Hanukkah 2012: Celebrating the Festival of Lights Locally

'Latkerama' and public menorah lighting scheduled to help families celebrate.

Saturday marks the first of eight nights of Hanukkah for the Jewish community. As Jews are preparing their menorahs, or, in Hebrew, "hanukiah," Saturday, the leaders of two local temples are reminding their congregants, and others, of the reason for the season. Rabbi Mark Finkel, of the Pine Brook Jewish Center, said Hanukkah is a reminder of religious freedom, "which we take for granted in the United States as one of our freedoms." "It was something that was rarely known in the ancient world," he said. "We see, in terms of our world today, that there is religious intolerance." Finkel said the story of Hanukkah dates back to ancient times when a group of Jews, the Maccabees, had to fight for their freedom. After returning to their temple …

• Photos (1)

Holidays in the Boroughs

Holiday Gifts Good Enough to Eat

Don't know what to buy a loved one? Save the cash and get cooking.

Have I said that the winter-holiday season is among my favorite times of the year? It's true: It's amazing how much joy comes from seeing twinkling lights on a tree, from hearing Christmas carols sung by a passionate chorale, from feeling the warmth that emanates from a nearby menorah, from experiencing the wonder of what happened in a Bethlehem stable 2000-odd years ago. And of course there is the glow on children's faces—there is nothing like the feeling that comes with the sight of a kid anticipating a visit from Santa or running through a field covered in wintry white or gorging himself on candy gelt. Accompanying these magnificent joys is one proclaimed in an old adage: It's better to give than to receive. Don't get me wrong: I love …

• Photos (1)

Holidays in the Boroughs

JCK Students Celebrate Hanukkah

Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon School students celebrated Hanukkah Wednesday night.

Students in the Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon School celebrated Hanukkah by watching Rabbi Helaine Ettinger light the menorah Wednesday night and singing prayers and Hanukkah songs. After the menorah was lit, the school Principal Beth "Batyah" Hancock interviewed Pearl R. Miller School Principal John Hynes, who Hancock called the school's "Mitzvah hero of the month," about bullying in the schools and what PRM has done to prevent it.

• Photos (7)

Holidays in the Boroughs

Recipe: Three-Step Hanukkah Donuts

No need to buy dessert when you can make this traditional Hanukkah food at home.

With all the things going on in these three towns, I rarely find the time to actually cook a meal myself. But with Tuesday being the first night of Hanukkah, I truly wanted to make an effort with my meal. First, I invited friends and family over. Then, I created a menu-crockpot chili and sweet potato latkes. Finally, I figured out a tight schedule that would allow me to eat the meal, exchange gifts and play one quick game of dreidel before having to scoot over to my Butler Council meeting. I have to say, things went perfectly according to plan-except one thing. I forgot dessert! Several years ago, I looked up a recipe for homemade donuts. As many Jewish families can attest, Hanukkah donuts, also known as sufganiot in Hebrew, are generally …

• Photos (1)

This Week on Patch

Councils and Boards to Wrap up 2011 Business

A look at what's to come this week on Tri-Boro Patch.

The end of the year is only a few weeks away and this week will be the last time the Butler Borough Council and Kinnelon Board of Education will be meeting in 2011. We will be there to cover these meetings, and also bring you a few holiday features throughout the week as well. Here's a look at what you can expect to read about this week on Tri-Boro Patch:

• Photos (1)