Chanukah Celebrations Around Town

By
Suzanne Pollak
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0

…at the Israeli Embassy

The Israeli Embassy on International Drive in Northwest D.C. hosted a Chanukah celebration on Dec. 18. Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center director and chief legal counsel Rabbi David Saperstein helped light the menorah, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer spoke and guests were treated to traditional Chanukah songs by Makela (“chorus” in Hebrew) — a Jewish co-ed a capella group for young professionals in the Washington, D.C. area.

Religious Action Center director and chief legal counsel Rabbi David Saperstein lights the menorah. Photos by Geoffrey Melada
Religious Action Center director and chief legal counsel Rabbi David Saperstein lights the menorah. Photos by Geoffrey Melada
George Mason University Hillel Executive Director Ross Diamond, center, his wife Sarah Lafreniere, and Israel on Campus Coalition Executive Director Jacob Baime
A capella group Makela sings Chanukah songs at the Israeli Embassy.

 

…with the mayor

Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and the D.C. Council held a Chanukah candlelighting celebration at the John A. Wilson Building on Pennsylvania Avenue on Dec. 18. Attendees
included JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber; Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, JCRC director, social justice & interfaith initiatives; and InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Executive Director Gerry Serotta. The event was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.

https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/enewsletter/
Rabbi Gerry Serotta, executive director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, right, lights a menorah with Mayor Vincent Gray and other Jewish community leaders.
Rabbi Gerry Serotta, executive director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, right, lights a menorah with Mayor Vincent Gray and other Jewish community leaders. Photos by Lacey Johnson
A menorah at the Chanukah candlelighting.

 

…at the White House

Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, of Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, and wife Sari Raskin, associate director of community investment at the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, pose for a picture at the White House Chanukah reception in the East Room on Dec. 17, where earlier President Obama and the first lady joined guests in a menorah lighting ceremony. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Adam J. Raskin
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, of Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, and wife Sari Raskin, associate director of community investment at the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, pose for a picture at the White House Chanukah reception in the East Room on Dec. 17, where earlier President Obama and the first lady joined guests in a menorah lighting ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Rabbi Adam J. Raskin
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