[AnyDayNow]

Congratulations on the new home!

[Bravo35223]

zenn:

How was your first Alabama Channukah? Here's hoping yours was filled with good cheer and great feelings in your congregation.

bravo....

[zenjenn]

How was your first Alabama Channukah?

It was great, thanks for asking. I had to buy a new menorah since ours was still in storage, and I didn't have my little box of "fun stuff" for the kids (books, decorations, etc), but we had a great time. A local Jewish friend of mine hosted a party for her neighborhood which we attended, and Etz Chayim has quite the happenin' Hanukkah party with games, socializing, and a latke lunch. I was pleased to see Publix had gelt (chocolate coins), Hanukkah wrapping paper (I was shocked. That's hard to find in mainstream stores), authentic kosher latke mix (they are better from scratch, but my apartment kitchen set up is lacking, to say the least.) and Star of David cookies. I volunteered to do a little bit at my daughter's preschool, which I did, but to my surprise it wasn't nearly as necessary as I thought it would be. They talked about Hanukkah quite a bit at school and even had a lovely Hanukkah song (one that *wasn't* one of the two you usually hear, imagine that?) in the preschool holiday music performance. The kids were happy.

By the way Publix in generaly is very Jewish-friendly. It must be because they are so big in Florida. They have a bigger kosher section than is strictly necessary around here, and the one on Whitesburg has challah every Friday!

[pvjd]

Originally Posted by zenjenn

Things are slow in Calfornia right now. Fortunately we got into the housing market before things really boomed there so we're not in over our heads. If the house doesn't sell by the end of January we're going to look at renting it out.

Pvjd, we purchased a new home in Huntsville.

Huntsville is pretty cool--you should check out the space center if you are into that sort of thing. My wife and I live in Birmingham, but if I don't get accepted into the UA in Tuscaloosa Graduate Program for Social Work then we might have to relocate to Huntsville as I have already been accepted to the grad. program there. I can commute to Tuscaloosa, but Huntsville is about 2 hours. Good luck there.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by zenjenn

It was great, thanks for asking. I had to buy a new menorah since ours was still in storage, and I didn't have my little box of "fun stuff" for the kids (books, decorations, etc), but we had a great time. A local Jewish friend of mine hosted a party for her neighborhood which we attended, and Etz Chayim has quite the happenin' Hanukkah party with games, socializing, and a latke lunch. I was pleased to see Publix had gelt (chocolate coins), Hanukkah wrapping paper (I was shocked. That's hard to find in mainstream stores), authentic kosher latke mix (they are better from scratch, but my apartment kitchen set up is lacking, to say the least.) and Star of David cookies. I volunteered to do a little bit at my daughter's preschool, which I did, but to my surprise it wasn't nearly as necessary as I thought it would be. They talked about Hanukkah quite a bit at school and even had a lovely Hanukkah song (one that *wasn't* one of the two you usually hear, imagine that?) in the preschool holiday music performance. The kids were happy.

By the way Publix in generaly is very Jewish-friendly. It must be because they are so big in Florida. They have a bigger kosher section than is strictly necessary around here, and the one on Whitesburg has challah every Friday!

Zenn:

Here is a link to Jewish organizations in Birmingham....

http://www.bjf.org/Shalom_Birmingham...omplete_kl.pdf

Our Jewish community here is very visible, active, involved and respected....Reform as well as Orthodox congregations. I know it is hard to believe but because Birmingham started as an industrial city in the late 19th century, it rapidly attracted virtually the entire gamut of ethnic groups....and as the time has passed, very very successful leaders from all have emerged as philanthropic and social leaders in Birmingham. Our Jewish community is richly represented in this leadership.

bravo