Event Type 2: Community Event

In coordination with several major Jewish organizations, JEWISHcolorado, and Jewish Federations of North America are joining National Mobilization Week.  As the war continues, Members of Congress are facing ongoing pressure to back down from their support of Israel, and anti-Israel voices are making a strong effort to flood the phone lines and tell their elected officials to abandon the Jewish State.  Your voice is needed at this critical moment to tell your elected officials that you support Israel.

A key to consciousness in Kabbalah is the Tree of Life, a visual map of how infinite and finite flow into and from each other. We enter places, form relationships and pursue projects often with little understanding of how they come about, their meaning and the relevance of seeing beyond what manifests. In this introduction to the Tree of Life we learn about and then practice incorporating this system of energy flow in all our interactions.

Free intro classes are approximately 1 hour long

Instructor: Melanie Gruenwald

Dr. Matthew Goldwasser will return for the second time to share another example from his radio show. This Hanukkah program features Jewish music: Gypsy, Klezmer, and Jazz artists from the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Israel. Sit back, close your eyes and listen to the music with Dr. Goldwasser’s expertise to guide you. $5

The Colorado Hebrew Chorale presents “Chanukah in Story and Song” on Friday, Dec. 8, 2024, 11 AM at the Decker Branch of the Denver Public Library, 1501 S. Logan Street, Denver.  Albert Banker will serve as story teller, accompanied by Harry Grainger on clarinet. Free and open to the public. 

Information: www.coloradohebrewchorale.org 

Do you ever wonder how life might be different if you felt less anxious?

Rabbi Caryn Aviv’s Unlearning Jewish Anxiety offers a powerful way to understand how anxiety is a thief that steals our joy. In this 5-week class, you’ll learn how to practice curiosity, deepen your self-compassion, and deploy simple tools to calm your breathing. You’ll learn to notice and name when you’re experiencing two common Jewish anxiety patterns. You’ll also learn how to meet difficult moments with curiosity, awareness, and new habits. Unlearning Jewish Anxiety can help you suffer less and live with more joy.

Join us to celebrate our 150th Anniversary by recognizing our Rabbi Steven Foster Early Learning Center (ELC) at our annual Hanukkah Hoopla. The joy and light created by our ELC brightens our community every day. 

Every Hanukkah we come together as a community to experience the power of togetherness and the light of our Hanukkah candles. Please bring your menorah to participate in a community candle lighting! All are welcome. Please bring family, friends, and any Israeli families who are spending time in our community this season. 

A Shabbat celebration for families with young children

Shabbat Sing-Along is a wonderful opportunity for families with infant to preschool-aged children to come together and celebrate Shabbat with a short musical service, socializing over bagels provided by Rosenberg’s Bagel & Delicatessen, and an interactive song session. This is a great way to meet other young families in the community and for children to have a wonderful Shabbat experience! Shabbat Sing-Along is led by Rabbinic Candidate Dan Yolles.

Command the dance floor in your comfy kicks and dress to impress for a night of dancing! Everything from sneakers to chic is welcome! 

This event will begin at 6:30 with Havdalah and Menorah lighting followed by pizza, Sufganiyot (Israeli donuts), dancing, and fun games.

Saturday, December 9 | 6:30 – 9:30 pm | $15

Please join us in Levin Hall for an interactive musical Chanukah celebration with Jeff and Paige! This annual event will get your family excited for the Festival of Lights with elaborate costumes (including Latke Man!) and catchy songs. Jeff and Paige use storytelling to explore Chanukah and celebrate its many traditions. This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome!

$12 per person, children 2 and under free. $14 per person at the door.

Join us in a peaceful rally to support Israel.

When: Sunday December 10th, 2 to 3 PM
Where: In front of the City Hall in Colorado Springs, 107 N Nevada Avenue

Bring an Israeli flag if you have one. Bring a sign in support of Israel if you have one. We will also have signs available at the rally. Come and show your support for Israel.

The Colorado Springs Police Department has been notified about the rally.

The Colorado Hebrew Chorale presents “Chanukah in Story and Song” on Friday, Dec. 8, 2024, 11 AM at the Belmar Branch of the Jefferson County Public  Library, 555 Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO.  Albert Banker will serve as story-teller, accompanied by Harry Grainger on clarinet. Free and open to the public. 

Information: www.coloradohebrewchorale.org 

You’re invited to LIGHT THE NIGHT – Temple Sinai’s congregational and communal event. Stand with courage and pride for our Jewish heritage, and make the brilliance of our community shine into the hearts and minds of Jews and non-Jews alike. We do this on the festival holiday of Chanukah, a symbol of dedication. We will dedicate ourselves to, and ask all of you to dedicate yourselves to, “stand in solidarity against hate”.



There will be a short program in our sanctuary featuring government leaders, community leaders and the singing of Chanukah songs led by our very own Temple Sinai Preschool!



Following the short program, we will gather outside to actually LIGHT THE NIGHT as we dedicate our new outdoor space and enjoy live music, dancing, latkes, donuts and hot beverages.



Food trucks will be available to purchase dinner.



THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND! THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS; RSVP’S ARE REQUIRED. 

Enjoy a delectable evening with Julie Nygard, the Chocolate Therapist, as she teaches us about how chocolate is made and offers us multiple chocolates paired with appropriate wines. Or, if you prefer, choose teas for pairing with her all-natural, hand-crafted chocolates. Other food and beverages will also be available.

The festivities continue with Hanukkah goodies, schmoozing, and celebrating!

Bring your family and friends (makes a great Hanukkah gift), and register early as seating is limited. Registration deadline is December 1st. 

 Reserve your spot for $45 per person at www.ncjwcolorado.com, through Venmo: @NCJW-Colorado Section, or by sending a check to PO Box 460892, Denver Colorado 80246. (Checks must be received by December 1). 

Kol Nashim, the treble choir of the Colorado Hebrew Chorale continues its series, “Jewish Broadway.” Mimi Raizen will explore the lives of some of Broadway’s leading Jewish men, spanning from the 19th century to the present day. She will discuss the contributions of Al Jolson (1886-1950) and Bert Lahr (1895-1967) on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, 7:00 pm MST on Zoom   

The series is free but registration is required at www.coloradohebrewchorale.org

Come celebrate the 4th night in style with the album release performance of A Jazzy Hanukkah with the Domi Edson Trio! This concert will feature original jazzy arrangements of all your favorite Hanukkah songs including Oh Hanukkah/Yimei HaChanukkah, Maoz Tzur, Sevivon, Ner Li, Al Hanissim, and more. This is sure to be a festive evening, and feel free to BYO-Hanukkiah/Menorah to light along with us. “A Jazzy Hanukkah with the Domi Edson Trio” comes out on Friday, Nov. 24th and will be avaliable on all streaming services, YouTube, and Compact Disc.

A key to consciousness in Kabbalah is the Tree of Life, a visual map of how infinite and finite flow into and from each other. We enter places, form relationships and pursue projects often with little understanding of how they come about, their meaning and the relevance of seeing beyond what manifests. In this introduction to the Tree of Life we learn about and then practice incorporating this system of energy flow in all our interactions.

Free intro classes are approximately 1 hour long

Instructor: Dr. David Sanders

Join our new community JEWISHcolorado Shlicha Nelly Ben Tal on the second Monday of each month for recent updates from Israel and the Ramat HaNegev region. This virtual discussion will run between 30 minutes to one hour, with plenty of time for Q & A.

This program is presented in partnership with JEWISHcolorado, and the Jewish Agency.

Mondays | December 11, January 8, February 12, March 11, April 8 | 9:30 – 10:30 am | FREE

Join Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, American Jewish Committee, and community partners for an interfaith gala celebrating Hanukkah and the significance of light on our many religions.

A highlight of the program will be a special Hanukkah candle lighting by the Colorado Diplomatic Corps, including Consul General of Japan Mikami Yoichi and Consul General of Canada Sylvain Fabi.

We will also be joined by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and faith leaders from our Colorado community.

Light appetizers, coffee, and tea will be provided.

Shine the Light of Chanukah on Pearl Street with the County’s Largest Menorah

Hosted by the Boulder County Center for Judaism and the Boulder JCC

BOULDER, CO: December is one of the darkest times of the year, and this year the world is a dark place. But every year, Chanukah comes around to help us create and spread light.

For over 20 years, the Boulder Jewish community has gathered on Pearl Street Mall for the annual Menorah lighting featuring the biggest Hanukkah menorah in the county. As a popular Chanukah event, hundreds join yearly in the public display of adding in light and Jewish pride.

Once again, the Boulder Fire Department is bringing a ladder truck to create the Chanukah gelt drop. Stand under the rain of Chanukah and collect the torrent of gelt and good luck.

NEW! Be the first to see the Art Menorah, made entirely of tiles decorated with pain markers by kids of all ages at the 2023 Boulder Jewish Festival this summer.

Of course, there will be hot latkes made right on site and fresh sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).

When: Monday, December 11 at 5:30pm
Where: 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall, behind the courthouse.

No registration is required, but, if you do register, the first 100 people will receive a special Chanukah gift at the event. Register
at BoulderJCC.org OR Boulder Judaism.com. Please do not register at both.

This exciting annual event is hosted by the Boulder County Center for Judaism and the Boulder JCC, and generously sponsored by Andy and Audry Franklin, the Boulder Jewish News, Caroline Bleicher of Re/MAX of Boulder, Downtown Boulder, the Oreg Foundation, Rhonda and Bruce Wildman, and Jackie and Mark Sprinces Wong for whose support we are enormously grateful.

For sponsorship opportunities, call 303.494.1638 or email BoulderJudaism@gmail.com

Join Chabad Jewish Center South Metro, JEWISHcolorado, Denver JDS, and IAC Colorado for a Chanukah celebration-on ice! Skate to Chanukah music, light the ice menorah, enjoy Chanukah treats, and much more! Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. 

Join us for the Hanukkah festival with family activities, Hanukkah candle lighting, and dinner!

מוזמנים למסיבת חנוכה עם הפעלות למשפחה, הדלקת נרות חנוכה וארוחת ערב!

You are invited to join us for a night of networking at the Boulder JCC as we celebrate the holidays of the season. Meet and mingle with other professionals and enjoy light appetizers, including latkes!

Tuesday, December 12 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm | $25

Are you looking to grow your business and generate leads? Come join us the second Wednesday of the month for our Women?Networking Breakfast to network and build relationships with the women of the Denver Jewish Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting will consist of the following:

   –    Networking

   –    Member introductions (30 second elevator speech)

   –   Member presentations

   –    Announcements

   –    Additional networking

Lets chat, mingle, tap our toes and sing along!
Last year, the temps took us into a deep freeze on zoom and this year Rabbi Joe Black returns to perform LIVE (weather permitting.) Join together to celebrate the Festival of Lights with friends and listen to a joyous concert of originals and Hanukkah melodies. Take this opportunity to invite someone new and brighten their holiday spirit! $5

WFI event to learn Krav Maga, martial arts. Open to all women, all ages.

Krav Maga Class & Cocktail Reception

The Women AND Men of the J invite you to their first joint Social. Make new friends or meet up with old friends for an evening of community and local, craft beer at a Brewery in the East Boulder area. This casual social gathering will include food and one drink ticket. We will play some dreidel and light the menorah together. Location information will be emailed prior to the event for those that register.

Wednesday, December 13 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm | $25

These monthly parenting talks are designed to strengthen and foster the relationship between parents and children. Each workshop will bring in professionals to present on various topics that pertain to parents of infants and beyond. Parents will learn new skills, be part of an active discussion, and gather helpful tools for everyday parenting.

Session Topic: Setting Healthy Boundaries Around Screen Time
Join us to discuss creating healthy boundaries around screen time in your home with local Therapist Ryan Dawson. What is developmentally appropriate and how do you set limits and rules now to ensure your child is using screens in a healthy way? Ryan will discuss strategies and tools for managing screen time and digital technology use including rules, routines, transitions, and choices.

Ryan Dawson, MA, LPC, believes a healthy supportive relationship can be the catalyst to unlock my client’s aspirational self. Through authentic presence, deep respect and a vision that is informed by my client’s values, we co-create a more alive present and a more hopeful future. You’ll find my approach progressive, direct, well-informed and compassionate. You will connect more deeply to your inner-healer, your inspiration and offered the tools to construct and navigate your reality.

Thursday, December 14 | 9:30 – 10:30 am | FREE

Please join us for a community wide Hanukkah Mingle and Meet Party for Jewish Singles ages 50+. We will enjoy food, drinks, and music. Let’s connect and celebrate together!

Register here: https://www.bmh-bj.org/event/single-mingle-over-50-Chanukkah-party.html 

Join us for a sound bath meditation at Kabbalah Experience. Melanie Gruenwald will create ritual and context around the theme of the Jewish month, and Elizabeth Rosenblum will lead us in healing meditation.

Most sessions will be around the new moon of each Jewish month.

Sessions will be in-person at Kabbalah Experience and on ZOOM video conference.

So that our JEWISHcolorado Donor Services and Foundation staff can complete donor and fundholder transactions before the end of 2023, please see the following year-end deadlines:

December 15     Deadline for JEWISHcolorado to receive Mutual Fund gifts

December 22     Deadline for JEWISHcolorado to receive Stock gifts

December 27     Deadline to receive ACH and Wire Transfers

December 29     Deadline for receiving cash or checks via postal mail with a 2023 postmark

December 31     Deadline for receiving credit card gifts through our online donation portal by 11:59 p.m.

For donor-advised fund grants and endowment distributions, the following year-end deadlines apply:

December 6        Deadline for a grant or distribution to reach the organization before year-end, please submit your recommendation through our DonorSphere fundholder portal.

December 18     Deadline to ensure a grant or distribution is dated in 2023.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership. We value the trust you place in JEWISHcolorado as your Jewish philanthropic home.

Join in the fun for an invigorating outdoor walk with the community, making a great opportunity to connect with others outside and to get in your daily steps. The meetup location will be announced prior to the date to those who have registered, walks will be mostly flat and last approximately 1 hour.

Friday, December 15 | 9:30 – 11 am | FREE

Do you ever wonder how life might be different if you felt less anxious?

Rabbi Caryn Aviv’s Unlearning Jewish Anxiety offers a powerful way to understand how anxiety is a thief that steals our joy. In this 5-week class, you’ll learn how to practice curiosity, deepen your self-compassion, and deploy simple tools to calm your breathing. You’ll learn to notice and name when you’re experiencing two common Jewish anxiety patterns. You’ll also learn how to meet difficult moments with curiosity, awareness, and new habits. Unlearning Jewish Anxiety can help you suffer less and live with more joy.

Shabbat aLIVE is our Friday evening gathering to exhale, relax, and connect. We invite you to participate in this deeply spiritual, musical experience led by our rabbinic team and community members! This program is offered both in-person and livestreamed.

Shabbat aLIVE is an open tent for all – a celebration of maximum inclusion and invitation, featuring song and silence, prayer and reflection, blessing and belonging.

This is certainly a family friendly event. Everyone is welcome, but children need to be supervised by their parents or caregivers.

Join us for YAD Shabbat: Find the Light, the best Shabbat of the year, during a time when we need connection and joy the most. Mingle with friends old and new, enjoy dinner, then grab a hot chocolate (Schnapps and Baileys included if that’s your thing) and explore the holiday lights throughout Denver Botanic Gardens.

Ticket includes dinner, open bar, and entry to the Denver Botanic Gardens light exhibit, Blossoms of Light.

What do I wear?: It’s going to be cold, and we want everyone to be layered and comfortable for roaming the gardens, so this is not a formal event. That said, if you want to wear a Hanukkah sweater or glitz and glam it up a bit, go for it! Casual is okay too.

Like all JEWISHcolorado events, safety and security are top priorities. If you have specific concerns, please reach out to events@JEWISHcolorado.org.

Your support makes programs like this, and our ability to mobilize during times of crisis, possible. Please consider making a donation to JEWISHcolorado’s annual campaign.

Jewish Shabbat Services are held on the third Friday of every month by the Longmont Shabbat Group, a community-based Jewish group. The services include lighting Shabbat candles and informal readings. Coffee and dessert (Oneg Shabbat) follow each service. For details, call 303-651-6822, visit www.longmontshabbatgroup.com, or e-mail shabbat1818@gmail.com.

So that our JEWISHcolorado Donor Services and Foundation staff can complete donor and fundholder transactions before the end of 2023, please see the following year-end deadlines:

December 15     Deadline for JEWISHcolorado to receive Mutual Fund gifts

December 22     Deadline for JEWISHcolorado to receive Stock gifts

December 27     Deadline to receive ACH and Wire Transfers

December 29     Deadline for receiving cash or checks via postal mail with a 2023 postmark

December 31     Deadline for receiving credit card gifts through our online donation portal by 11:59 p.m.

For donor-advised fund grants and endowment distributions, the following year-end deadlines apply:

December 6        Deadline for a grant or distribution to reach the organization before year-end, please submit your recommendation through our DonorSphere fundholder portal.

December 18     Deadline to ensure a grant or distribution is dated in 2023.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership. We value the trust you place in JEWISHcolorado as your Jewish philanthropic home.

Bring your little one (under the age of 18 months) and a stroller/carrier to Bobolink Trailhead to enjoy the Colorado sunshine while meeting other parents with babies. The goal of this group is to get together, get your exercise on, make new friends, and speak with other parents in a non-judgmental space. Our hope for you is to build a community of support along this parenting journey.

Parking at Bobolink trail is limited. We will be parking at the East Boulder Recreation Center and walking the trail from there. This helps with parking and the East Boulder Recreation Center has a bathroom for your use.

Location: East Boulder Rec Center 5660 Sioux Dr, Boulder, CO 80303

Advance registration is required. Please register once for the current session of Babies at Bobolink (no need to register weekly).

Monday, December 18 | 11 am – 12 pm | FREE

For students that are thinking about college, there are a new set of factors influencing college decisions – from rising antisemitism and a polarized environment around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to new state laws restricting reproductive rights and trans health care. Join Moving Traditions for a discussion that will cover:

•     How you and your teen can gather the best information to make the right choice
•     How to preserve your relationship with your teen to help them feel supported and manage stress throughout the college search and application process
•     How to embolden your teen and give them tools so they go off to college feeling prepared and confident

Moving Tradition’s VP of Education Rabbi Daniel Brenner will sit down with Deborah Heller, director of College Counseling at the Beacon School in New York and the founder of Impact College Consulting, and Maiya Edelson, Vice President of Organizational Learning and Development at Hillel International. We will take a look at what’s happening at college campuses nationwide with insights from Hillel International, and hear from Moving Traditions teen participants who will give us a ground-level view of the current climate.

In this Raising Up Teens webinar for parents and educators of Jewish teens, you will receive actionable takeaways and resources to help you and the teen in your life.