The JEWISH CALENDAR Year
at Ansche Chesed

At Ansche Chesed, families are considered the cornerstone for Jewish learning. To that end, our family programs are designed to provide thoughtful and meaningful educational activities for all ages in order to inspire further learning and exploration of Judaism. Reflecting the nature of our community, we offer diverse programming, ranging from Shabbat services to holiday celebrations to courses and lectures. 

We invite you to become part of our community at Ansche Chesed and join us in our mission to build a Jewish community engaged in the pursuit of lifelong learning.

Shabbat

Kabbalat Shabbat
Every month we hold family services welcoming the Shabbat Queen with song, prayer and movement. Services are followed by dinner, and we end the evening with stories, songs or conversations with special speakers.

Havdallah
We bid farewell to Shabbat at monthly Havdallah programs with the glow of a burning braided candle, the smell of fragrant spices, the taste of sweet wine and the presence of family. After Havdallah, we eat dinner together and joyfully participate in age-appropriate activities to begin the new week.

Holidays

 Rosh HaShanah
Ansche Chesed offers family services on both days of Rosh HaShanah, at which the shofar is blown, a special High Holiday magic show is performed, and sweet apples and honey are served. On the afternoon of the second day of Rosh HaShanah, families are invited to participate in Tashlich with the entire community. Childcare is also available at minimal cost on Rosh HaShanah.

Yom Kippur
As on Rosh HaShanah, multiple children’s services are held on the morning of Yom Kippur, and childcare is also available. At the end of the day, children are invited to participate in a special Havdallah service, illuminating the sanctuary with dazzling lights, a symbol of our hope for a new year full of peace and light.
Sukkot
At Ansche Chesed’s annual Sukkah party, parents and children shake the lulav, decorate Ansche Chesed’s communal sukkah, and make Sukkot-based art. Dinner is served, with edible sukkahs (made from graham crackers and chocolate!) serving as dessert.
Simhat Torah
Simhat Torah, with its joyous singing and dancing in honor of the Torah, is a holiday of youthful delight. Families are invited to participate in safe and fun rounds of dancing, or hakafot, with the Torah. After the separate family dancing, the children are danced to the main sanctuary, where they are honored with their own first hakafa before the entire community.

Hanukkah
As a break from shopping at Ansche Chesed’s annual Hanukkah Arts Festival, children and their parents are invited to participate in a program tailored especially for kids.

Families are also invited to Ansche Chesed’s Community Hanukkah party to sing Hanukkah songs and consume their year’s share of latkes and sufganiyot.

Tu BiShvat
On Tu BiShvat, families are invited to a family seder to celebrate the birthday of the trees and their importance in our daily lives.


Purim
On Purim, kids of all ages are invited to come in costume to Ansche Chesed’s Purim Carnival, featuring a participatory Purim show, games, booths, face-painting, mask-making, food at Café Vashti and much more! 

On the evening of Purim, families are invited to a special program to hear the story of Queen Esther and sing some traditional (and non-traditional!) Purim songs.

 
Shavuot
On Shavuot we commemorate the giving of the Torah, and some adults stay up all night studying. While children are not encouraged to stay up all night, they are invited, along with their parents, to a late night program at Ansche Chesed, marked by stories and songs celebrating the Torah.