie Miller, P.O. Box 238, Mt Freedom, NJ 07970, (973) 927-0078, info@kahalchaverim.org. Kahal Chaverim’s Calendar.
NEW YORK
Beth Haskalah, Rochester Society for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Barry Swan, P.O. Box 18343, Rochester, NY 14618-0343, (585) 234-1644, BASWAN@aol.com. Beth Haskalah’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
Kol Haverim Finger Lakes Community for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Abigail Cohn, PO Box 4972, Ithaca, NY 14852, info@kolhaverim.net. Kol Haverim’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh; Contact: Adina Gerver, 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001, (212) 213-1002, 
info@citycongregation.org. The City Congregation’s Calendar.
Please register for TCC Chanuka Shabbat and party at this link.
- December 11, 6:30-9:30 pm ET
- Trivia Night (bring pencil and paper)
Westchester Community for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: Dmitry Turovsky, 84 Sprague Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 713-8828, info@wchj.org.
Rabbi Frank Tamburello, ftamburello@hootmail.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Kol Haskalah, A Humanistic Jewish Congregation
Contact: Karen Century, PO Box 9223, Chapel Hill NC 27515, khaskalah@gmail.com.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
Jewish Secular Community of Asheville
Contact: Stan Binder, bluedaneman.sb@gmail.com for more information
- Thursday, December 10, 7:00 pm EST
- Candle Lighting and “Jewish Jokes”
OREGON
Kol Shalom, Community for Humanistic Judaism
Contact: DeBi Strode, 1509 SW Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1E, Portland, OR 97239, (503) 459-4210, info@kolshalom.org. Kol Shalom’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
WASHINGTON
Secular Jewish Circle of Puget Sound
Contact: Irina Doliov, 117 E Louisa St / PMB 367, Seattle, WA 98102, (206) 528-1944, info@secularjewishcircle.org. SJC’s Calendar.
No public program being held this year. Please join one of our other communities.
Canada
ONTARIO
Contact: Roby Sadler, 156 Duncan Mill Road, Suite 14, Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3N2, Canada, (416) 385-3910, info@oraynu.org. Oraynu’s Calendar. RSVP at this link.
- Chanukah Oneg: Who are Our Modern Day Maccabees?
- Shabbat and Candle Lighting
- Led by Oraynu teens.
- All are welcome. Visitors are asked to make a donation.