By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharon@tjpnews.com

Lighting ceremony

Chabad of Plano/Collin County will host its 12th consecutive Menorah Lighting Celebration at The Shops at Willow Bend on the first floor in front of Macy’s. The menorah lighting will be held on the second night of Hanukkah at 6:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 7.
Dr. H. Neal Matkin, Collin College’s district president, will extend greetings to those assembled. The graduation class of Chabad of Plano’s Gan Gani Preschool along with their parents will be honored with the lighting of the menorah.

See Mavericks mascot

Chanukah Fun Land will feature a visit from Champ! (the official mascot of the Dallas Mavericks) and a huge dreidel mascot. Hanukkah crafts, games, prizes, gift bags, and an authentic olive press will make for a great celebration that will have something for every child to enjoy.
“The large turnout at the menorah lightings demonstrates that people look forward to celebrating Hanukkah as a community,” said Rabbi Menachem Block, executive director of Chabad of Plano. “Lighting the menorah in the heart of Plano allows us to share Hanukkah’s universal message that ultimately goodwill prevail over evil, freedom of religion over oppression and the light of kindness over darkness.”
This year’s Hanukkah celebrations bring added significance as Jewish communities worldwide celebrate the year of Hakhel, a once-every-seven-years opportunity to celebrate Jewish unity and learning. Throughout the year, synagogues and Jewish organizations are hosting communal gatherings for men, women and children dedicated to encouraging Jewish observance.
The menorah lighting ceremony and all entertainment is brought to you by Chabad of Plano and is free of charge and open to the public.

New DJCF scholarship

In addition to its annual college scholarships, the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation has announced a new and unique scholarship.
The Daniels Family Israel Education Endowment Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation is a new annual scholarship which will fund an underaffiliated Jewish Dallas area high school junior or senior with a $5,000 scholarship toward the March of the Living Program. Applications will be available soon.
Additionally, the college scholarship application process is live on the website.
Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000, and at least 45 college scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic merit, involvement in extracurricular activities and/or community service.
While some scholarships are university-specific, most allow study at the college or university of the recipient’s choice. There are specific awards for students studying medicine, law, education, fashion merchandising, Jewish studies and even one for students who were counselors last summer at Camp Chai. There is a host of scholarships that are for students in any field of study. High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply.
Only one application is needed for the myriad scholarships. For application and more details visit www.djcf.org.

Carlebach Shabbat at Shearith Israel

Kabbalat Shabbat services promise to be extraordinary this week at Shearith Israel as Cantor Itzhak Zhrebker and the Kol Rina and Kol Neshama choirs lead a Carlebach-style service.
Following the 6 p.m. service, there will be a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces dinner beginning at 7 p.m. featuring two active-duty Israeli IDF officers: Sergeant Ze’ev*, an IDF Lone Soldier from Texas, who serves as a sniper in the Golani Brigade, and Captain Dor*, an Israeli Air Force pilot who received the Chief of Staff Exceptional Soldier badge.
The guests will speak after dinner. Cost of dinner is $10 for adults, $6 for children, and $30 family maximum. Please register for dinner: https://shearith.org/calendar/carlebach-service-with-kol-rina/.
*It is the policy of the FIDF to guard the privacy of active-duty Israeli soldiers, which is why their last names are omitted.

Chabad of Plano’s Torah Café

As is its custom before Jewish holidays, Chabad of Plano will present Torah Café from 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Lang Chabad Center. The morning will include a main session as well as small breakout sessions. On the “menu” are the main session, “Parenting — From Childhood Through Adulthood” featuring Rabbi Menachem and Rivkie Block of Chabad of Plano, as well as the following breakout sessions: “The Modern World: Confrontation or Accommodation?” with Rabbi Howard Wolk, community chaplain, Jewish Family Service; “Why the Jews and Greeks Couldn’t Get Along” with Mrs. Michal Shapiro of Jewish Life Network; “Chanukah — Why Do we Celebrate?” with Rabbi Mendy Kesselman of Chabad of Frisco; and “Lessons from the Dreidel” with Rabbi Peretz Shapiro of Jewish Life Network.
Cost is $10 in advance or at the door. There is no charge for child care, but reservations must be made in advance at http://bit.ly/1XvKIDe.

Press Notes:

Carol Wolanow’s engaging mosaic art is currently on display at Uptown Downtown Gallery, 301 N. San Jacinto St. in Rockwall, through Dec. 17.
The gallery will host a reception from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. Carole Wolanow grew up in Southern California where she was surrounded by mountains, canyons, mesas and oceans. She moved to Dallas in the early ’80s and found herself in a flatland with amazingly exquisite architectural landscapes not found in Southern California.
Her mosaic multimedia artwork is inspired by the beauty of nature and the cultures she and her husband encounter in their round the world travels. She uses broken china, tiles, stones, cloth and found items in her designs.
Carole is a member of the Texas Visual Arts Association, the Texas Sculpture Association and the Texas Jewish Arts Association. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but will be open for the Dec. 5 reception as well.