Thirty-five days of Chanukah

While Jews across the globe celebrate Chanukah for eight nights, the part-time program directors at the Jewish Pavilion celebrate for more than a month. Visit the Pavilion's new website http://www.jewishpavilion.org and click on the calendar to see 50 Chanukah celebrations all over town. Everyone in the community is welcome to participate in any of the parties.

Unlike Jewish communities that have a Home for the Jewish Aged, every facility the Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers visit has a different feel. The culture of a facility is dictated by so many things-the atmosphere, décor, staff, health of the residents and the quality of the activities directors. Therefore, if one decides to attend numerous Pavilion parties, each experience will be entirely different even when the "magic formula" is the same.

The Jewish Pavilion's four program directors and their volunteers have the perfect plan for a half hour to 45-minute party and volunteer help serving and socializing with seniors is always needed. Various ways to volunteer include telling or acting out the Chanukah story; lead the blessings, light the Chanukiah; serve latkes with applesauce and sour cream, Chanukah cookies and gelt on pretty plates with Chanukah napkins; as well as musical entertainment.