Touching your heart and engaging your mind
Jewish Life in Northern Nevada
Hanukkah 2025
I don't even know where to begin. I am in awe of my committee. Each of you has been so wonderful to work with. I am truly blessed to have the team we have, which makes every event such a success.
Living in Reno, it is always a little scary planning an event in December. You never know what the weather will be or whether or not people will show up. But with good faith (and had to be Hashem on our side since we know the weather definitely was not), and a great team of workers, with only 37 adults and 3 kids signed up for the party, we ended up with over 50 people (both adults and kids) attending the event on Sunday.
Sue E decorated the social hall so beautifully, and Ferne was there helping with whatever we needed her to help with.
Starting the evening/day at 3 pm with the crafts that Rabbi Benny organized was truly amazing. His team of Judy, Pam, Brigetta, and Maayan helped to make the event so successful. Children of all ages could be found coloring rocks, making Chanukkah cards, getting their faces painted, or participating in other wonderful activities. We had to drag them out at 4:30 (or maybe a little after) to light the Chanukkah candles for the last night. We were blessed to have Yakov lead us. Then we ate. Florence and I made sure everyone got at least one latke (made by Pam) and one salmon croquette (made by Florence). We also had Israeli salad (made by Jen and her daughter Jessie), chocolate candy Chanukkah gelt and dreidels, brownies, and sufganiyot. We had 4 raffles, which helped to offset the cost of the party, and ended up with a profit. Not bad!! And thanks to all who participated.
Let's not forget we were kept safe by our fabulous Security team. We have John Duerson, Ed West, and Steve Carver on duty keeping us safe. We thank you all.
A wonderful event, and everyone enjoyed themselves. So one more time, I thank you all for all your hard work yesterday and all year long.
Looking forward to 2026 and another wonderful year of events.
Regards,
Jan Carver
Program Chair
Third Annual Holiday Bazaar and Craft Fair - 2025
There's only one word needed to describe the event and that's "SUCCESS!" Hundreds of people came in to shop from a variety of local vendors, to buy raffle tickets and to indulge in the cookies (made by Jan Carver and her band of volunteer bakers), popcorn, and coffee.
The vendors all did well, always something we hope happens. Neither they nor we were disappointed! The free chair massages couldn't have been more popular, benefitting shoppers (we volunteers may have taken a few minutes off for one or two) and the interns who needed the hours. It was especially fun to see the kids with their painted faces, thanks to Maayan.
As Program Committee Chair, Jan says her goal is to bring people into our synagogue and make them feel comfortable, like a home. This Holiday Bazaar certainly accomplished that. Both vendors and shoppers commented on how friendly and welcoming we are, and how much they enjoyed themselves.
Thanks to the excellent raffle prizes donated by local restaurants and other businesses, Temple Emanu-El made a healthy profit. We so appreciate their support.
Of course, none of this would have happened had it not been for our volunteers, starting with Jan (chief organizer/vendor enlister/raffle collector/baker), Maayan (who not only did face painting but enlisted her mother-in-law to help with baking), Florence, Charli, Iris, Idora, Sue and Yudi. We also thank Jacob, GC, Steve, Larry and Rabbi Katz for helping us move tables and chairs in and out of the Social Hall and doing security.
All in all, a truly Temple Emanu-El group effort!
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי
Am Yisrael Chai
Cars lined Manzanita Lane for the mile between Lakeside Drive and Plumas; the parking lot at Temple Emanu-El overflowed when hundreds came to support Israel and the Jewish community on Tuesday, October 10th. Representatives from every branch of government, from federal to State, to local and law enforcement, vowed to support Israel’s right to defend itself and to keep the Jewish community safe. Reno Police Chief Katherine Nance urged us to continue to gather for services and events, and promised extra patrols of Reno’s synagogues. RPD presence at the vigil was unmistakable, with cruisers along the street and in the parking lot.
Prayers and song were offered by Rabbi Benjamin Katz, Rabbi Richard Leibovitz, Zel Copeland and Mara Langer. Speakers included Stefanie Tuzman, President and CEO of Jewish Nevada (by video), and Marc Picker, Northern Nevada Council Chair. A video update by Israel Bachar, General Consul of Israel, detailed the current situation in Israel. At the end of the vigil, candles were lit in remembrance of the Jewish victims of the Hamas attacks and the devastation in Israel.
Mara Langer, both a congregant of Temple Emanu-El and Jewish Nevada’s Director Community Engagement for Northern Nevada organized the entire event. Thanks go to her and Jewish Nevada for making the event possible, and to Temple Emanu-El for hosting it. Thanks are also owed to the speakers — Nevada’s Chief of Staff Ben Kieckhefer representing Governor Lombardo, Molly Rose Lewis representing Senator Jackie Rosen, State Assemblywoman Angie Taylor, Reno Police Chief Katherine Nance, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, Temple Emanu-El President Alan Liebman — the attendance of Commissioner Clara Andriola, and the support of Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto.