Fort Lee’s Gesher Shalom Plans Holiday Boutique, Menorah Lighting

Congregation Gesher Shalom, the Jewish Community Center of Fort Lee, is holding its annual “Holiday Boutique” Sunday, featuring “many vendors” selling jewelry, accessories, clothing and other gift items, in addition to Judaica and baked goods, according to organizers.

Rabbi Kenneth Stern of Gesher Shalom said everyone is welcome, and that “there’s nothing religious about” the annual event.

“It’s basically pre-Hanukkah and pre-holiday shopping for anybody who would like to come,” Stern said. “It’s not limited to Jewish ritual items or anything like that; it’s gifts.”

Stern added that because Hanukkah “revolves around oil,” there will also be homemade applesauce available for sale at the holiday boutique.

“[The applesauce] can go with potato pancakes, which are fried in oil,” he said.

Congregation Gesher Shalom is located at 1449 Anderson Ave. in Fort Lee. The holiday boutique is Sunday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 201-947-1735.

Community Menorah Lighting & The First Night of Hanukkah

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the first night of Hanukkah, Gesher Shalom will also once again be hosting Fort Lee’s annual community Menorah lighting at the “triangle”—the small area formed by Lemoine Avenue, Main Street and Schlosser Street—according to Stern, who said the event would be similar to last year’s, with singing and the lighting itself followed by a celebration at the Synagogue.

The Menorah lighting takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8 and is open to all, as is the program that follows immediately afterward, complete with “food and festivities,” back at Gesher Shalom, Stern said.