Chanukah Arts Festival Family Expo ~ Dec 9, 2007

Last Sunday, I attended my first ever Chanukah celebration with my friend, Rhonda. It was held in Anchorage at the Egan Convention Center and was open to the public. Rhonda had never attended one of these festivals before either, but had wanted to for a long time, so she called me up and we went together.

I admit that at times, I felt like a party-crasher, as everything was foreign to me and other than Rhonda, I knew no one else there. However, no one made us feel unwelcomed and we were even able to share a table with a Hebrew family. The event was free, but food, games and activities took tickets ($1 per ticket) and I spent $10 on refreshments for Rhonda and myself. We both had potato latkes with applesauce - my first time - and they were very tasty!

Hope you enjoy these photos -- kimB

One of many antique menorahs on display - some were hundreds of years old!

Display table of Antique Menorahs

Giant dreidel pinata and a net full of balloons. The pinata was broken at the end of the event (we left before then) and the balloons were dropped at the end of a skit put on by the children

"Jerusalem of Gold" - menorah under glass

Cups, Mugs & Goblets under glass

Menorahs for sale - there was such a wide variety!

Dude!

Groovy little VW Menorah for sale! Faaaaar Out :) ! Shalom, y'all!

" Synogogues of the World"

Egan Center ballroom - all decked out for Festival & Family Expo

Food Line

Hebrew Youth Club, Gan Yeladim Preshool and Toddler Program students at the end of the Chanukah Light Parade

Jack and Jordan Green give the Menorah Blessings (yes, in Hebrew!)

Rabbi Yosef Greenberg and Jerry Green (father of the two little boys) kindle the Ice Menorah

Larry Tallman and David Grashin light the antique menorah - it's more than 400 years old! - as Rabbi Greenberg looks on

~ Basking in the Light of GOD's Love ~

This beautiful young lady was one of our table mates, along with her family, who kept speaking to one another in - I think, Yiddish. Lovely :)

Musical performance by Alex Zlatovski and Jack & Jordan Green

A portion of the menorah on our table.

Love the glow from this - was surprised it turned out so well! I used macro mode; no flash

The menorah at our table was crafted by children at the festival

A Reflection of the Lord's Provision

"My Giant Birthday Latke" - a theatrical performance by the Talmud Torah After-School students. Very cute play :)

Yarmulkes and programs on our table at the festival

Carved Ice Menorah - This was sooooo much prettier IRL!

Ice Menorah Detail

The original of this photo had a yellowish tinge, so I added the "cool 1" filter to give it a more natural appearance.

Native Alaskan artwork in the lobby of the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage