Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanuka, Channukah, Hannukah — there are many ways to spell it and even more ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights in Tucson and Southern Arizona this year. The holiday begins with the first candle on the evening of Dec. 7.
PJ Library will provide Hanukkah: It’s in the Bag kits on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 4 and 5, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Congregations with nightly menorah lightings include Beit Simcha (virtual) and Kol Ami (Shabbat excluded). Tucson Jewish Community Center will hold social media candlelightings on Dec. 7, 8, 11 and 14.
Tucson Torah Center will hold a pre-Chanukah Women’s Night Out on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona with a latke and soup bar, craft, and virtual presentation. Registration is required.
Chabad of Cochise County will hold a public menorah lighting in Sierra Vista with latkes, donuts, and music on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Park. There also will be menorah lightings in Bisbee on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m., Benson on Monday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 p.m., and Fort Huachuca on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.
Chabad Tucson will hold a public menorah lighting on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. outside City Hall in downtown Tucson. The event will feature latkes, donuts, music, and a kosher pizza truck.
The Northwest Tucson Jewish Community will present Chanukah in the Northwest with Rabbi Avi Alpert and David Wien, music, and treats on Friday, Dec. 8 at noon at The Post Workspaces, 7400 N. Oracle Road, Suite 145. $18; RSVP to nwtucsonjewish@gmail.com.
Congregation Chaverim’s Channukah Chappening begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, and includes kids’ activities and a dairy vegetarian potluck.
Kol Ami’s Chanukah Pajamikah and Shabbat dinner is on Dec. 8, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Registration and payment are required for dinner.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services will hold “Be a Light This Hanukkah: Eight Days of Giving Benefiting the Refugee Community” Dec. 8-15.
Congregation Anshei Israel’s Community Chanukah party begins at 6 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 9. Registration and payment are required by Dec. 4.
Chabad Tucson will participate in a menorah lighting at SaddleBrooke HOA #1 on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m., and host a Family Chanukah Game Night on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Shul of Tucson, for singles of all ages and families, with food and board games.
Chabad Oro Valley will hold a Northwest Chanukah Festival: Celebrating Jewish Pride and Unity on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. at Oro Valley Marketplace. The event will include music, free latkes and donuts plus food for sale, a Jewish art exhibit, crafts and activities, a gelt drop, and a special presentation.
Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center will host a Hanukkah Gathering and Community Candlelighting on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 4 p.m., with music, crafts, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and the opportunity to tour a Magen David Adom ambulance before it heads to Israel.
Beit Simcha will celebrate its fifth anniversary and the fourth night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. The evening will feature music, food, and professional storyteller Jim Weiss. Registration and payment are required.
On Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., Chabad Tucson will present a menorah lighting in Vail with a gelt drop, music, raffle, latkes, and donuts; in Tubac, with singing, stories, and refreshments; and in Casa Grande with an LED light show, crafts, latkes, donuts, music, and raffles. Chabad on River will hold a Chanukah party, also on Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.
PJ Library will hold Latkes and Laughter for Parents on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Congregation Chofetz Chayim will present Am Yisroel Chai: A Joyous Chanukah Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., with dinner and a concert by DJ Rimmy. RSVP is required by Dec. 7.
Tucson Hebrew Academy will hold its Hanukkah Show on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
The Tucson J will participate in the Downtown Parade of Lights & Festival on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m., beginning at Stone Ave. and 17th St.
The Tucson J’s Hanukkah Hot Cocoa Run is Sunday, Dec. 17. Registration and payment are required (1K fun run is free); check-in begins at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the Community Calendar.
