Many Jewish Temples in both Cape Coral and Fort Myers will be celebrating

Hanukkah this year with various festivities.

Hanukkah, which is also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day

Jewish holiday that commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. The

holiday begins at sunset on Dec. 11 and ends at sunset on Dec. 19.

Temple Beth-el, located at 16225 Winkler Road in Fort Myers, will kick off

their Hanukkah celebration on Friday, Dec. 11 with a dinner and a Latka

cook-off contest.

The Latka cook-off contest will feature individual latkas, which will be

judged and awarded at 7 p.m. with first, second and third place prizes. The

contest only has room for 18 contestants, so those who wish to participate

are encouraged to do so early.

The dinner will be catered and served buffet style at 6:30 p.m. The dinner

is open to anyone who wants to come and enjoy the food. A service will be

provided after the dinner is finished.

The Temple Beth-el's Sisterhood will be sponsoring a Hanukkah party and

luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m.

The Menorah Lighting will take place on Friday, Dec. 18. during Temple

Beth-el's service, which is held at 7:30. Everyone who attends the service

is encouraged to bring their own Menorah, so they can light their candle

during the service.

Reservations are required to attend the dinner and luncheon by calling

433-0018, so Temple Beth-el will have enough food to serve everyone who is

interested in attending the events.

For information visit: www.templebethel.com.

Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida is also hosting a Hanakkah Celebration

in the Bell Tower Shops on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz said it is a major Hanukkah Celebration that

attracts more than 1,000 people each year during the free event.

He said the celebration will feature a Jewish singer and a stand-up

comedian. The celebration will also have a clown, face painting, dancing, a

pinata, crafts for the children and a grand raffle. An appearance by

Miss-A-Miracle will also be made during the festivities at the Bell Tower

Shops.

The food and beverages for the celebration include latkas, donuts, soda and

water, Minkowicz said.

He said a little shop will also be set up for those who wish to purchase

Hanakkah items for themselves or as gifts during the celebration at Bell

Tower.

A grand Menorah lighting will take place during the celebration, he

explained.

"It is a nice festival, everything is free," he said about the event that

began 15 years ago at Bell Tower. "It's an event that people look forward

to, they want to attend it and participate."

For information call 433-7708 or visit: chabadswf.org.

The Chabad Jewish Center in Cape Coral will also have Hanakkah celebrations, which will begin on Friday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. with a Chinese-style dinner complete with traditional Hanakkah treats.

Rivky Labkowski, program director said the Menorah Lighting will take place

on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. free to the public.

She said the Grand Menorah Lighting celebration will be held at Coral Wood

Shopping Center in Cape Coral, which is located at 2301 Del Prado Blvd. S.

Hanakkah treats like donuts and Latkes will be available for those who wish

to try them.

The celebration will also have public officials extending their greetings,

along with music filling the air, so individuals can dance. Arts and crafts

will be available for the children during the celebration at Coral Wood

Shopping Center, she said.

Labkowski said the celebration is open to the entire community and she

encourages everyone to participate in the celebration.

This year the Chabad Jewish Center will offer a Hanakkah store due to the

high demand of requests they receive from individuals asking where they can

purchase items that are specialized for the Hanakkah holiday.

The store will offer Hanakkah-themed gifts like candles, Menorahs, wrapping

paper and gift bags.

Labkowski said the store has items for "all your Hanakkah needs and we are

doing it as a service for the community, so our prices are very low."

Those who wish to purchase items from the store must make an appointment to visit the store by calling 541-1777.

She said they are very flexible with their hours. The store is located at

4706 Chiquita Blvd. South in the Cape.

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