For much of the 8th Day of Chanukah (and also for weeks and months prior) we have been busy with the Maimonides School Raffle-Auction in the Albany Jewish community. It’s an important annual fundraiser and communal event for our kids school and we and other school families are very invested to make it successful. It was indeed a beautiful event, with great vibe and atmosphere, and delicious Dairy Greek Kosher food by R’ Shmuel Kochman, 29 Prize-Packages, Mendel emceed the Drawings and we are happy to say that this communal effort raised $14,000 for our school, which is quite the fundraiser considering the school’s size.

SONY DSCWhen we got back home that evening, there was a “Girls Nite-IN!” event… Thankfully Nomi of UAlbany Hillel (who cosponsors these womens events with Shabbos House) brought all the supplies for olive-oil soap making and it was a fun, hands-on last night of Chanukah event.

Both Raizy and Nomi shared meaningful messages relating olive oil and women to Chanukah, and meaningful conversations continued throughout the evening.

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The guys also had a Latke evening at 316, the old Shabbos House, and Mendel went over there later on for a bit, once the kids got settled in for the evening. The next morning was not only a school day but it was the day some of our kids had Chanukah performances and plays.

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