Abe Lebovitz lights the electric candles on a menorah while other children sing blessings at the Hamilton Place Barnes & Noble on Wednesday in Chattanooga. Members of the B'nai Zion congregation were participating in Hanukah preparations.While Santa greeted lines of children and parents at Hamilton Place mall Wednesday night, about 35 children celebrated a different set of traditions at the Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Throughout the afternoon and evening Wednesday, members of the B'nai Zion Congregation celebrated the oncoming Hanukkah season with games, songs and even Hebrew school held at the bookstore rather than at the synagogue. Events culminated with the lighting of the menorah at 5:45 p.m. while the children sang.
Jason Cathcart, director of congregational learning, said the day gave the children a chance to have fun learning while also teaching the public a thing or two about the Jewish faith.
"There are always people who are curious about the Jewish holidays," he said. "This is an opportunity for us to show what happens, outside of the synagogue."
Throughout the afternoon, children moved among different stations. In the children's books section, they could sing Hanukkah songs in Hebrew and English. In the cafe area, they drew menorahs by tracing their hands and using fingers as candles. At a table near the front door, they played dreidel games, with tootsie rolls or suckers as currency.
This is the third year the synagogue has had the bookstore event. Kelly Flemings, the community business development manager for that Barnes & Noble, said he enjoys helping bring the event to the store.
"One of the things that I believe in wholeheartedly is that this is a place for community," he said of the bookstore. "I enjoy it so much because a lot of customers have never had a a chance to explore the Jewish faith."
Rabbi Susan Tendler said a public event such as this is especially important in a place as predominantly Christian as Chattanooga.
"The presumption is that everyone is Christian," she said. "For kids growing up ... every single person will say to them, 'Merry Christmas.'"
She said that, although the event brings a lot of joy to their synagogue's children, it's about more than that, too.
"When our kids sort of have this forum to proudly display Hanukkah, it instills in them their right to feel proud," she said. "Here, we're showing our kids to be proud of who they are."
Contact staff writer Hannah Smith at hsmith@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6731.