Hanukkah spirit shines forth at Torat Yisrael’s joyous celebration

The joyful holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, inspired Temple Torat Yisrael’s Cohen Religious School to host a celebration with the school children and the local Jewish community.

On Dec. 11, to commemorate the Hanukkah miracle of the oil lasting eight nights, many parents volunteered to fry delicious sufganiyot (doughnuts) for school snacks, with help from the K-1 class. The excited students enjoyed filling the sufganiyot with strawberry jelly, and eating them with the jelly, powdered sugar or plain.

That same morning, the Pre-K Torah Sprouts and their parents, led by Rabbi Aaron Philmus and his assistant, Leah Ross-Coke, learned about Hanukkah’s history and traditions. They listened to a story, lit a hanukkiah, made a craft and enjoyed sufganiyot. There were many adorable powdered-sugar smiles and jellied hands!

On Dec. 18, the hard work of numerous parent volunteers at the East Greenwich temple paid off as many families enjoyed the community Hanukkah party. Activities includes playing dreidels, lighting family menorahs, listening and dancing to Hanukkah music, assembling and eating edible dreidels, making spin art creations with the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art,  Hanukkah bingo, indoor basketball and face painting. Of course, delicious homemade latkes were also enjoyed.  

In addition, the Caring Committee, in partnership with the school, had a table at the party for students to perform a mitzvah: They made Hanukkah poppers filled with gelt and dreidels, which were wrapped in beautiful paper and were to be presented on Dec. 27 to residents of The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, in Warwick, during a candle-lighting ceremony. This was a wonderful way for students to share some Hanukkah spirit and light with other members of the Jewish community. 

DORI ADLER is the education director at Torat Yisrael’s Cohen Religious School. For information about the school, contact her at school@toratyisrael.org.