(Vernon Hills, IL)—Hundreds of families and community members came together to welcome the Jewish Festival of Lights  this past Sunday, December 11, at Hanukkah Happenings, a community celebration at the Westfield Hawthorn Mall.

The yearly event attracts crowds of children and their families to the mall for a truly inclusive communal gathering. Shoppers from all walks of life, Jewish and not Jewish, joined together to celebrate, play, and discover the joys of Hanukkah.

“This program brings the joy of Hanukkah to a public space, that’s not something you see every day,” said Laurie Goldberg, director of JCC Children, Family and Wellness. “The goal of this program is to bring together the community, and I think we’ve succeeded at that phenomenally.”

Children made Hanukkah crafts, played dreidel, and danced to the music of award-winning singer and songwriter, Susan Salidor. As a highlight of the event, children also made holiday cards for soldiers and residents at local nursing homes.

Hanukkah is one of the most widely celebrated American Jewish holidays. The festive nature of Hanukkah is enriched through family and community gatherings, which include playing games such as dreidel, and eating special traditional foods, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, Jewish people light menorahs (special candelabras). These lights are reminders of the Jewish struggle for religious freedom.

This family program is open to the entire community and is co-sponsored by Jewish Community Center of Chicago (JCC Chicago), Jewish United Fund’s Joyfully Jewish Family Programs and The PJ Library. For more information, please contact Lawrence LeVine at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 847.763.3603.

About JCC Chicago

Media Contact

Rachel Smith
Jewish Community Center Chicago
Office: 847.763.3661
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it