Susan Borden, Kelli Veit and Nancy Harris shared a bit about the goods and games available at Temple Beth Israel's Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.
Photo by Dana Kampa
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Attendance was better than ever at Temple Beth Israel's third annual Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.
Several dozens of visitors tried their luck for chocolate coins in games of dreidel, decorated cookies, shopped holiday market stalls and otherwise took in the general atmosphere of community connection ahead of the holidays.
Hanukkah takes place Dec. 14-22 this year, and Longboat Key residents said they appreciated having time to share with friends before visiting or hosting family.
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Coordinator Karen Gary explained that the idea for the open house arose when a local gift shop closed, leaving a collection of holiday menorahs, candles, necklaces and decorations.Â
Organizers started with the idea of a market to ensure those items could find homes.Â
But the open house continued to expand, featuring all sorts of Hanukkah-related fun.
"This year, we went all out," she said.
Temple Beth Israel plans to offer holiday services on Dec. 19.
Attendees at the third annual Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7 at Temple Beth Israel took turns trying to win chocolate coins at the dreidel game, just one of many market activities.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Carole Shaw decorates a cookie in the classic blue and white colors of the holidays at the Dec. 7 Hanukkah open house at Temple Beth Israel.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Intricately decorated cookies made for the perfect holiday treat for shoppers at the Hanukkah open house this weekend.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Baker extraordinaire Sylvia Pastor helped coordinate the cookie decorating station at the Hanukkah open house.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Visitors to the holiday market inside Temple Beth Israel's Hanukkah open house could find candles, menorahs and other goods for the holidays.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Market offerings at the Hanukkah open house included raw honey from Bee Work out of Catskill, New York.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Lael and Giuliano Hazan of Gracious Getaways said they were glad to return to Longboat Key from their travels in time for the Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Hanukkah takes place Dec. 14-22 this year, and Longboat Key residents said they appreciated having time to share with friends before visiting or hosting family.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Hanukkah open house coordinator Karen Gary said she was delighted so many Longboat Key residents and friends could make it out to last weekend's festivities, including the market.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Rabbi Howard Simon and Barbara Pressman fully explored the Hanukkah open house at Temple Beth Israel last weekend.
Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.
