Rabbi Jacob Fine, right, of Congregation B’Nai Israel helps light a candle for his daughter Meira Fine, 9, for the community menorah lighting on Sunday, the first night of Hanukkah. Joining in, as they all say a blessing are, from left foreground, Isaac Marks, 7, Dawn Doucette-Kaplan and her daughter Haly, 10, Meira’s mother, Julie Fine, and Judi Bajgot.
Rabbi Jacob Fine, right, of Congregation B’Nai Israel helps light a candle for his daughter Meira Fine, 9, for the community menorah lighting on Sunday, the first night of Hanukkah. Joining in, as they all say a blessing are, from left foreground, Isaac Marks, 7, Dawn Doucette-Kaplan and her daughter Haly, 10, Meira’s mother, Julie Fine, and Judi Bajgot. Credit: STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

NORTHAMPTON – Congregation B’Nai Israel held a community Hanukkah celebration for all ages on Sunday, the first day of Hanukkah, with the theme “Songs and Stories of Surprising Strength”. After the lighting of multiple menorahs, many of the 200+ gathered remained in the sanctuary for storytelling and music with Aram Rubenstein Gillis and Molly Bajgot while the younger children retired to the library for a singalong with Lander-Grinspoon Academy teacher Felicia Sloin. The vegetarian dinner menu that followed included potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) that were deep-fried right outside on a wood fire tended by Emmett Leader.

Kevin Gutting can be reached at kgutting@gazettenet.com.