There are a lot of different ways to spell Hanukkah because there is no single English translation of the Hebrew word (see the titles for the event listings below if you don't believe me). But everyone is commemorating the same holiday, a celebration of Jewish national survival and religious freedom.
Hanukkah In New York Event Guide
- Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah
Everything is bigger in New York City. The Rockefeller Center tree has nothing on the world's largest Hanukkah menorah. This 32-foot-tall, two-ton candelabra is lit by a cherry picker. The nightly lighting ceremonies will be accompanied by folk dancing and sufganiyot (holiday jelly doughnuts).- When: Grand Lighting Ceremony is Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 5PM. The celebration continues at the same time each night of Hanukkah.
- Where: Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue at 59th Street
- Admission: FREE
- Hanukkah Festival at the 92nd Street Y
Build your own Menorah, make your own candles, decorate your own dreidel, dress up as a Maccabee and produce your own olive oil. Enjoy shows, musicians, storytelling and a puppet show.- When: Sunday, December 14, 2008. 10:30AM-1:30PM
- Where: 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
- Admission: $20 adult/$15 child
- Sephardic Music Festival
The Sephardic Music Festival is back in town from December 21-28, 2008. Artists including Electro Morocco, Michal Cohen, Diwon, Pharaoh's Daughter, Hadag Nachash, and many others will be performing in venues ranging from Joe's Pub to the Spanish Portuguese Synagogue.- When: December 21-28, 2008
- Where: Multiple venues
- Admission: See specific show listings for admission prices.
- Family Celebration at The Jewish Museum
Visit The Jewish Museum for a day of live music and arts and crafts for the whole family. Mama Doni & The Mama Doni Band will perform their special brand of “funky music with a Jewish twist” -- including favorites from Mama's debut CD, I Love Herring (& Other Fish Shticks for Kids) and her new EP, I Love Chanukah! -- in two rocking shows at 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Kids can also enjoy art workshops, a Hanukkah Lamp Gallery Hunt, and family gallery tours.- When: Thursday, December 25, 2008. 11:30AM-4PM
- Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street
- Admission: Free with museum admission ($12 for adults, $7.50 for students, and FREE for kids under 12)
- Menorah Horah
Celebrate the 2nd night of Hanukkah with a night of campy cabaret and burlesque starring the Schlep Sisters and Little Brooklyn. Lights! Lust! Latkes!- When: Monday, December 22, 2008 at 10PM
- Where: Public Assembly, 70 North 6th Street
- Admission: $10
- Klezmer for Kids
At this interactive song and dance performance, kids can explore Hanukkah through Eastern European Jewish music and heritage lessons drawn from Yiddish and Hasidic traditions. Sing, dance, learn some Yiddish, and even "get married" during an audience-enacted shtetl wedding ceremony.- When: Thursday, December 25, 2008
- Where: Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge Street between Canal and Division Streets
- Admission: Adults $12, Kids and Seniors $8
- Make Your Own Menorah in Central Park
Get crafty and create your very own Menorah out of dried beans and pasta. This event is free and appropriate for all ages.- When: Saturday, December 20, 2008 between 12PM and 3PM
- Where: Belevedere Castle in Central Park near 79th Street
- Admission: FREE
- The Ball On Christmas Eve
It's not actually a Hanukkah celebration, but this party hosted by Let My People Go is the biggest Jewish singles event of the year. Known to many as The Matzoh Ball, The Ball will host more than 4,000 Jewish singles at five venues. This year, there's also a special event for 40+ partiers at duvet.- When: Wednesday, December 24, 2008. 8PM-4AM
- Where: Hiro, (371 W 16th St. at 9th Ave.), Marquee (289 10th Ave. at 27th St.), The Park (118 10th Ave. at 17th St.), The Cabanas (371 W 16th St. at 9th Ave.), Earth (116A 10th Ave. at 17th St.). The Ball for ages 40+ will be at Duvet (45 W 21st St. between 5th and 6th Ave.)
- Admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
- MatzoBall
This Jewish singles extravaganza hosted by the Society of Young Jewish Professionals will keep Capitale hopping on Christmas Eve.- When: Wednesday, December 24, 2008. 9PM-2AM
- Where: Capitale, 130 Bowery, 212-334-5500
- Admission: Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.
- Heebonism
Party with Heeb magazine and enjoy an hour of free margaritas, karaoke, strip dreidel and gift bags to take home.- When: Wednesday, December 24, 2008. 9PM-3AM
- Where: Fontana's, 105 Eldridge Street between Broome and Grand, 212-334-6740
- Admission: Tickets are $20.
- Gay Christmas Eve Jewbilee at Splash
Splash Bar NY is hosting the first-ever Christmas Eve party alternative designed for New York's gay Jews (and friends).- When: Wednesday, December 24, 2008. 9PM-2AM
- Where: Splash Bar NY, 50 West 17th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
- Admission: No cover for entry. Call 917-805-3996 for more information
- Chanukah Tour of the Lower East Side
On this special tour of NYC's original Jewish neighborhood, you can learn more about the city's rich Jewish heritage while sampling the neighborhood's gastronomical delights. There's also a special kids' tour on December 25th and a Chanukah tour of Borough Park.- When: Sunday, December 28, 2008. 1-4PM
- Where: Tour meets at 137 East Houston Street at 1PM
- Admission: $38 ($32 for kids between 3 and 11)
