Havdalah at Gesher JDS - December 5

This Saturday night (Dec 5) is Gesher Jewish Day School's Annual Preschool Pajama Party. Bring your children in their pjs to Gesher from 6:30-7:30 pm and learn about bedtime the Jewish way with Gesher kindergarten teacher Morah Melanie. Havdalah, bedtime stories, songs, crafts, hot cocoa and cookies are all part of this family program. Please contact Debra Mendelson, Director of Admissions, at 703-962-9216 or dmendelson@gesher-jds.org to register.

I don't know about everyone else's holidays, but bedtime with a houseful of relatives was difficult at our house. The idea of a nice, quiet, tame evening event sounds wonderful!

What an impression!

We were walking through a craft store the other day with our son. We were overwhelmed by red and green holiday candy displays. We were afraid that he'd realize that there was chocolate inside these foil-wrapped characters - he's begun to show an interest in "M"s (M&Ms). Anyway, we walked past the figures of a bearded man wearing a long red jacket and boots, and our son announced to us, "Look, Noah!" Apparently the impression made on him by "Noah" at the JCC's "All Aboard the Noah's Ark Express" breakfast was pretty strong. Thanks to Michelle P for a great (clean-shaven) Noah performance!

Wish for a cold Chanukah... why?

Here's an interesting Chanukah activity: Chanukah on Ice! Yes, you read that right. Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington is sponsoring a holiday ice skating event at the outdoor rink at Pentagon Row on Thursday, December 10 from 6-8:30 pm, with candle lighting at 7. Admission includes skate rental and is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. There will be latkes and hot dogs available for purchase. It doesn't say anything about sufganiyot, but one can hope! More information can be found on the Chabad web site.

Thanksgiving Holiday Food Drive

The JCC is organizing a Thanksgiving food drive. So far, the preschool has done an amazing job of providing lots of non-perishables. (I can't remember seeing so many cans of fruit in any one place before!) However, the JCC is also in need of $20 gift cards to grocery stores. If you can deliver a gift card (or even just a monetary contribution to go toward the purchase of one), please bring it to the JCC by this coming Tuesday (November 17).

Other items that are needed include canned fruit and veggies, canned juice, boxes of mashed potatoes, rice, biscuit/muffin mix, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, snacks (e.g. pretzels, chips), gravy, salt and pepper, and desserts (mixes or pie crusts and fillings). Thank you!

Chanukah events - if you can believe it

At 2 pm on December 19th, the McLean Community Center will be hosting Yosi and the Super Dads' Rockin Hanukkah Concert. More information can be found on the Community Center's web site. I took a look at the group's web site, and it does look interesting - something that parents will enjoy, too!

The JCC also has a Chanukah Happening on December 13 from 2-5. We went last year and it was tremendous fun! Food, entertainment, face painting, a moon bounce... And do a mitzvah, too - non-perishable food for local food banks and toys will be collected, also.

Several Chabad centers in the area hold Chanukah Wonderland events - more information when it's available...

Hiddur Mitzvah Project

While the book festival is going on at the JCC, there's also another exciting activity. You can create your own fused glass masterpiece. A collection of Gary Rosenthal's pieces (of course you've heard of his metal and glass Judaica!) will be available. Artists (that's you!) select from pieces of glass and glue them to a glass base to which the pieces will be fused. *Children 6 and under can create pieces, too, using pieces of colored paper to show how they would like the glass to be placed.* The studio will match this up with glass pieces. Then the fused glass piece is soldered to the menorah/mezuzah/b'samim box and you have fantastic hybrid of Gary's work and your own.

Pieces range from $28 to $185. Those of you who have already signed up are guaranteed the item you selected, but there is a large variety of extra items (menorahs, candlesticks, tzedakah boxes, and more) available for drop-ins.

Hours are
Sundays 10-3 (Nov 8 and 15)
Monday-Thursday 9:30-2 and 5-7

Friday 9:30-5
Stop by, or call the JCC for more details.

I made the most beautiful menorah last year and will likely stop by again to make something else. Of course, I planned to give it as a gift but couldn't part with it. (Yes, items will be fired and returned to the JCC for pick-up at your convenience in time for Chanukah.)

JCC Jewish Book Festival - details!

In case you've missed the information that's been circulating, the JCC's Jewish Book Festival is right around the corner! You can still register for all events. Details on each event are below, and full descriptions are available on the JCC's web site.

4th Annual JCCNV Jewish Book Festival
Sunday, November 8 - Sunday, November 15

Hours of Book Sale
Sunday, 11/8 10am-9pm
Monday – Thursday 9am – 9pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday, 11/15 9am – 9pm

Afternoon Tea with Deborah Tannen
Sunday, November 8th, 2pm
Featured book: You Were Always Mom’s Favorite! Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives
Cost: $20M / $22NM (group rate of $18 / person for groups of 8 or more). Please register by Nov. 5 to guarantee your spot.
Code: 453/JBF/TEAN8

Neal Bascomb
Sunday, November 8th, 7pm
Featured book: Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World’s Most Notorious Nazi
Cost: $5M / $7NM
Code: 453/JBF/NBN8

Jonathan Tropper
Tuesday, November 10th, 7:30pm
Featured book: This is Where I Leave You
Cost: $5M / $7NM
Code: 453/JBF/JTN10

An Afternoon with David Plotz
Thursday, November 12th, 12noon: Lunch & 12:30: Author Talk
Featured book: Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible
Cost: $5M / $7NM
Cost: 152/2BF/DPN12

Chris Bohjalian
Thursday, November 12th, 7:30pm
Featured book: Skeletons at the Feast
Cost: FREE
Code: 453/JBF/CBN12

Steven V. Roberts
Sunday, November 15th, 7pm
Featured book: From Every End of This Earth: 13 Families and the New Lives They made in America
Cost: $5M/$7NM
Code: 453/JBF/SRN15

**Children’s Programs**

Come Aboard the Noah’s Ark Express
Sunday, November 8th, 9:30am
Get ready for some early morning fun. Bring your favorite stuffed animal or two and join us for a delicious character breakfast with some of Noah’s friends! Have a blast reading stories with Noah and making fabulous crafts. Don’t forget to bring your camera for some great photo opportunities!
Please help out the local animal shelter and donate towels, blankets, toys, treats, leashes and collars, food dishes, rabbit food, paper towels, fabric softener, latex gloves.
Cost: $5 per person
Code: 453/JBF/NAN8

Share a Shabbat with Sarah Gershman
Friday, November 13th, 9:30am
The Bedtime Sh’ma
Come dressed in your pajamas! Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the author will delight us with her musical talents as we enjoy delicious snacks. We invite you to share the morning with a parent, grandparent or other favorite adult—an event not to be missed. Books will be available for purchase; book signing to follow the program.
Cost: $5 per family
Code: 453/JBF/SGN13

Making Magic with Mounds of Morsels with Elinor Klivans
Sunday, November 15th, 2pm
The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook
Most appreciated by children ages 7 and up. Enjoy the afternoon cooking with your child. Space is limited.
Share the afternoon with Elinor Klivans, noted cookbook author and food writer and author of The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook, for what is sure to bring out the baker in all of us! Create delicious recipes with your child and take home tasty creations to bake and enjoy!
Register by Nov. 13: space is limited
Cost: $24 per child (includes all cooking supplies and a signed copy of the cookbook)
Code: 453/JBF/EKN15

Sesame around the world

From November 10-30, there will be a photo exhibit at Union Station entitled “Sesame Street: The Longest Street in the World” in celebration of the show's 40 years. There's not much info posted online yet, but it's supposed to have photos of Sesame characters around the world, so it may include Moishe (Oscar's grouchy Israeli cousin). Hopefully more information will be posted soon!