Chanukah Programs in the Reston-Herndon Area
Chanukah Party at Lake Anne Waterfront
An exciting holiday celebration, jam packed with activities for the whole family - lots of fun and surprises for all ages.
Giant Outdoor Food Cans Menorah - to later be donated to feed the homeless , arts and crafts, Chanukah chocolate making, face painting, sizzling latkes, delicious donuts and chocolate gelt, free dreidels, and lots of holiday cheer for the whole family.
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 16. 5:30 p.m .- Menorah set up. 6 - Lighting
WHERE: Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza North, Reston
FEE: Gratis
Event Sponsorship: Dreidle Sponsor $50 . Menorah Sponsor $100. Macabee Sponsor $180
Grand raffle for a tablet, and other great prizes. Change the world with your good deed. Bring Kosher canned food of all sizes, and add it to the Menorah of Kindness later to be donated to the needy.
Chanukah on the Green
Bring family and friends for an evening of outdoor Chanukah fun, and sing - along. Giant Menorah lighting, refreshments and more.
Who: The entire community
When: Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Herndon Town Square, in front of Town Hall at 730 Elden Street, Herndon.
Sponsored by Nachmans Partnership
All reservations can be made at WWW.CHABADRH.ORG
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory—more than 2100 years ago—of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness.
The miraculous victory—culminating with the dedication of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the Menorah which had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy—has been celebrated annually ever since during these eight days of Chanukah, especially by lighting the Chanukah Menorah, also as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.
It is a timely and reassuring message, for the forces of darkness are ever present. Moreover, the danger does not come exclusively from outside; it often lurks close to home, in the form of insidious erosion of time-honored values and principles that are at the foundation of any decent human society. Needless to say, darkness is not chased away by brooms and sticks, but by illumination. Our sages said, “A little light expels a lot of darkness.”
The Chanukah Lights remind us in a most obvious way that illumination begins at home, within oneself and one’s family, by increasing and intensifying the light of decency, respect, and good deeds in the everyday experience, even as the Chanukah Lights are kindled in growing numbers from day to day. But though it begins at home, it does not stop there. Such is the nature of light that when one kindles the Chanukah Lights are expressly meant to illuminate the “outside,” symbolically alluding to the duty to bring light also to those who, for one reason or another, still walk in darkness.
What is true of the individual is true of a nation, especially this great United States, united under G-d, and generously blessed by G-d with material as well as spiritual riches. It is surely the duty and privilege of this Nation to promote all the forces of light both at home and abroad, and in a steadily growing measure.
Let us pray that the message of the Chanukah Lights will illuminate the everyday life of everyone personally, and of the society at large, for a brighter life in every respect, both materially and spiritually.
Rabbi Leibel Fajnland is the director of Chabad of Reston-Herndon. He can be reached at Rabbi@chabadrh.org.