Winter is upon us and yet, despite the cold and dark, our community finds many ways to celebrate the blessings of life and our rich heritage.

This issue of JLink is a bit late due to the many exciting activities happening at our Federation over the past few weeks, including a toiletry drive to assist the thousands of fellow Americans resettling in Connecticut from hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico, a children's book drive for at-risk students, and the launch last week of the Greater Hartford Jewish Leadership Academy, which we are proud to support with several other individuals and organizations. 

You can learn more about all these things and much more below. Be sure to check out the many Hanukkah activities taking place in Greater Hartford!

Wishing you a bright and joyous Hanukkah,

President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
Jewish Leadership Academy, Year of Civil Discourse Launch in Greater Hartford

Gary Starr and Laurie Mandell study Jewish texts at the Jewish Leadership Academy kickoff.
Nearly 200 people from across Greater Hartford's Jewish community attended the kickoff of the Greater Hartford Jewish Leadership Academy (JLA) on December 6 at the University of Hartford. Rabbi Shira Stutman of Sixth & I Synagogue in Washington, D.C., led an interactive evening of learning, conversation and listening. The program was also the launch of a Year of Civil Discourse presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council, part of your Federation. You can view photos from the evening here. To learn more about JLA or to view a video recording of the program, visit www.jlahartford.org. To learn more about the Year of Civil Discourse, click here.
Teens Give Thanks by Fighting Hunger

Local teens bake pumpkin pies to donate to families in need.
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, 65 JTConnect teens at two different locations baked 160 pumpkin pies and 300+ sugar cookies that were donated to three different organizations' Thanksgiving meal programs. By putting the value of gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness) to action, these teens made 1200+ people's Thanksgiving meals so much better (and more delicious). Many thanks to all who participated!
Reap Tax Benefits and Support Your Community with a Year-End Gift

If you itemize your income tax deductions, making charitable contributions may help to decrease your tax bill. And y ou may be able to give even more by taking advantage of a match. Right now, a generous anonymous donor is offering to match any new or increased gift to Federation Women's Philanthropy that is made and paid by December 15, up to $100,000. Through December 31, the donor is offering to match all new and increased endowment gifts to the Association of Jewish Cemeteries that are made and paid through the Jewish Community Foundation by year end. And effective immediately, the Ann and Jeremy Pava family has also offered a $25,000 match for all Annual Campaign gifts! Click here for ideas to make the most of your year-end giving. (Be sure to consult your financial advisor; your individual situation may vary.) To learn more about the Women's Philanthropy or Annual Campaign matches, contact Rachel Berezin at [email protected] or 860.727.6123. To learn more about the cemetery endowment match, contact Risé Roth of the Jewish Community Foundation at 860.523.7460 x6186 or [email protected] .
Toiletry Drive for Puerto Rican Refugees a Success

Jeffrey Dressler, Alana Butler and Samuel Vega load an SUV with toiletries for hurricane victims.
Our community donated two SUVs full of toiletries to help our new neighbors from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands get settled in Greater Hartford! The toiletries were delivered on November 21 to the Centro de Ayuda Para Nuestros Amigos Caribeños (Relief Center for our Caribbean Friends) in Hartford, managed by CREC - Capitol Region Education Council. Many thanks to all the participating organizations, including Congregation Beth Israel, The Emanuel Synagogue, Hebrew High School of New England, JTConnect - Jewish Teen Learning Connection, Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford, Temple Beth Hillel, South Windsor CT, Temple Sinai of Newington, and Young Israel of West Hartford. Special thanks also to Jewish Community Relations Council Board member Jeffrey P. Dressler for arranging transportation. Volunteer opportunities are also available with the Relief Center; please contact Darlene Wolliston at [email protected] or 860.240.6668.
Sports Journalist Steven Krasner Leads Student Writing Workshop at Sigel Hebrew Academy

Author Steven Krasner shares stories and writing tips with Sigel Hebrew Academy students.
Steven Krasner, author of the children's book Why Not Call It Cow Juice and a sports journalist who covered the Boston Red Sox for the Providence Journal, led fantastic writing workshops for students and teachers at the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford! Students learned and enjoyed themselves as they wrote collaborative narratives and mysteries. Mr. Krasner impressed upon us that everyone has a passion. Writing is a tool that can keep us  connected to our passion... and maybe we can even make a living at it! The Academy is located at 53 Gabb Road in Bloomfield.
Three Organizations Partner to Help JFS Clients

Women from across our community gathered on #GivingTuesday to benefit JFS clients.
On #GivingTuesday (November 28) Jewish Family Services, Federation Women's Philanthropy and Deeds for Needs held a special "giving back" event to benefit JFS clients. Women gathered at Robin Fierston's home in West Hartford, where they purchased baskets of cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items and made blankets for community members. Gifts were also purchased for JFS clients on an Amazon wish list.
December 12 - 20: Hanukkah

The classic Ladino tune "Ocho Kandelikas" performed by West Hartford native and Trio Sefardi member Susan Gaeta, acclaimed Ladino singer Flory Jagoda, and Howard Bass, also of Trio Sefardi.
Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for "dedication," celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the relighting of its menorah in the year 165 BCE after its occupation and defilement by the Seleucids (Syrian Greeks). The hero of Hanukkah is Judah Maccabee, who along with his father and four brothers led the successful rebellion against the tyrant king Antiochus IV. Hanukkah begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. 

Hanukkah is a minor holiday in the overall scheme of the Jewish calendar, but its themes of freedom, triumph and joy - particularly in the darkness of winter - have made it a favorite. We eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (Israeli jelly doughnuts) fried in oil, light the hanukkiah (the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah), exchange small gifts and spin the dreidel. Our Jewish community welcomes you to celebrate Hanukkah - please join us!

Now through December 31: The Jewish Historical Society wants to know: Do you eat your latkes with applesauce or sour cream? Do you hand grate your potatoes or put them through the food processor? Who makes the latkes in your family, and how else do you celebrate Hanukkah? JHS is starting a new food blog in 2018 and it's looking for the best Jewish recipes and food stories from across our region! Please submit your family recipes, stories and photos to Lynn Newman at [email protected].

Now through December 31:  Jewish Family Services is offering discount cards good at 12 local businesses. They are $20 apiece and all proceeds go to the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry. It's a great Hanukkah gift for that hard-to-buy for person! Click here for more information and an order form.

December 12 - 19:  Beth Sholom B'nai Israel comes together every year to light the hanukkiah on the front lawn of the synagogue and sing songs. Each night is hosted by a different group from the congregation, and everyone is always welcome to attend. The hanukkiah was lit for many years at Congregation B'nai Israel in Rockville, and now our merged congregation continues this beautiful tradition. Click here for the full schedule of hanukkiah lightings. BSBI is located at 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester, CT 06040.

December 12: The Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford invites you to a screening of the 1939 Yiddish classic The Light Ahead ( Fishke der Krumer) on Tuesday, December 12 at 12:15 p.m. in the Wilde Auditorium of the Harry Jack Gray Center on the university campus at 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Admission is free; you can read more about the film here. For more information, contact the Greenberg Center office at 860.768.4964.

December 12:  The Emanuel Synagogue invites you to a Hanukkah celebration on Tuesday, December 12, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Come light the first candle (feel free to bring your own family hanukkiah), listen to Hanukkah stories, do arts and crafts, enjoy latkes, sufganiyot and more. The event is free and open to all. For tikkun olam, The Emanuel is accepting donations to support IsrAID's efforts in aiding survivors of the Yazidi genocide. Click here to RSVP. For more information, contact David Bomzer at [email protected]. The Emanuel Synagogue is located at 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford.

December 13: What do battle elephants and self-driving cars have in common? Teens and adults are invited to find out at a Hanukkah Mishmar (study session) celebration with Hebrew High School of New England and JTConnect on Wednesday, December 13 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The program will be held on the HHNE campus at 300 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Rabbi Jeremy Bruce will lead a guided exploration of big questions and moral dilemmas arising from new technologies. Join us for light, learning, and lots of latkes! RSVP to Aharon Skoglund at [email protected].

A reading of "Golda's Balcony" will take place at Charter Oak Cultural Center on December 14.
December 14: You've lit the menorah and eaten more latkes than you should have. What to do with the rest of your evening? Come to Charter Oak Cultural Center at 21 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford on Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. for a staged reading of Golda's Balcony, a play about Golda Meir by William Gibson, author of The Miracle Worker! The reading is part of the 13th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture. Tickets are $15; click here to purchase or learn more..

December 15: Temple Beth Hillel invites you to a Hanukkah Shabbat dinner on Friday, December 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. All are encouraged to come and celebrate together. We are asking each family to each provide one dish that will feed 10 people. Some suggestions are vegetarian options, salads, desserts, rolls, fruit, or other side dishes. Temple Beth Hillel is a Reform Synagogue located at 20 Baker Lane in South Windsor. To reserve your spot, please contact the office at 860.282.8466 or [email protected].
 
December 15: The Beth El Temple community welcomes you to celebrate Hanukkah! We are holding two special services on Friday, December 15. Our Family Shabbat Service and Hanukkah Dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. Join us for latkes, dreidels and more! The cost is $12 per adult and $8 per child (ages 3 to 12). Click here to register or contact the Beth El office at 860-233-9696 by no later than noon on December 13. Our Chanukah Musical Shabbat Service begins at 7:30 p.m. Cantor Joseph Ness and friends will lead us in song to celebrate the holiday. This event is free and includes an oneg (celebration) with sufganiyot. Beth El Temple is located at 2626 Albany Avenue in West Hartford.

December 15:  Congregation Beth Israel invites you to bring your own menorah to light as we celebrate Hanukkah and Shabbat together! The fun begins on Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. The evening features a performance by CBI's Shiranote Youth Choir and a singalong. All are welcome. CBI is located at 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford.

December 16:  Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation - Emek Shalom invites families with children ages birth to five to attend a Mini Minyan Hanukkah Celebration on Saturday, December 16 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Farmington Community and Senior Center, 321 New Britain Avenue, Unionville. This event is free and open to the community.

December 16:  B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom has a Hanukkah story or two to share! Come hear true-life tales about courage and candles, freedom and flickering flames with Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion Terry Wolfisch Cole! Our evening of storytelling and delicious holiday treats takes place on Saturday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m. at BTS, 180 Still Road, Bloomfield. The cost is $5, and it's free for BTS or Mandell JCC members and Neshama Patrons. Please RSVP by calling the BTS office at 860.243.3576 or emailing us at [email protected].

Celebrate Hanukkah with Schechter on December 17.
December 17: The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford invites you and your family to a special afternoon of singing, storytelling and latkes on Sunday, December 17 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the school, which is located at 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford. Schechter students gather every Friday morning to welcome Shabbat with a special celebration they call "Relish" - and on Sunday you can get a taste of the experience for yourself! Free and open to the public. Kindly RSVP to [email protected].

December 17: Teens, join your JTConnect and USY friends for a Hanukkah celebration with ice skating, dinner, neon party and a lot of latkes on Sunday, December 17 from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Ice Rink, 56 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford. This program is open to ALL teens throughout Greater Hartford; there will be bus transportation from Simsbury for those who need it. The cost is $25 and includes ice skating, a transportation neon party, and dinner. You can pay online or bring cash or a check. Click here for more information or to RSVP.

December 17:  Chai Mitzvah will host a delicious latke tasting on Sunday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. at The Crown Market, 2471 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. This is a wonderful opportunity to shop for Hanukkah, enjoy some tasty latkes, and get to meet other Chai Mitzvah members! If you belong to a group, please come. If you don't belong to a group, please come anyway. We would love to tell you more about our Chai Mitzvah program. Questions? Please contact Susan Fried at [email protected].

December 17: Chabad of Greater Hartford invites you to celebrate "Fire on Ice" in West Hartford's Blue Back Square on Sunday, December 17 beginning at 4:00 p.m. There will be a concert by the Rogers Park Hassidic folk band, a gelt drop by the West Hartford Fire Department, fun activities and treats, and more. Click here for details.
 
Teens Compete for Spirit Awards, Celebrate Giving Back with BBYO

Connecticut Valley Region BBYO's annual convention drew nearly 250 teens.
Nearly 250 teens from the Connecticut Valley Region of BBYO recently gathered for their annual regional convention in Danbury. As part of a spirit competition, teens completed activities that taught them about Jewish identity and values. They assembled 575 PB&J sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness, breaking their previous record, and held an on-site food drive to bring Thanksgiving meals to families in need. The teens also held "Breakfast Bingo" and "penny wars" fundraisers that raised over $600 for BBYO scholarships. Stamford's Leviticus AZA took home the Spirit Gavel; New Haven's Samuel D. Aarons BBG received the Spirit Cup; West Hartford's Nadav BBYO took home the Spirit Trophy, and New London's Yachad BBYO received the Service Shield. BBYO is currently in the middle of a Six Weeks of Service Campaign, which will run through the end of the year, and on December 15 teens from every Jewish community will celebrate Shabbat Across Connecticut together at The Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton. To learn more about BBYO Connecticut Valley Region, please contact Tyler Pepe at [email protected] or Jen Kruzansky at [email protected].
December 17: Welcome Rosh Chodesh Tevet with the Mitzvah Mamas

Women are invited to welcome Rosh Chodesh Tevet (the new month of Tevet) with a one-hour gathering of the Mitzvah Mamas on Sunday, December 17 starting at 10:15 a.m. This month our shomeret (guide) is Lisa Book; she will host our gathering at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Drop in for a nosh starting at 9:45 a.m. and stay for a meaningful Jewish experience with friendly women from all over Greater Hartford. Please arrive early, as the gathering starts promptly. No RSVP necessary. If you would like be a Rosh Chodesh shomeret or learn more about the Mitzvah Mamas, Rosh Chodesh gatherings or the next free trip to Israel for moms, please contact Mindy Glickman at [email protected]  or 917.698.7952 or join the Mitzvah Mamas Facebook group. Chodesh Tov - a good month!
December 17: "Finding Your Jewish Ancestors - Maximizing Your Success," a Jewish Genealogy Seminar

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut invites everyone interested in their family history to our biennial educational seminar on Sunday, December 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Society's home, Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington. Our board members will lead the seminar, which is appropriate for both beginners and seasoned genealogists. Even if you missed Part I in November, join us for Part II! Topics will include "Immigration, Naturalization, and Newsletters" with Marcia Indianer Meyers and Arthur Meyers; "Using Newspapers" with Linda Winkleman; "Cemeteries" with Lew Goldfarb; "DNA for Genealogy" with Monica Talmor; and "Getting the Most from the JGSCT Library" with Janet Carlson. The seminar is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Each participant will receive a notebook of materials. RSVP to [email protected] or visit www.jgsct.org for details.
December 22: Learn about Homelessness at CBI's Social Justice Shabbat

Reverend Sara Salomons
Join Congregation Beth Israel for Shabbat services on Friday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. and stay afterward for a conversation with Reverend Sara Salomons, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and the Director of Development and Communications at Journey Home, an advocacy group for the homeless in the Hartford area. She will help lead a discussion on the topic of homelessness in our community. CBI is located at 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford.
BSBI Says Farewell to Longtime Office Manager Saundie Roethel

Saundra Roethel
This December, Beth Sholom B'nai Israel will say farewell to our Office Manager of over 25 years, Saundra "Saundie" Roethel. We are grateful for her many years of hard work and wish her the happiest of times in her retirement. Our community celebrated Saundie with a special Shabbat Kiddush luncheon held in her honor. BSBI is located at 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester, CT 06040.
December 28: Lunch with the Rabbi at Temple Beth Hillel

You're invited to an enriching monthly study that brings together adult learners for a lively lunch-hour discussion with Rabbi Jeffrey Glickman of Temple Beth Hillel. We meet the last Thursday of every month at noon at our synagogue, which is located at 20 Baker Lane in South Windsor. This month's lunch will be held on Thursday, December 28. No reservation is required, and a soup lunch is provided. To learn more, please contact our office at 860.282.8466 or [email protected].
UConn Hillel and Friends Bake Dog Treats for Israeli Animal Shelter

UConn students bake dog treats as a service project.
On November 29th, students from Huskies for Israel and the UConn Pre-Vet Club came together to make dog treats for the Tnu L'Chayot Lichyot (Let the Animals Live) Animal Shelter in Israel. After an engaging presentation on the shelter and the IDF's canine unit by Rotem Dimri, UConn Hillel's Israel Fellow who has also volunteered at a shelter in her hometown Rishon LeTzion, students made their way to the kitchen to begin baking. Over 180 treats were made, and will be delivered to Israel by Hillel's Birthright trip this winter. We will also be providing treats to service dogs in Connecticut, including the Southington Police Department. Rumor has it UConn's' Jonathan the Husky will be stopping by Hillel for his special Hanukkah present!
January 3 and 7: Learn about a Free Israel Trip for Moms

The JWRP MoMentum trip - run in partnership with the South Windsor-based Mitzvah Mamas group - makes it possible for mothers who are raising Jewish children under age 18, who aren't traditionally Sabbath observant, to take an inspiring free* trip to Israel with other moms like them. If this sounds like you, please join us for an information session in January. You'll hear from Mindy Glickman and other Momentum alumnae about the trip and the application process. Info sessions will be held on Wednesday, January 3 at 7:00 p.m. at 35 Bader Lane, Glastonbury; and on Sunday, January 7 at 4:00 p.m. at 114 Cody Circle, South Windsor. To learn more, contact Mindy Glickman at 917.698.7952 or [email protected], or join the Mitzvah Mamas Facebook group. To apply for the JWRP MoMentum trip, click here. *Airfare not included.