BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Chicago X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6108@ansheemet.org DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251218T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251218T173000 DTSTAMP:20251215T193418Z URL:https://www.ansheemet.org/events/hanukkah/ SUMMARY:AES Community Hanukkah Celebration DESCRIPTION:Join us on the 5th night of Hanukkah for our annual celebration ! Young Families will start the evening at 5PM with singing Hanukkah songs led by Cantors Brook and Rosenberg.  Then at 5:30PM we invite the whole community to a latke dinner followed by lighting the Hanukkiah with the AE S clergy.  Rhythm and Jews\, the U of Chicago Jewish A Cappella group\, w ill perform as well as our Anshe Emet Youth Choir.   At 6:30PM\, Young Fa milies head home for bedtime\, and our older families and all adults are e ncouraged to participate in our Eight Candles of Hanukkah Stations. We hop e to see you there! Please note: Parking will be extremely limited.  We encourage using a rideshare service or public transit. \n \n Register Here\n \n MembersAdults (ages 18+) - $20Children (ages 5-17) - $10Children (ages 0-4) - FreeNon-MembersAdults (ages 18+) - $25Children (ages 0-17) - $15Children (ages 0-4) - Free \n  Rhythm and Jews! \n \n “A little bit of light is able to push o ff a lot of darkness.” Rabbi Shneur Zalman of LiadiAs we enter Hanukkah\ , we are reminded that even the smallest light has the power to transform the world around us. Each night of the holiday calls us not only to illumi nate our homes but also to bring light into the lives of others. Many in o ur community and beyond are facing hardship\, hunger\, displacement\, or i solation\, and this season invites us to respond with compassion and gener osity.In that spirit\, we encourage you to join us in supporting a range o f organizations whose work reflects the hope and resilience of Hanukkah. E ach night below highlights partners doing meaningful work across Chicago a nd throughout the world. We invite you to learn\, engage\, and give as you are able. Together\, our collective light can brighten even the darkest p laces.Night 1The ArkThe Ark serves as a vital support system within Chicag o’s Jewish community\, offering free\, comprehensive services to individ uals and families experiencing hardship. Their work includes a kosher food pantry\, medical and dental services\, mental-health counseling\, housing support\, case management\, and financial assistance. With dignity and co mpassion\, The Ark ensures that no one in the community faces difficult mo ments alone.Website: https://arkchicago.org“One who locks one’s doors and eats and drinks with one’s family\, but does not offer food and drin k to the poor and suffering—this celebration is not considered a mitzvah \; it is a celebration of one’s own stomach.” (Rambam’s Mishneh Tora h\, Laws of Festivals 6:18)D19 Mutual AidD19 Mutual Aid is a volunteer-led network supporting neighbors on Chicago’s North Side through food distr ibutions\, supply drives\, and direct assistance. Their model centers on b uilding strong\, reciprocal relationships within the community and ensurin g that families and individuals have access to essential resources during times of need.Website: https://sites.google.com/view/19thdistrict/homeNigh t 2Magen David AdomMagen David Adom is Israel’s national emergency medic al and disaster relief organization. It provides lifesaving care every day \, responding to medical emergencies\, natural disasters\, and crisis situ ations. Through its blood services\, first responder training\, and emerge ncy operations\, Magen David Adom plays a crucial role in protecting the h ealth and safety of people throughout Israel.Website: https://afmda.orgNat ional Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)The National Immigrant Justice Center defends the rights of immigrants\, refugees\, and asylum seekers through comprehensive legal services\, litigation\, and policy advocacy. NIJC’s work ensures that vulnerable individuals have access to representation and can navigate an increasingly complex immigration system with dignity and protection.Website: https://immigrantjustice.org“Do not stand idly by th e blood of your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:16)Night 3 Nourishing HopeNouris hing Hope is one of Chicago’s leading food and social service providers. They distribute millions of meals each year while also offering mental-he alth counseling\, case management\, and support for individuals and famili es navigating food insecurity. Their work combines essential resources wit h dignified\, community-centered care.Website: https://www.nourishinghopec hi.orgShalvaShalva provides free\, confidential\, culturally sensitive sup port to survivors of domestic abuse in the Jewish community. Their work in cludes long-term counseling\, advocacy\, safety planning\, and educational programs that promote healthy relationships and raise awareness. Shalva s erves as a compassionate lifeline to those seeking safety and healing.Webs ite: https://shalvaonline.org“Anyone who saves one life\, it is as if th ey saved an entire world.” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) Night 4Red Tent FundT he Red Tent Fund strengthens programs that empower Jewish women and girls bysupporting leadership development\, mentorship\, community-building init iatives\, and educational opportunities. Through its grants and partnershi ps\, the fund helps create environments where women and girls can thrive a nd feel deeply connected to Jewish life.Website: https://theredtentfund.or g/ Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)ICIRR is a s tatewide coalition dedicated to uplifting immigrant and refugee communitie s in Illinois. Their work focuses on civic engagement\, grassroots organiz ing\, policy advocacy\, education\, and building a more inclusive state. I CIRR supports families seeking safety\, stability\, and opportunity.Websit e: https://www.icirr.org “Looking up\, Abraham saw three men standing n ear him. As soon as he saw them\, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them" (Genesis 18:2)Night 5American Jewish World Service (AJWS)Ameri can Jewish World Service is a global organization dedicated to ending pove rty and promoting human rights in the developing world. Rooted in Jewish v alues\, AJWS partners with grassroots groups working to defend women’s r ights\, protect LGBTQ+ people\, respond to humanitarian crises\, advance d emocracy\, and build more just societies.Website: https://ajws.orgLincoln Park Community ShelterThe Lincoln Park Community Shelter provides supporti ve services and interim housing for adults experiencing homelessness. Thei r model focuses on helping participants build stability through case manag ement\, employment support\, access to healthcare\, and community connecti on. LPCS empowers individuals to move toward long-term independence.Websit e: https://lpcschicago.org“Justice\, justice shall you pursue” (Deuter onomy 16:20)Night 6 HIASHIAS is one of the oldest Jewish humanitarian orga nizations in the world\, founded toprotect refugees fleeing persecution. T oday\, HIAS provides legal support\, resettlement assistance\, humanitaria n aid\, and advocacy for displaced people across the globe. Guided by the Jewish imperative to welcome the stranger\, HIAS supports families on thei r journeys to safety and stability.Website: https://hias.orgDeborah’s Pl aceDeborah’s Place supports women experiencing homelessness by providing permanent supportive housing\, case management\, health and wellness serv ices\, and opportunities for personal growth. Their programs help women he al from trauma\, regain stability\, and build brighter futures rooted in d ignity and community.Website: https://www.deborahsplace.org“Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice\; Aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan\; Defend the cause of the widow. “(Isaiah 1:17)Night 7Maot C hitim of Greater ChicagoMaot Chitim ensures that Jewish families throughou t Chicagoland can celebrate the holidays with dignity by delivering food p ackages before Rosh Hashanah and Passover. Thousands of volunteers gather to pack and deliver boxes filled with holiday staples\, fostering a powerf ul sense of community and shared responsibility.Website: https://maotchiti m.orgCradles to CrayonsCradles to Crayons provides children living in pove rty with clothing\, shoes\, school supplies\, hygiene items\, and other es sentials they need for daily life. Through volunteer engagement and strong community partnerships\, the organization ensures that children can learn \, play\, and grow with confidence.Website: https://www.cradlestocrayons.o rg/chicagoAnd all your children shall be taught of the Lord\, and great sh all be the peace of your children. (Isaiah 54:13) Do not read ‘your chi ldren’ (banayikh)\, but rather ‘your builders’ (bonayikh). (Berakhot 64a)Night 8MAZON: A Jewish Response to HungerMAZON works to end hunger in the United States and Israel by addressing root causes\, shaping policy\, educating communities\, and partnering with organizations on the front li nes. Guided by Jewish values\, MAZON is committed to ensuring that all peo ple have consistent access to nutritious food.Website: https://mazon.orgBr ight Star Community OutreachBright Star Community Outreach strengthens Chi cago’s Bronzeville neighborhood through trauma-informed counseling\, you th mentorship\, violence prevention initiatives\, family support services\ , and community-based healing programs. Their work creates safer\, healthi er environments where individuals and families can thrive.Website: https:/ /brightstarcommunityoutreach.com When Rav Huna would eat a meal\, he woul d open his door and say\, “Whoever is in need\, let that person come and eat.” (Ta’anit 20b) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ansheemet.org/wp-content/uploads/202 5/11/HANUKKAH-2025-WEB-IMAGE--scaled.jpg CATEGORIES:Featured END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Chicago BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR