LA Teens Celebrate Chanukah

On the 2nd night of Chanukah a grand Chanukkah party was celebrated in the spacious gym of the Jem Center in Beverly Hills, California.

More than 100 teens came to hear music from our own student Eli, see the flashing lights and creative dancing, eat delicious Chanukah foods, and mark the meaningful Festival of Lights. The participating teens are students in public high schools of greater Los Angeles.

The program was sponsored by the new Beverly Hills Hebrew High School/ the Jewish Club of Beverly Hills, projects of the Jem Center (Jewish Educational Movement) of Los Angeles, CA, founded by Rabbi Hertzel Illulian, the Center hosts programs that attract more than 1000 participants each week.

Beginning September 20th of this year the Center initiated the new Hebrew High School/ Jewish Club of Beverly Hills, under the able leadership of Rabbi Mordecai Berger. The program combines outreach to unaffiliated teens, with textual study of Torah, Chumash, Mishnayos, Gemara, Chassidus, and Hebrew language. Other courses offered are Jewish history, customs – traditions, and Jewish attitudes and values. Students can earn High School credits or University credits for some of these courses.

The program was a spirited spiritual high, with the highlight as the lighting of the Menorah. Great food, terrific music, a spectacular light show and the joyous celebration of Chanuka inspired the students with Jewish pride and happiness, that could be seen on all their faces. “Hope we can have more such Jewish party celebrations,” said a group of girls as they were leaving the Center with renewed sense of confidence in their Jewish Identity.

“A little candle can push away a lot of darkness,” responded one of the rabbis, “Now let’s make the world a kinder and brighter place for all.”