friday | 11
Chabad of Sacramento’s annual menorah lighting ceremony. With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Akiva Tor, Omri Casspi and Jon Voight. At East Side of State Capitol Building. 10 a.m. www.chabadofsacramento.com.
PJ Library candlelighting program. Music, stories and crafts. Daily through Dec. 18. At Park Valencia, 3055 Olin Ave., San Jose. 3:30 p.m. (408) 357-7509.
“A Delightful Chanukah Celebration.” Chanukah dinner and music by Kugelplex, dancing led by Bruce Bierman. At Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., S.F. 6 p.m. $18-$54. RSVP to (415) 346-1720 ext. 27.
Chanukah party and Mizrahi Shabbat. JIMENA, S.F. Hillel and Israel Center event with Moroccan cooking demo, menorah lighting and Chanukah music. At Hillel House, 33 Banbury Drive, S.F. 7:30p.m. [email protected].
Chanukah Celebration for Young Families. Shabbat dinner and holiday activities for parents and children. At Richmond Torah Center, 423 10th Ave., S.F. 10 a.m. www.rtchabad.org.
saturday | 12
“Latkes and Lights Community Chanukah Party.” Dinner, Havdalah, candlelighting and sing-alongs. At Congregation Sinai, 1532 Willowbrae Ave., San Jose. 4:30 p.m. (408) 264-8542.
“Limos and Latkes.” BBYO Chanukah limo treasure hunt for 6th-8th graders. At various locations throughout the Bay Area. 6:30-10:30 p.m. RSVP to (510) 848-0237.
“Latkes and Vodkas.” Live music, spirits, raffle and appetizers. Profits benefit CBS Youth Scholarships. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto. 7-11 p.m. $36. (800) 838-3006.
“Holiday Fundraiser and Rock the House Dinner Dance.” Mediterranean food, wine and live music by the Back Pages. At Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. 7 p.m. RSVP to (510) 223-2560.
sunday | 13
“Community Celebration of Light: Making Chanukah Meaningful.” Live music with Elana Jagoda, “kugel kook-off,” latke lunch and menorah lighting led by Holocaust survivors. At JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.jcceastbay.org.
Chanukah Celebration for Families and Kids. Food, crafts and musician Gerry Tenny. At 4529 Malabar Ave., Castro Valley. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. (510) 881-5299.
Chanukah Palooza. Festival with games, bounce houses, food, holiday vendors, oil-making, and Guitar Hero tournament. Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 12-4 p.m. Free. (408) 357-7497.
“Judd’s Hill Hanukkah Hootenanny.” Wine, latke bar and Jewish surf music, benefiting Napa Children’s Health Initiative. At Judd’s Hill winery, 2332 Silverado Trail, Napa. 12-3 p.m. $25. www.juddshill.com.
Latkepalooza! Live music with Ben Brussell’s Klezmania, olive oil and wine tasting, arts and crafts. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 1-4 p.m. www.pjcc.org.
“American Chai-dol.” The Jewish Home’s annual Chanukah musical review. At Jewish Home, 302 Silver Ave., S.F. 2 p.m. Free. (415) 469-2248.
Bill Graham Menorah Day. Menorah lighting, live music. Union Square, S.F. 2 p.m. (415) 753-0910.
Joel Ben Izzy. Chanukah storytelling event to benefit Easy Does It Emergency Services. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 3 p.m. (510) 845-5513.
Chanukah Bowl at Homestead Lanes. Bowling, traditional holiday foods and a six-foot menorah made of pennies. At 20990 Homestead Road, Cupertino. 5:30 p.m. www.chabadsunnyvale.com.
Community menorah lighting. Candlelighting and Chanukah sing-along with the Ferris Wheels. At Bay Street Mall, 5816 Bay St., Emeryville. 4 p.m. Free. www.chabadberkeley.org.
Early Childhood Children’s Chanukah Concert. Dinner, wine bar, silent auction and live music by Melita, to benefit childhood program. At Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., S.F. 4-6:30 p.m. $50 per family. RSVP to (415) 346-1720 ext. 27.
Grand menorah lighting. Live music, face painting and Chanukah donuts. At Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek. 4 p.m. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
Oakland menorah lighting. Live music by the Saul Kaye Band, hot drinks and donuts, raffle. At Splash Pad Park, between Grand and Lakeshore avenues, Oakland. 4 p.m. Free. www.jewishoakland.com.
Public menorah lighting. Building and lighting of balloon menorah, music and latkes. At City Hall Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. 4 p.m. (650) 424-9800.
“Let Us Break Bread Together: A Target Holiday Celebration.” Concert with Kugelplex, Kitka and other religious ensembles. At Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway St., Oakland. 4 p.m. $10-$40. www.oebs.org.
“Yes We Can Menorah.” Menorah made of canned foods, arts and crafts, latkes. At Just For Fun, 3982 24th St., S.F. 4 p.m. [email protected].
Menorah lighting. Featuring songs with Rabbi Oren Posrel. At Lyman Park, St. Helena. 6 p.m. (707) 963-9632.
“Let the Light Shine On: A Chanukah Community Celebration.” With live music by Fran Avni, Ljuba Davis and the East Bay Jewish Folk Chorus. At Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $15. (510) 528-8872.
monday | 14
Public menorah lighting. Giant menorah, music, dancing, latkes and face painting. At Civic Center, Mountain View. 5:30 p.m. (650) 961-2484.
tuesday | 15
Public menorah lighting. Lighting, music and latkes. At Community Plaza, Main and State streets, Los Altos. 5 p.m. (650) 961-2484.
“Chanukah on Ice.” Menorah lighting and ice skating to traditional Jewish music. At Walnut Creek Civic Park Ice Rink. 7-9 p.m. $14-$16. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
Community Chanukah concert. With Israeli entertainer Yoel Sharabi, celebrating Dena Levin’s 50th birthday. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. RSVP to (650) 424-9800.
wednesday | 16
Lafayette menorah lighting. Featuring Chanukah donuts and crafts. At Safeway, 3540 Mt. Diablo Blvd. 7:30 p.m. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
Menorah lighting and gala party. Lighting, video presentation, dinner buffet and music by the Ferris Wheels. At Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont. 6:30 p.m. www.jewishoakland.com.
thursday | 17
Community menorah lighting. Live music with Ferris Wheels, Chanukah crafts and jelly donuts. At CB2, 1730 Fourth St., Berkeley. 5 p.m. www.chabadberkeley.org.
Chanukah candle lighting at Santana Row. Public menorah lighting. At Santana Row Shopping Center, San Jose. Free. 5:30 p.m. (408) 357-7413.
Russian River Jewish community Chanukah party. Latkes, candlelighting and music by Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble. At Russian River Senior Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. 5:30 p.m. $6. (707) 869-3273.
“The Infamous Vodkas and Latkes.” Music and dancing. At East Bay JCC, 1414 Walnut St., Berkely. 7-11 p.m. $18-$20. www.jcceastbay.org.
San Ramon menorah lighting. Traditional Chanukah donuts and crafts for children. At Whole Foods, 100 Sunset Drive, San Ramon. 7:30 p.m. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
friday | 18
Chanukah celebration. Candlelighting, donuts and Israeli music by the Kletztets. At Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. 6 p.m.
“GIMMEL: A Queer Chanukah Party.” With Queer Portland Jewess DJ Jodi Bon Jodi, latkes and donuts, dollar margaritas. At Lexington Club, 3463 19th St., S.F. 7-11 p.m. www.nehirim.org.
A holiday treat: The Firebird Dance Theatre’s presentation of a one-night-only encore performance of its holiday dance show “Simcha” will take place 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Heritage Theater, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell. “Simcha,” inspired by the stories of Sholem Aleichem, will coincide with a Chanukah shopping bazaar. Tickets are $15 to $25. For details, visit www.simchashow.com.