Happy Hanukkah!


Welcome back! We hope you had a great weekend, and your week has been fabulous so far! We're halfway through the week now and so your TTG Girl Gang are already looking ahead to the weekend, but it's never too early right? 

As you may know, Sunday evening marked the beginning of the Jewish Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah. The festival, known as Chanukah in Hebrew, commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. Lasting 8 nights and days, it is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabra with nine branches, called a 'Hanukkah' menorah, as opposed to the seven branched menorah lit every evening in the temple throughout the year. Each night, one candle is lit by families, accompanied by songs, prayers and fried foods! The ninth candle, called the shamash, is lit first and used to light all the other candles. You can check out the world's largest menorah erected on 5th Avenue and 59th street in midtown Manhattan! The menorah, also known as a Hanukiah, is 32-feet-tall and weighs an incredible 4,000 pounds, and was designed by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam.

World's largest menorah located in New York City
And with a Jewish population of roughly 1.1 million in the five boroughs of New York City alone (13% of the population), it's no surprise the city is a hub for Hanukkah celebrations. One event definitely worth going to is the 'Harlem Hanukkah Party' taking place this coming Saturday at the one and only Tsion Cafe! This FREE event, taking place in the cafĂ© located at 763 St. Nicholas Avenue, between W148 & W149 Streets in Harlem, will see guests celebrate the final night of Hanukkah by lighting candles and eating Israeli/ Ethopian Hanukkah foods. Guests will be treated to a selection of Beejhy's famous fried appetizers and certified kosher sufghanylot, as well as Happy Hour prices on wine and beer!


The event is being held in conjunction with Moishe House, an international non-profit organization made up of a collection of homes throughout the world that serve as hubs for the young adult Jewish community (with an emphasis on ages 21-32). They provide rent subsidy and program budget to Moishe House residents in exchange for them agreeing to host a specific number of programs per month (typically 5-7) such as holiday celebrations, community service and social events.

The event will begin at 4.30pm, with the lighting of the 8th candle taking place at 5.15pm. If you're looking for a great way to celebrate the final night of Hanukkah with friends or family, then Tsion Café is the place to be!

That's all for now, but we'll be back tomorrow so make sure to check back in! From your TTG Girl Gang, enjoy the rest of your Hump Day and stay safe! xx


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