Hanukkah Party

      The JCC's Annual Hanukkah Party will be held Tuesday December 11th at 5:30 PM. All East Valley residents are invited to participate in the holiday celebration!! The party features a complete latke dinner, games, cookie decorating, face painting and crafts. The Menorah lighting by Rabbi Andrew Straus of Temple Emanuel, will be followed by holiday songs from the JCC School Children and selections from the "Odd Potato, A Chanukah Story" performed by the Arizona Jewish Theatre. Admission is $2.50 per person or $6.00 per family.

December Closures

Monday, December 24 - Winter Break begins, JCC School Closed (reopens January 7th, 2002)

Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day, JCC Closed

AROUND THE CENTER

Senior Activities

Tuesday, December 4th at 10:30 a.m. Irma Feldman will discuss "T.L.C., Tackling Life's Challenges."

Tuesday, December 11th at 10:30 a.m. Chanukah: Please bring a dish of your favorite food and we will be entertained by musician, Harold Rieffer.

Tuesday, December 18th at 10:30 a.m. Dorothy Tubman, Docent from the Phoenix Art Museum, will bring to us "The Secret World of the Forbidden City."

Tuesday, December 25th. No Programs. JCC Closed.

Singles Activities

Friday, December 21st at 7:45 p.m. Singles Service at Temple Emanuel.

Sunday, December 9th at 9:30 a.m. at Chompies, located at 1160 E. University Ave, Tempe. Hanukkah starts that night, so come out for a nice brunch before the holiday whirlwind begins. Please RSVP if you are coming by calling Sheri at 480-893-8104. If you have any single Jewish friends between 35-50, please bring them with you!

Saturday, January 5th at 8 p.m. Arizona Jewish Theatre Co & The Jewish News present the Woody Allen play, "Play It Again Sam" followed by a reception for singles. Playhouse on the Park, inside VIAD Corp Center, 1850 N Central Ave, Phoenix (Southwest corner of Central & Palm Lane). $18 per person. Call 602-264-0402 for tickets & info.

---

Tributes

In memory of Solomon Cukier
From Marion & Paul Weich, Geoffrey Tatelbaum and family, the Chassin family, and Richard and Linda Rickel

To Rudy and Donna Troisi and family
In memory of Rudy's mother
From the Staff and Board of the TCJCC

To the Troisi family
In memory of Rudy's mother
From Ilene and Alan Blau

To Robert and Judy Greenwood and family
In memory of Judy Greenwood's father, Leonard Chase

---

Births

Congratulations to Jennifer and Brian Newman on the recent addition of a new daughter, Sabrina, born November 10, 2001

SCHOOL • YOUTH • CAMP

Multicultural Dance Program

      Since early in the school year children pre-kindergarten through third grades have had the opportunity to participate in a multicultural dance program through a partnership grant with the City of Tempe.
      Jill Bittinger, who is an accomplished professional, has delighted the children with her wonderful multicultural program. Jill earned her master's degree in dance education at UCLA and has performance experience in the New York City area.
      This diverse program included dances and music from the Sudan, Algeria,, Ireland, USA, China and Israel areas as well as our own Native American peoples.
      A program to present the children's accomplishments is planned for the afternoon of December 17th.

---

Volunteers of the Month: A Big JCC Thank You To...

Judy Davitt who volunteers in Syndi Scheck's pre-kindergarten class. Judy, a former JCC School staffer and public school teacher, is a great asset to our program.

Lonnie Dworkin and the Safety/Security Committee for their hard work and efforts to make the JCC a safer place through the installation of a front entrance security system. Lonnie, thanks for your time and expertise.

---

Garage Sale News

      The 2001 JCC School garage sale was a huge success. Thanks to your donation of saleable goods and the VERY hard work of Diane Umeda and her mother, our school has a "nest egg" of over $1200 to spend on materials to enhance the classrooms. Thanks to all who helped in this important fundraiser!

---

NAEYC Conference

      From October 31 to November 3, six members of the TCJCC Early Childhood Department attended the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Anaheim, California.
      Syndi Scheck, Janet Weiss, Amira Kaczur, Cynthia Benedict, Brenda Wyman and Tammi Wyman participated in more than 24 hours of continuing education classes which focused on a variety of relevant subject tracks. Curriculum, infant/toddler, administration, diversity, discipline, music and art were just a few of the many choices offered.
      Our staff also enjoyed visiting the commercial exhibits which featured products, demonstrations and lots of "free" stuff for Early Childhood professionals.
      We look forward to next year's conference in New York City.

---

Day School News...

      This past month was very exciting and we look forward to the next month of Kislev because of the children's favorite holiday that occurs on the 25th day. Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday because it is not a Yom Tov (holy day). Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. For many generations, Hanukkah has been celebrated by lighting our Hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs), eating foods cooked in oil (to represent the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days), and games such as Dreidel. Children were traditionally given small gifts such as gelt (small change).
      Today, our children consider Hanukkah to be a "major" holiday. Primarily due to the commercialism of Christmas everywhere we turn, from the malls to the television. Our children hang on tightly to the concept of receiving a present "like all their other friends." It is our duty, as Jewish parents, to encourage the concept of Gemilut Hassadim (acts of loving kindness). Take the time to discuss with your children how wonderful it is to receive but how much more gratifying it can be to give. It says in the Talmud (Abot, 1,2), "If there is a saving virtue, it is the loving service of men. It saves society, for it is one of the pillars of the world."
      I want to take this time to thank Segals Kosher Market and Roy Birnbaum for their donation of turkeys for our outstanding Thanksgiving lunch. Roy also has taken a tremendous amount of time to prepare this meal and others that are served to our children. Thanks, Roy!
      I also want to thank Rabbi Deitsch for his presentation on what a sofer (scribe) does and for his ongoing support for our programs. To Rabbi Straus...Kol Hakavod, you were an outstanding story-teller during our Kabbalat Shabbat service. The students are still talking about it! Your participation and support is tremendously appreciated.

Mommy & Me

      Mom's, grab your child(ren) and join the East Valley JCC's Youth Department at Gymboree on Sunday December 2nd from 10:00 - 11:30am. The cost is $6.00 for Mom + 1 child and extra children are an additional $3.00 per child. Please call or see Lisa for more information! We must have a minimum of 12 moms' to hold this activity.

---

Parents Night Out

      We had a great turn out for our first Parent's Night Out. We hope that all you Mom's and Dad's that took advantage of this opportunity had a great evening "away" from your children!
      Be on the look out for our next Parent's Night Out in January.

Entertainment Books 2002

      Great for the Holiday Season! Don't forget to pick up your 2002 Entertainment Book at the Front Desk. There are some great additions to this years East Valley selection! Support the JCC by purchasing your Value Book here!
      Use Fry's Certificates to purchase your holiday needs. We have certificates in $10, $20, and $50 denominations available at the JCC office. These are used same as cash. A percentage of sales help support our JCC.