Celebrate Chanukah Lights At Missouri Botanical Gardens

By Julie Bierach

St. Louis, MO - Experience the traditions of “Chanukah: Festival of Lights,” at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Sunday, Dec. 21. Come celebrate the Jewish holiday with storytelling, song, and a ceremonial menorah-lighting.

The festivities begin at noon with the symbolic lighting of one of eight candles on a menorah, which represents the first of eight evenings that the miraculous oil lamp burned in the temple. Immediately following are student performances by the Reform Jewish Academy School, the Solomon Schechter Day School, and the Epstein Hebrew Academy chorus. The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Choir and the Circle of Jewish Music Group will also perform.

At 2 p.m., listen to traditional Jewish and Chanukah festival music performed by the female quartet Shir Ami (Song of My People). At 3 p.m., the group HaShemesh (The Sun) will sing and play contemporary Israeli folk music. 

Visitors can browse a traditional “shuk” (marketplace), with merchandise from B’rith Sholom Keneset Israel, The Silver Lady, and B’nai El Congregation Gift Shop, or stop by the Garden Gate Shop for Chanukah-themed merchandise.

“Chanukah: Festival of Lights” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in the upper level of the Ridgway Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Activities are included with Garden admission ($8 adults; St. Louis City and County residents, $4 adults and $2 seniors age 65 and over). Garden members and children age 12 and under are free.

For general information, visit the web site www.mobot.org or call the recorded line at (314) 577-9400 or toll-free 1-800- 642-8842.

 The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life.” Today, 149 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, just south of I-44 at Vandeventer-Kingshighway (exit #287B). Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Dec. 25. Grounds open at 7 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday. Admission is $8; free children ages 12 and under and Garden members. St. Louis City and County residents are $4 and free every Wednesday and Saturday until noon (exception: special admission rate events). Park for free on site and two blocks west at the Shaw-Vandeventer intersection. (Note: the Garden’s main vehicle entrance at 4344 Shaw Blvd. will be under construction from Oct. 2008 through Mar. 2009 for improvements. Follow signs to temporary parking lot entrances around the corners at 2019 Tower Grove Ave. and 1940 Alfred Ave.) The Garden is easily accessible by taking the MetroLink commuter rail line to the Central West End station and picking up a Metro bus (www.metrostlouis.org). For general information, log on to www.mobot.org or call the 24-hour recording at (314) 577-9400 or 1-800-642-8842. For membership information, call (314) 577-5118 during weekday business hours. For volunteer opportunities, call (314)-577-5187 or visit www.mobot.org/volunteer. The Missouri Botanical Garden is a tobacco-free environment.

(Note: A section of the I-64/U.S. 40 highway is under construction through 2009. Before traveling, check www.thenewi64.org for updates or visit www.GetAroundStL.com for other helpful information.)