Searching for Hanukkah in the Holiday Season

If you’re at all like me, running out of candles in the middle of Hanukkah can just about ruin your happy holiday. Time and again I’ve scrambled to the nearest store, only to turn up short. 

“Hmmm,” says the confused but well-meaning clerk who leads me to the scented candles. "Are any of these Hanukkah candles?"

Or I’m directed to the Jewish foods section with the Sabbath candles lit on Friday nights. Sorry, wrong holiday.

Once, amid the aisles overflowing with Santa hats and stocking stuffers, I finally found an empty shelf labeled ‘Hanukkah candles’ with ‘discontinued’ stamped underneath. And it was only the sixth night of eight in the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah, which begins this year on December 20, isn't complete without candles. Each night, an additional candle is lit on the menorah, the light symbolizing the oil that miraculously burned for eight days in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem following its re-dedication 165 B.C.

Whether you're Jewish, an interfaith family, or just curious about Hannukah traditions, here’s a list of upcoming festivities, events and stores selling Hanukkah items:

B'nai Israel’s Annual Chanukah Dinner Celebration
Sun., Dec. 18 at 5:15 pm
740 Western Ave., Petaluma
Menorah lighting (bring yours!), dinner, latkes & community sing-along
Advance purchase: $18 adults; $7 children under 13; free for children under 3
Payments at the door or after Dec 5: Adults $25, Children $10
Contact: Phyllis at (707) 762-0340 to RSVP

Festival of Lights Concert: Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble
Sat., Dec. 17 at 7 pm
Petaluma History Museum
$10 members, seniors and students; $15 General
Children under 12 free (No one turned away)

Ner Shalom Chanukah Party & Latkapalooza
Sun., Dec. 18 at 5 pm
85 La Plaza, Cotati
Games, stories, live music, delicious dinner and latkes galore. Bring your chanukiyah.
Contact: (707) 664-8622 or shalom@sonic.net

Community Chanukah Celebrations with The Chabad Jewish Center

Dec. 20, 21, 22, 26, 27 at 5 pm
Large menorah lighting, latkes and prizes in front of five stores in five towns including Sonoma, Cotati and Healdsburg.
Contact: (707) 577 – 0277 or info@JewishSonoma.com

Hanukkah Celebration with Shomrei Torah
Wed., Dec. 21 at 6:30 pm
2600 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa
Story, songs, dreidle games & Hanukkah sweets. Bring a menorah and a non-perishable food donation.
Contact: (707) 578–5519 or shomrei@shomreitorah.org

Chinese Food & a Movie at Congregation Ner Shalom
Sun, Dec. 25 from 3 -7 pm
85 La Plaza, Cotati
Hanukkah candle lighting & dinner at 5:30; Movie is Millions.
$25 suggested donation, $5 children 6-12, children under 6 are free.
Contact (707) 585-7780; RSVP by Dec. 20 to events.jcfc@gmail.com
Benefits the Jewish Community Free Clinic

The following stores (of 19 that I surveyed) sell Hannukah candles and other sundries:

• Petaluma: Whole Foods, Raley’s, Heebee Jeebee, Craig’s Warehouse,
• Rohnert Park: Target (a whole aisle!), Oliver’s (1 week before)
• Sonoma: Whole Foods, CVS, Walgreens, Sonoma Market