Some of the power and magic of Chanukah lie not only in the way it lights up the season, but also in the way it infuses light into the rest of the year. While the name of the holiday literally means “dedication,” it comes from the word “chinuch,” meaning “education.” This is a time we can re-dedicate our efforts to educate ourselves and our kids.
Our community offers an array of ways to educate ourselves Jewishly. We offer classes for children in preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah and in the years before as well. There is also an opportunity to create programs and field trips for them after they celebrate this important milestone.

For adults, we have a weekly drop-in class that explores a range of topics. This year, for example, we are looking at sacred texts and other writings that underlie the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel, and how their study might help us better understand the current conflict there. We will also be studying the structure and content of our Shabbat prayer services so that we might access them more deeply. And we are adding a series that will provide more in-depth text study, as well as continuing our Scholar Talks, where local or visiting scholars share in their areas of expertise. In addition, there are offerings at the other synagogues in town and at the University, which together present a rich array of possibilities.

During December, many Jews are overwhelmed by the intensity of the celebrations around us and they find themselves a little uneasy. Broadening our Jewish knowledge can help us find our footing. This year, take on some Jewish learning. Commit to reading a good book on Jewish history. Learn to read Hebrew. Create a book club. Visit the Jewish museum. Learning is En-lightening.

Here are some places you might look.

CY School: Stephanie Barnes-Castro, 831-458-9276, sbc@sbcarch.com.
Youth Group: Debra Sloss, 831-425-0858, dsloss@pacbell.net, or Batya Kagan, 831-419-6574, lchaim@jps.net.
Adult Ed: Jeanne Rosen, 831-685-8350, jeannerosen@sbcglobal.net, or Rabbi Eli Cohen, 831-429-6936, rebeli@sbcglobal.net.

Jewish Book Stores: Bob and Bob (4500 El Camino Real, Los Altos, 650-947-7010)
Afikomen (3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley, 510-655-1977)
Temple Beth El Giftshop (3055 Porter Gulch Rd, Aptos, 831-479-3444)
Internet suggestions: ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, www.aleph.org Jewish Lights Publishing, www.jewishlights.com

Magazine suggestions:
j. - The Jewish News Weekly of N. California, www.jewishsf.com, 415-263-7200
The Jerusalem Report (news of political/social issues), www.jrep.com, 800-827-1119
Moment Magazine (Jewish politics, culture and religion), www.momentmag.com
Lilith Magazine (independent and feminist), www.lilith.org, 212-757-0818
Tikkun Magazine (politically and spiritually progressive), www.tikkun.org, 510-644-1200
Eretz Magazine (Israel - land, culture, archaeology), www.eretz.com,