Family Havdalah on Ice

Annual co-sponsored family Purim and Havdalah event featuring ice skating for families, musical Havdalah, Purim song session, and crafts.

Saturday, February 24
7:30-9:15 p.m.

Clary Anderson Arena
41 Chestnut St., Montclair

Parking is available on the street as well as in the Walnut Street Train Station parking lot. Please enter “Clary Anderson Arena” into your GPS for better directions to the shared parking lot. This parking lot is located at the intersection of Montclair Ave and Label St.

FREE admission, activities, and refreshments!

Skate rental per person is $4 in advance, $5 at the door — skate boot size toddler 8 and above.

Online registration is closed. WALK-IN REGSITRATION WELCOME! You are welcome to join us for ice skating and more, skate rental is available for $5 cash at the door.

For more information, contact Justin Sakofs at jsakofs@jfedgmw.org or (973) 929-2980.

What is Havdalah?

Shabbat begins and ends with flames. Just as we begin Shabbat on Friday night with the lighting of two candles, on Saturday night we traditionally say “good bye” by lighting a multi-wick candle in the ritual known as Havdalah, or separation, which can begin when three stars are visible in the night sky.

Havdalah is a short multi-sensory ceremony consisting of four main blessings: blessing over the wine, blessing over the spices, blessing over the flame, and, finally the Havdalah blessing which separates from Shabbat and prepares us for the week ahead. Each symbol relates to our senses: wine is for taste; the spices are for smell; the candle is for sight; the blessings are heard; and we touch each ritual object as we pass them around.

A Havdalah Party with Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

In efforts to make Havdalah on Ice an inclusive experiences for all members of the Greater MetroWest community, this social story was created to help families with children with special needs to know what to expect and manage expectations of the evening. The story details the activities throughout the night. Check it out to help your family transition through the evening and have a great time. This is a small act of inclusion, yet can have tremendous impact. The social story can be found here.