Hanukkah has a tendency to be overshadowed by Christmas, and it can certainly feel that way in Boston. But there are plenty of things happening around the city to keep you busy, entertained, and spiritually centered this holiday season.
Public Menorah Lightings:
Here’s a sampling of Boston-area public menorah lightings:- Boston Common will kick off Hanukkah with the first of eight nights of public menorah lightings Friday at 2:30 p.m. The time varies for the other seven nights.
Friday, Dec 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. (accompanied by live music)
Monday, Dec. 18 thru Friday, Dec. 22 at 5:15 p.m. - Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley invites you to join them throughout the week for festivities including a nightly menorah lighting at 5:45 p.m. in front of their congregation.
Friday, Dec. 15 - Friday, Dec. 22 at 5:45 p.m.
Congregation Beth El, 105 Hudson Road, Sudbury
(978) 443-9622 / info@bethelsudbury.org
shalomboston.com
Entertainment
- Jewltide, an indie-centric Hanukkah celebration sponsored by HEEB magazine, comes to Boston for the first time this year. Eat jelly donuts and chocolate gelt, play with a dreidel, and catch up-and-coming acts such as Gypsy rockers Golem and Klezmer mixmaster SoCalled.
Thursday, Dec. 21 - Doors 8:30 p.m. 18+
$12, $10 in advance
T.T. the Bear's, 10 Brookline Street, Central Square
(617) 492-2327
ttthebears.com - Home for the Holidays is one of Boston’s most inclusive holiday events. The 150-voice Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, now in its 25th season, focuses on the theme of “family” in all of its permutations, and will include Hanukkah and Christmas favorites, as well as a world premiere by Bret Silverman called “Two Holidays,” which takes a humorous look at the effort to merge the two holiday traditions in one household.
Friday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m.
$15–$45
Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston
(617) 524-SING
bgmc.org - Gala Chanukah Celebration is now an "annual tradition" of gathering as a congregation to light the candles, sing, eat, and discuss the symbols and significance of Chanukah. Bring your own menorah and candles to share in the candle lighting ceremony, and share your contribution of holiday goodies. Everyone is asked to bring a gift package of personal care products such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, powder, etc., wrapped and labeled for either male/female, for distribution to members of the Boston Living Center, which serves people living with AIDS in the community.
Please RSVP at info@bostonjewishspirit.org / (617) 983-1200
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
RSVP for directions and details (617) 983-1200 / info@bostonjewishspirit.org
bostonjewishspirit.org - Jewmongous! Sean Altman of “What I Like About Jew” fame—named Best Male Artist at the 2005 International Acoustic Awards—brings his raunchy, irreverent Jew-themed comedy song show to Boston. (hear song samples)
Wednesday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m. (doors 6:30) and 9:30 p.m. (doors 9)
$15
Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge
(617) 492-7679
jewmongous.com - Hanukkah Celebration! A family-oriented celebration for children and adults, including service, holiday meal, craft projects, music, and more, hosted by Kahal B'raira, a congregation of Secular Humanistic Jews in the Boston area.
Saturday Dec. 16, from 5-8 p.m.
$10 per person / $30 maximum per family
Wellesley Community Center
219 Washington St., Wellesley Hills
kahalbraira.org - Matzo BallFrom its small start in a Boston bar, Boston's Matzo Ball bashes at the Boston Avalon have expanded to more than a dozen cities as a holiday party for Jewish singles on the night before Christmas.
Sunday, Dec. 24 - Doors 8 p.m. 21+
$25
Avalon Ballroom, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston
(617) 262-2424
matzoball.org
