SAN DIEGO — Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and Jewish community leaders are inviting every San Diegan to participate. In Zevely Zone, I visited the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.
"Traditional potato latkes have onion and potato in them," Betzy Lynch, CEO of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center invited us into their kitchen to make latkes.
"Food is so deeply woven into all traditions but particularly into Jewish life," said Betzy.
She takes comfort in the food but also in the thought that for the next 8 nights families will celebrate Hanukkah.
"Jews around the world will be lighting hanukkiahs like mine," said Betzy. "We are going to remove our magical latkes from the oven."
Betzy suggested I eat my latke with a side of apple sauce which is essentially a delicious fried potato pancake. "Right? What could be better," she laughed.
Then it was time for dessert. "Sufganiyah, which is basically Hebrew for jelly donut."
Next came the games.
"This is called a dreidel," said Betzy.
"The letters are Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hay, and shin and what they stand for is a great miracle happened there." Depending on your spin, you either give or receive candy.
"Yay, you got gimmel which means all of these coins are yours," said Betzy.
The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (LFJCC) is excited to host Hanukkah Happening, San Diego's community-wide Hanukkah celebration, Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3:30 p.m.
This festive event will feature multiple activities for the whole family.
"There will be latkes, there will be different kinds of food you'll be able to make Hanukkah cookies. There are all kinds of vendors to buy gifts that maybe you forgot to get," said Betzy.
This Sunday there will also be a ribbon cutting and official opening of the Harmony Village Playground.
"One of the specialnesses about this place in particular is that it not just for Jewish people by design," said Betzy. "Anyone of any faith is welcome here."
This community event will feature tons of exciting activities such as henna and face painting artists with designs suited for all ages, special Hannukah-themed art projects and art activities for kids, a Hanukkah storytime from PJ Library, and a Hanukkah costume contest.
There will also be a Hannukah Shuk where guests can shop for Hanukkah decorations, presents, and more. Guests can also look forward to amazing food from Harissa Mediterranean Kitchen and the lighting of the Menorah.
The event will end with a performance by the talented singer Jason Mesches, where guests can look forward to his upbeat music and end the night dancing after a fun-filled day.
This year, the center is offering Hanukkah gifts to the entire community. Hanukkiahs, candles and dreidels are for free to everyone.
"Stop by we will give them to you and if you would put this in your window as an act of allyship against antisemitism we would love for people to do that," said Betzy. I said,
"I would like to display this in my window." This is for you, Happy Hanukkah," said Betzy. "Hanukkah is about miracles."
Tickets for the event are $5 for adults and children. Children under 2 are free.
Click the link to register for Hanukkah Happening.
for more information on the LFJCC, visit www.lfjcc.org.