How to Bring the light of Hanukkah into the New Year

Once upon a time in Kansas City, Missouri, the many members of a venerated Reform temple formed a large, happy community. It then happened that part of the congregation split away from “the mother ship” and formed a separate, smaller, but equally happy community in a suburb of the city called Overland Park. Following the Jewish community, the original congregation relocated  just a few years later so that the two buildings are now four blocks apart.  

It took a bit of time, but  the congregations have begun to offer joint programs and this presents a perfect opportunity for Chai Mitzvah. With just a handful of participants from each place, we saw that we could build meaningful connections and strengthen both organizations.  And so we began with Critical Conversations, facilitated by the engagement professionals from both congregations. 

In January the women’s groups — Sisterhood in one case, and an emerging Women’s Council in the other, are offering a joint Rosh Chodesh/New Moon program. We’ll explore the unique traditions associated with each month and then turn our attention to a  Biblical heroine,  learning together how her challenges and opportunities relate to our lives today.  Eighteen women registered within a few weeks, stretching the boundaries of our “small group” to the limit!

If you’re wondering why I’m sharing this success with you, the answer is that would be a wonderful way to  bring the light of Hanukkah into the new year — and we at Chai Mitzvah are here to help you in any way!

If you’re wondering why I’m sharing this success with you, the answer is that I hope to inspire you to do what we did in my home town: Identify opportunities  within and outside of your own synagogue (or community) to form small groups – five or six people from your synagogue and about the same number from another, to share new and different viewpoints on critical Jewish issues.  This would be a wonderful way to  bring the light of Hanukkah into the new year—and we at Chai Mitzvah are here to help you in any way!