Hundreds will skate to the sound of Jewish music to celebrate Chanukah/Thanksgiving

Local Jews will celebrate "Chanukah on Ice" at Blackstone Valley Arena

On Sunday, December 1, from 5:00-7:00pm Jewish children, teens and adults from around Massachusetts will converge on the area's ultimate celebration of - "Chanukah On Ice" at the brand-new indoor, Blackstone Valley Ice Arena in Hopedale, MA. Non-stop action and activities will provide a creative and educational Chanukah and Thanksgiving celebration for Jewish families.

Open to the entire community, the event will include open ice skating, Chanukah crafts and games and fun for the entire family. The hero of Chanukah - "Judah the Maccabee” will be on hand to take pictures with the kids, as well as distribute free dreidrels and chocolate gelt to all the children. Participants will enjoy skating to the sounds of Jewish/Chanukah music and indulge in the tastes of the holiday. There will be Kosher food concessions with Chanukah donuts, Kosher hot dogs, Latkes and more. To add to the fun, there will a free Chanukah Raffle.

This year’s event takes on extra meaning with the once-in-a-lifetime convergence of Chanukah and Thanksgiving. As the holiday weekend winds down, and people are looking for one last hoorah before they go back to “normal life”… enter “Chanukah on Ice!”

A highlight of the event will be the lighting of a giant menorah in the center of the rink.

The event is sponsored by the Chabad House Jewish Center and expects to draw a large crowd. Event Coordinator, Rochy Kivman said "The program is intended to bring the spirit of Chanukah and Thanksgiving (“Thanksgivukah!”) to children, young adults and their families and instill feeling of Jewish pride."

Admission to Chanukah on Ice is $7 per person at the door or $5 if you pre-pay online at JewishMA.com. Ice skates are available for an additional $5 or participants can bring their own.

The Blackstone Valley Ice Arena is located at 125 Plains St, Hopedale MA 02035 a few minutes off of 495 at exit 18. Free parking is available.

To RSVP and for more information call Chabad at (508) 473-1299 or visit www.JewishMA.com

Chanukah-The Festival of Lights- for many of us brings back fond memories of childhood years and serves to renew our sense of identity. The Chanukah lights provide us with warmth, joy, strength and inspiration. Such is the purpose of community-wide celebrations to be held at various places throughout Chanukah.

Chanukah, a celebration for all time is highlighted by the kindling of the Menorah each night of the holiday. "It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition" said Rabbi Mendy Kivman, director of the Chabad Jewish Center.  "In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place."

Chanukah also propagates the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression, light over darkness. “Hence, the Menorah lighting ON ICE, which represents the ability to turn a cold world into a bright-warm future!” said Rochy Kivman, co-director at Chabad.

In its Chanukah outreach campaign, Chabad House Jewish Center joins thousands of centers across the globe that are staging similar public displays of the Menorah and its symbolic lights. From Australia to Africa, Columbia to Hong Kong, Boston’s downtown to the White House lawn, hundreds of thousands will experience the joy of Chanukah with Chabad.

Chabad is sponsoring many other local Chanukah events open to the public, including:

- Build-a-Menorah workshop at Home Depot in Bellingham. This event, free of charge, is open to Jewish Children and their parents/grandparents. It will take place on Sunday, November 24 at 3 pm. Each child will be given the necessary materials and tools to build a menorah. They will also receive a special work-apron and goggles. Home Depot staff will be on hand to assist the children; and parents are encouraged to work with the children too. In the holiday-spirit, we will also be holding a “Thanksgiving Food drive”; people can bring kosher canned foods to be donated to “Jewish Family Services” of MetroWest.
While walk-ins are welcome, reservations will guarantee your spot: To reserve a spot, go to: www.JewishMA.com.

- Public Menorah Lightings will include: Hot Cocoa, Starbucks coffee, Nosh, Music and more. Free of charge:
- First-night: lighting of the “Holliston Public Menorah”, outside Holliston Town Hall at 703 Washington Street, Holliston. Wednesday, November 27 at 5:30 pm 

- Third Night: lighting of the Milford Chabad Menorah, outside the Chabad Center, 34 Cedar Street, Milford. Friday, November 29 at 3:15pm. The lighting will be followed by a delicious four-course Shabbat – Chanukkah – Thanksgiving dinner. Dinner reservations are required at: www.JewishMA.com. There is a minimal fee to join this special dinner.

- Fourth Night: lighting of “Franklin Freedom Menorah” on the Town Green, at the intersection of Main Street, and High Street, in Franklin. Saturday, November, 30 at 7pm

- Fifth Night: “Chanukah on Ice”, at the Blackstone Valley Ice Arena, 125 Plains street, Hopedale. Sunday, December 1, at 5-7 pm. Reservations are requested at www.JewishMA.com.

- Seventh night: Jewish heritage night at TD Garden with the Boston Celtics. Menorah lighting on Center Court and Chanukah festivities begin on Tuesday, December 3 at 6:15 pm.

S.O.S.: Chabad’s “Smile on Seniors” will bring the joy and celebration of Chanukah to the various Senior living Centers around MetroWest. To find out more, or to add your facility, please email: info@JewishMA.com.

Join Chabad and Jews from throughout the community in a public display of unity at these exciting Menorah Lighting Ceremonies and Chanukah events. Bring the kids, bring the teenagers, bring the adults and seniors! And make this your special Chanukah celebration.

For more information, contact us at (508)473-1299 or info@JewishMA.com.