Music, dance, bright colors help usher in eight days of Hanukkah

Jace Radke

Monday, Dec. 14, 1998 | 11:24 a.m.

With bright gold skirts and rainbow hairwigs the female students of the Jewish Community Day School Choir danced in Hanukah Sunday afternoon at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Their male counterparts at the school got ready for their parts as the students showed off some of the scenes from Judah and the Amazing Golden Shield, which they will perform Thursday night.

The students were just one of the Jewish groups that came together at the convention center to kickoff the celebration of Hanukah.

"It's a nice event that pulls all the different parts of the Jewish community together," said Laura Sussman, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, which sponsored the community Hanukah celebration on Sunday. "This event kind of gets everyone in the mood for Hanukah."

Hanukah is an eight day celebration also known as the festival of lights that begins on Dec. 14. The celebration is an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.

Sunday's celebration also included performances from the Hebrew Academy's vocal ensemble and the Temple Adat Chavarim and Congregation Ner Tamid children's choirs, among other groups. Arts and crafts, refreshments and schedules of upcoming Hanukah events rounded out the celebration.

"There is so much Christmas in the world, which is wonderful," Sussman said. "In Las Vegas Jews make up about 7 percent of the population, so you don't walk into stores and hear Hanukah music."

The music of the Community Day School Choir can be heard at their show, Judah and the Amazing Golden Shield on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Congregation Ner Tamid Synagogue at 2761 Emerson Ave.

The Congregation Ner Tamid will hold its Hanukah dinner at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 18 at their Synagogue.

The Chabad of Summerlin will present its third annual Sun City Hanukah party on Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. The Chabad of Summerlin Youth Group will preform at the event and Jewish Jeopardy will be played at the Sun Shadows Community Center at 8700 Del Webb Blvd.

The Hebrew Academy will have a Hanukah day on Dec. 18 that will give the students a chance to compete in games and learn about the holiday.

Some of the Jewish organizations have started celebrating Hanukah early by having toy drives for needy families. The Ahavat Torah Synagogue and the Congregation Ner Tamid have both collected toys for needy families to be distributed during Hanukah.