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Friday, January 5, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 1
Fabulous flapjack flipping Hanukkah event BY SCOTT FISHER
On Sunday December 17th, the North Shore Synagogue held its annual Hanukkah Happening and Pancake and Latke Breakfast. A signature event on the always busy temple calendar, the breakfast draws several hundred parents and children to a morning filled with good food, great raffle prizes and good conversation. Congregants had a chance to check out the ballroom, now beautifully reimagined by Carlyle at North Shore. Brotherhood members particularly enjoy this event, arising early to deliver tasty plain and chocolate chip pancakes. Platters of latkes (potato pancakes) were on every table, and ample supplies of donated cupcakes, pastries, juices and other treats were also enjoyed. Rabbi Rachel Maimin and Cantor Kyle Cotler were on hand to get the festive occasion started by leading the gathering in traditional Hanukkah prayers and songs. A highlight of the Happening is the drawing of raffles for the many toys and other prizes provided by the synagogue’s Brotherhood. As the drawing approaches, children gather around the prizes holding close their raffle tickets. As the numbers are called big smiles and shouts of “that’s my number” punctuate the air. Children receive traditional chocolate coins, or “gelt”, and dreidels to take home. Judging by the broad smiles and bright faces of parents and children, everyone thoroughly enjoyed celebrating this Festival of Lights event. This year, Senior Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet called on con-
Teens from North Shore Synagogue’s J.tel program helped Rabbi Maimin light the menorah.
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New book club hopes to bring families together
BY GARY SIMEONE
There is a new club coming to the Theory of Arts & Sciences Learning Center in Hicksville. It is called the Nassau County Mommy and Me Book Club, and the purpose is to bring families closer together through reading and craft related activities. Shika Sehgal, owner of the TAS Learning Center and founder of the club, said she came up with the idea of the book club after seeing so many parents and children spending so little time together after school.
“I see a lot of broken families and too many parents who have no time for their children, “ said Sehgal, who also owns a TAS Center in Deer Park. “With this Mommy and Me Book Club, parents and children will read together in a quiet setting and spend quality time with one another, which is most important.” She said that there will be more to the club than just coming in and reading books. “The parents and children will have discussions based on their reading and explore their reading adventures through craft based activities.”
The TAS Center, which is located at 153 S Broadway, opened six months ago. It offers a variety of hands on learning activities for children and also holds classes in computer coding, art and public speaking. “The kids can come in and study and explore the arts and sciences in a relaxed environment and can also engage in other learning activities,” said Sehgal. Sehgal said that she plans to offer the book club free of charge for the first few months and will consider charging a slight fee somewhere down the line. There is an informational meeting on
January 18th at 6:30 p.m. about the book club and the club will hold its first official meeting in February. Sehgal said she has received a very positive response so far on Facebook in the number of people who want to participate in the club. “I have gotten a good response with 600-700 messages on Facebook about the book club. It looks like it will be a popular thing in the community.” The Mommy and Me Book Club will be for preschool aged children up to the fourth grade level.
Holiday shopping at Robbins Lane PAGE 17 Kosher Gospel music at Shabbat PAGE 6