It’s amazing to see what a group of talented and generous women can accomplish when they decide to celebrate the holidays by helping others in need. The La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) have been working for weeks sewing gift bags for a shelter in Long Beach and gathering travel-sized toiletries to fill the bags. They also have been gathering holiday gifts for two needy families in the city of Norwalk.
Many AAUW members came early the Nov. 21 meeting at the Cerritos Library to fill 70 bags with travel-sized toiletries. They also filled a table full of gifts for the two families that they adopted for the holidays. The table was overflowing with personal gifts for each member of the families. Members donated gift certificates for local stores, clothing, toys, non-perishable food items, and many other items. Past President Judy Figal and current President Barbara Atherton will be like Santa’s helpers delivering the gifts before Christmas.
Program Co-Chair Barbara Dunstan introduced Mary Wissink, Director of the Cypress Choraliers for the first part of the program where members and guests were treated to a special performance of the Cypress Chorales. The Choraliers performed a number of songs from their wide repertoire of Christmas music with beautiful harmony. Mary Wissink invited the audience to join in singing “White Christmas,” and everyone followed her direction. Since the Jewish festival of Chanukkah is celebrated during the holiday season, they even sang a Channukah song. The Choraliers received a standing ovation after their performance.
For the first time this year, the Jewish feast of Chanukkah will be celebrated almost at the same time as the Thanksgiving Day celebration on Thursday, Nov. 28. The Jewish festival starts on the evening before Thanksgiving Day at sundown.
In the second part of the program, Program Co-Chair Christine Taxier explained what she learned about the Jewish festival of Chanukkah as a convert to Judaism. It is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians. There was only enough sanctified oil to last only one day that was used in their menorah, a candelabrum, but miraculously, the oil burned and lasted for eight days. This is why Chanukkah became an eight-day festival.
Taxier brought her own menorah, which she called a chanukkiah, that had nine candles. According to Taxier, the middle candle is used to light the other eight candles and is called the “shammus” or servant candle. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the menorah is the oldest symbol of the Jewish faith and was the seven-branched candelabrum that was used in the Temple. It has been said to be a symbol of the nation of Israel to be a “light unto the nations.”
Taxier talked about the games that are played by children during Chanukkah using a four-sided top called a dreidel to win prizes. She also led everyone in singing the traditional version of the Chanukkah song.
President Barbara Atherton thanked everyone who came and helped with bringing items for the gift bags and gifts for the needy families. She also gave certificates of appreciation to Barbara Atherton, Carol Marsh and Judy Figal for the outstanding work they did for the AAUW’s successful Fashion Show and Silent Auction in November. She thanked the Choraliers for their musical performance and presented them with certificates of appreciation. Program Co-Chair Barbara Dunstan also thanked the Choraliers and gave them each a La Palma-Cerritos AAUW cookbook to use during the holidays.
The La Palma-Cerritos AAUW November meeting was a long and busy, but people who came had a good feeling about the work that they did to help the needy. They enjoyed the joyful Christmas songs of the Choraliers and learning about the Jewish festival of Chanukkah. The La Palma-Cerritos AAUW wishes everyone a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy Chanukkah!”
For more information about future programs for the La Palma-Cerritos AAUW, please contact Program Co-Chairs Barbara Dunstan at 562-404-4760 or Christine Taxier at 714-828-7711. For performances by the Cypress Choraliers, please contact Director Mary Wissink at 714-609-5023.
