friday/12

Shabbat dinner with Leah Garrick. Congregation B’nai Emunah celebrates its 65th anniversary, with talk by guest speaker Garrick about growing up in Shanghai. At B’nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. $20. www.bnaiemunahsf.org

saturday/13

“Hanukkah Lights Up the Night.” Fundraiser and Havdallah with live music, star gazing, refreshments and glow-in-the-dark crafts. Proceeds to benefit One Million Lights. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 7 p.m. Free, but donations encouraged. RSVP to (408) 257-3333 or www.beth-david.org

sunday/14

photo/wikimedia commons

Let it snow! No matter what the forecast says, snow is coming to the South Bay for Hanukkah. The JCC of Silicon Valley will fill the gym with synthetic snow that is fluffy, moldable and safe. If snow isn’t your thing, enjoy carnival games, bounce houses, a treasure hunt, Hanukkah art projects, latkes and sufganiyot at the café, and a sing-along led by Olaf from the hit movie “Frozen.”

Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. Free. (408) 358-3636 or www.svjcc.org

“Kindling Fires Within Darkness.” Daylong outdoor community event hosted by Zmanim to prepare for Hanukkah and examine the element of fire in Jewish tradition. Learn fire-building, menorah-making and beeswax candle-dipping. At Ocean Song Farm and Wilderness, 19999 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $36-$54. www.zmanim-seasons.org

Latkepalooza. Community Hanukkah celebration with music by Veretski Pass, arts and crafts for kids, kosher wine tasting, a candlelighting ceremony and latkes. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 1 p.m. Free, but canned food drive donations welcome. www.pjcc.org/latkepalooza

“The Sweetest Sounds.” Community Hanukkah show staged by residents and staff of the Jewish Home of San Francisco. At Jewish Home, 302 Silver Ave. 2 p.m. Free. (415) 406-1419

“Super Fun Sunday: Mr. Lunch’s Hanukkah Party with Isaac Zones and Shamati.” Hanukkah event for preschoolers and their families. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. 10 a.m. Included with museum admission. www.thecjm.org

“Hanooka Fiesta.” Art, klezmer music, dance instruction, cookie-painting, dreidels, shadow puppets and a procession of “luminaria kandelikas” for Hanukkah. Presented by Open Tent Shul of the Arts. At Chochmat HaLev, 2215 Prince St., Berkeley. 2 to 5 p.m. $10. www.lynngottlieb.com/open-tent-shul-arts

“Almost Chanukah.” Fair with arts and crafts activities, performances by local musicians and food for sale. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free, but donations for children’s gift drive appreciated. www.netivotshalom.org

“Festival of Lights.” Hanukkah celebration with holiday foods, kids’ activities, swimming, live music, holiday gift mart and dreidel playoffs. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free, but canned food donations welcome. www.marinjcc.org

Family Hanukkah party. Food and wine, instrument “petting zoo,” silent auction and music by Jonathan Bayer & the Adar Brass Band. At Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., S.F. 4 p.m. $25-$70. (415) 346-1720 ext. 27 or [email protected]

thursday/18

“Chanukah and Chutzpah.” Bend the Arc’s Hanukkah celebration. In downtown S.F., address provided with RSVP. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP required. www.bendthearc.us

saturday/20

Hanukkah pop-up benefit dinner. Sephardic food, singing by Yiddish classical artist and soprano Heather Klein, dreidel games. Event supports West End Farmers Market public assistance program. Hosted by Goodman’s Jewish Deli. At farmers market, 817 Donahue St., Santa Rosa. 5 p.m. $20-$70, kids under 10 free. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/970101

Humanistic Hanukkah. Kol Hadash hosts “Talents and Treasures” potluck party and silent auction, with over 40 items up for bid. Includes Havdallah service. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 6 p.m. Free. (510) 982-1455 or www.kolhadash.org

sunday/21

“Darkness and Light: Hanukkah Retreat.” Daylong Jewish meditation retreat led by Makor Or co-founder Norman Fischer and Rabbi Dorothy Richman. No previous experience with meditation, Hebrew or prayer necessary. 

At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $50-$60. www.jccsf.org

Ner Shalom community Hanukkah. Celebration featuring mostly vegetarian potluck dinner with latkes, candlelighting, games and singing. At Congregation Ner Shalom, 85 La Plaza, Cotati. 5 p.m. Free, but RSVP required and potluck item requested. [email protected]

Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring Hanukkah party. Celebration hosted by the group’s Northern California members. Latkes, beverages and discussion with Los Angeles–based Yiddishist Hershl Hartman on “The Hidden History of Hanukkah: What the Talmud ‘Missed’ — But Ben Franklin Knew!” At Humanities Hall, 1185 Vicente St., S.F. 2:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested and potluck dishes encouraged. (415) 566-7235

jewish calendar

Dec.12, 2014
Kislev 20, 5775
Light candles at 4:33 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 5:35 p.m.
Hanukkah first night
Dec. 16, 2014
Kislev 24, 5775
Light candles at nightfall
Dec. 19, 2014
Kislev 27, 5775
Light candles at 4:36 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 5:37 p.m.