HANUKKAH

It's 'Santa Paws Day' at Dog Trust in Ireland and these rescue pups get to pick out their own presents.

Observers were barred from the courtroom and a group of supporters gathered outside in the cold

Mauricio points his blowpipe at a monkey high up in the trees, an age-old hunting tradition the Nukak people continue to practice even though they have long been displaced from their ancestral homes. Violence and illnesses inflicted first by settlers and later by armed groups forced the Nukak from their homes and into voluntary isolation decades ago, turning them into displaced people living in poverty in small towns in the southeastern Guaviare department.

Former suburban Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter takes the stand at her manslaughter trial in the shooting death of Black motorist Daunte Wright. (Dec. 17)

The Bayou City has so many gifts that you'll want to give and receive this holiday season.

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah came around very early this year, beginning on Sunday, November 28th, and ran through Sunday, December 5th.

If you’re a parent, you’ve heard the doomsaying about the holidays and holiday toy shopping.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff -- who is Jewish, and the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris -- led the menorah-lighting ceremony this year at the White House, to kick off the start of Hanukkah.

San Marcos residents and visitors packed the northwest corner of the Hays County Historic Courthouse lawn for a menorah lighting.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses held a “family” celebration of Hanukkah at the White House Wednesday, with the first Jewish spouse of a vice president, Doug Emhoff, joining in lighting the menorah.

Israel’s president has visited one of the most contentious spots in the occupied West Bank to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah

A Kentucky man was run over on Saturday during a Hanukkah celebration, according to police and CBS affiliate WKYT. The victim told police the driver used anti-Semitic slurs before the attack. When the driver let go, the victim fell and hit his head, and the driver ran over the victim's leg before fleeing, police said. Police respond to a car attack at a menorah-lighting celebration at the Chabad of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. The post read that in insisting the menorah lighting continue, the victim would "not allow darkness to quench our light."

Driver attacked man at Hanukkah ceremony, police say A member of Lexington, Kentucky's Chabad of the Bluegrass was attacked with a car Saturday during a Menorah-lighting ceremony by a driver shouting possible anti-Semitic slurs, reports CBS affiliate WKYT-TV. Police are searching for the suspect and investigating whether bias motivated the crime.

An annual event bringing together Holocaust survivors from around the world to mark the start of Hanukkah was held online for the first time Sunday Dec. 13, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)BERLIN – An annual event bringing together Holocaust survivors from around the world to mark the start of Hanukkah was held online for the first time Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event organized by the Jewish Claims Conference also paid tribute to those killed by the Nazis and raised awareness of anti-Semitism. Among the survivors who spoke was Walter Breindel, who fled Austria at the age of four with his mother and brother. “Hopefully next year it will not be a memory but we shall be together in reality,” he said.

From brisket to latkes, Kenny & Ziggy's is ready to stock you with all the goodies this Hanukkah. Order 24 hours in advance to ensure availability of items like traditional braided challah, chicken soup and matzo balls, roasted brisket, potato latkes, sufganiyot and more. The Festival of Lights feeds 6-10 people, while the Hanukkah menu offers a la carte offerings. Choose from favorites like matzo ball soup and latkes, brisket and kasha varnishkas, fried kreplach and sweet noodle kugel, deli and lox platters, and desserts from cookies to cakes. Prisoner Wine Dinner at Liberty Kitchen TreehouseSaturday, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. seatings963 Bunker HillThe neighborhood spot is hosting an exclusive rooftop wine dinner, featuring five courses and pairings from Prisoner Wine Company, plus with live music.

HOUSTON – Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of when just a day’s supply of oil kept a menorah in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem lit for eight days. And in a year where we have seen many dark moments, the Hanukkah House in Meyerland has very a special light display that is sure to brighten your day. Philip Grosman is the man behind the lights, he has been putting up this massive display for thirteen years. At the end of the day, Philip says he continues to put up the Hanukkah display each year for all the kids. If you and your family would like to stop by the Hanukkah House in Meyerland, it’s located in the 5100 block of Carew Street.

An Anne Frank statue in Idaho that officials say is the only monument to the Holocaust victim in the country was defaced with a swastika symbol sticker this week. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said in an online news conference with community leaders Thursday that authorities are investigating the vandalism at the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. "The vandalism that occurred at the Anne Frank memorial is reprehensible," McLean said. The Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial was built as a physical statement of our shared values. "This is the only Anne Frank memorial in the United States.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Is the Hanukkah House happening this year? Answer: Despite the cancellation of events Houstonians look forward to most, the Hanukkah House isn’t one of them. This year, the Hanukkah House hosted by PJ Library and the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston will take place for its third consecutive year in Meyerland. Families are invited to drive by the Hanukkah-themed house located at the 5100 block of Carew.

HOUSTON – As the first night of Hanukkah takes place Thursday night, a southwest Houston synagogue wants to celebrate the heroes of the year with a special car parade. The 18th Annual Chanukah Parade will honor first responders this year, bringing more than 70 vehicles, including first responder trucks with Menorahs. They will drive through southwest Houston starting at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. Participate in the Chanukah Menorah Parade! Bigger than ever, the Chanukah Menorah Parade will honor our greater... Posted by Chabad Outreach on Tuesday, November 24, 2020The parade will begin at 5:45 p.m., with the route starting at the Chadbad Outreach of Houston located at 11000 Fondren in Houston.

Many Jewish Americans are already accustomed to more intimate celebrations of a holiday focused more on the home than on the synagogue, including Haredim or ultra-Orthodox communities. So the recent successful Supreme Court challenge to New York restrictions on in-person worship by some Orthodox groups won't mean much as far as their Hanukkah plans. But such large gatherings are "not an essential part of the holiday on any level whatsoever,” he added. “Family gatherings are going to be limited, with or without the Supreme Court decision,” he said. “It will be much, much smaller,” she said, adding that many others in their community were planning intimate gatherings just with immediate family members.

HOUSTON – Hanukkah is coming soon this week, and a Houston-area institution has your baking needs covered. New York City Deli & Coffee Shop, located at 9724 Hillcroft in Houston, has prepared a special dreidel cookie pack for kids. The Hanukkah cookie kit includes six cookies, icing, sprinkles, dreidels and gelt for kids to decorate on their own. How about a decorate your own dreidel cookie pack including 6... Posted by New York Deli & Coffee Shop on Sunday, December 6, 2020The Jewish community mainstay also has a wide selection of pastries and treats in its bakery just in time for the holiday, according to the business’ Facebook page. In other news, New York Deli & Coffee Shop plans to open its second location in the Bellaire area in early 2021, the restaurant wrote on Facebook.

It took him four days to be able to get a test, for which he paid $150. He shared his positive result with his staff, encouraging them all to get tested, too. For some of them, however, it took two weeks to get tested and receive results, preventing them from working. The experience convinced Sanchez to pivot his business for the second time since March and to reopen the two Moe’s restaurants Dec. 2 as COVID-19 testing sites.

“It’s likely too early for us to have yet seen the bulk of Thanksgiving-related hospitalizations. We’re now in our 11th day since Thanksgiving and we are four days out from Hanukkah and 18 days from Christmas, 19 days from Kwanzaa, 24 from New Year’s Eve,” Pritzker said Monday. “These next four weeks may be the most crucial month of this entire pandemic. We quite literally have very limited leeway in our hospital systems to manage another surge.”

[MORE: These 3 apps will help you find the best holiday shopping deals, experts say | Doing a little online shopping? If you’re shipping gifts you want to arrive in time for Christmas, here are some recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25:USPS (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)Domestic Mail Class/Product Send-by Date USPS Retail Ground Service Dec. 15 First-Class Mail Service Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service Dec. 23Click here for USPS holiday shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii, military bases and overseas addresses. UPSShipping Option Send-by Date UPS Ground Dec. 15 UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 21 UPS 2nd Day Air Dec. 22 UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23Click here for more details on UPS holiday shipping. FedEx (U.S. to U.S.)Shipping Option Send-by Date FedEx SmartPost (certain exceptions apply) Dec. 9 FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 15 FedEx Ground Dec. 15 FedEx Express Saver Dec. 21 FedEx 3 Day Freight Dec. 21 FedEx 2 Day Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day A.M. Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day Freight Dec. 22 FedEx 1 Day Freight Dec. 23 FedEx Extra Hours Dec. 23 FedEx Standard Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx Priority Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx First Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx SameDay Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Priority Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Direct Dec. 25Click here to see last-day-to-ship dates if you’re planning to send gifts to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico or other destinations. AmazonAmazon has not released its 2020 holiday shipping calendar, but last year, the company recommended buyers send products no later than Dec. 22 or Dec. 23 for a Dec. 25 arrival.

Don't get out those Christmas decorations just yet.

(Reuters) - Jews in the United States suffered the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents last year since the Anti-Defamation League began collecting records 40 years ago, the racism watchdog said on Tuesday. Previously, the highest number was recorded in 1994, when the ADL reported multiple unsolved arsons, cross burnings and a drive-by shooting. The groups audit of anti-Semitic incidents from 2019 counted 1,127 cases of harassment, 61 cases of physical assaults and 919 instances of vandalism. In recent weeks the ADL has issued warnings of a continuing surge in incidents, saying conspiracy theories connected to the coronavirus outbreak could worsen anti-Semitism in the United States. In late 2018, a gunman killed 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.

Thomas is expected to be presented in White Plains federal court later today. Every American should be free to live and worship in safety, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. The federal penalties for this type of attack are severe and justified. Thomas declared to dozens of assembled congregants, no one is leaving, and attacked the group with an 18-inch machete. Following the attack, Thomas traveled in a car to New York City, and he was stopped in Harlem by members of the New York City Police Department.

Experts estimate Americans spent more than $34 billion this Saturday and Sunday. "I just love all the little stores here, there's a lot of little family stores, a lot less corporate-y," said one shopper. Despite a healthy consumer economy the U.S. saw more than 9,000 retail store closings in the this year alone. With more than 2 billion packages delivered this holiday season, FedEx, UPS and other services could have delays to some deliveries. Santa may be extra generous this year: The National Retail Federation predicts the average American will spend $1,047 dollars this holiday season the most money since they started keeping track.

It is a perfect storm for holiday travel: Days before Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah, more than a third of Americans are expected to be on the move. The American Automobile Associate (AAA) says more than 115 million will travel by road, rail or air between now and January 1. That's about 4 million more than last year and the most since it began keeping records 20 years ago. Traffic snarls are likely to spike late afternoon in major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, where delays could lead to travel times three times longer than usual. For those who choose to fly, Christmas Eve is the best day to fly.

With Christmas and Hanukkah nigh, CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday outlined a wish list that he hopes the market will deliver investors in the new year. Six more trading days remain in 2019, and the "Mad Money" host deemed it a "fantastic year," in which the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed almost 22%, the S&P 500 has expanded 28.50% and the Nasdaq Composite has rallied 34.51%. He expects more to come. "That's why I'm going to give you the list ... of a dozen presents I'm hoping for, because there are, after all, 12 days of Christmas and I want my true love, the market, to give them all to me," Cramer said. "These are all a bit oddball and some [are] sappy, but I mean them, and I want you to have these presents, too."

HOUSTON – A Meyerland home is decked out for Hanukkah in a way that defies the traditional minor festival characterization of the Jewish holiday. A massive menorah, inflatable bear and dreidels sparkle amid blue and white lights at this home in the 5100 block of Carew. The home owner, Philip Grosman, told KPRC 2 via email that he does this display every year, and it blinks to Hanukkah music. “I'm trying to spread the word about our Hanukkah display,” he wrote. Decorating your house should be for all to enjoy!”You can follow Grosman’s Hanukkah lighting adventures on Instagram at @hanukkahhouse.

No matter how you celebrate the Holidays, Hanukkah, Christmas, Navidad, Kwanzaa or Diwali, Disney Parks is the merriest place to be! The Festival of Holidays is the perfect way to celebrate all of the various cultural and spiritual holiday traditions. The food and beverage options the parks have rolled out this holiday season is also a great way to highlight festive traditions. Visiting many of your favorite attractions that have been transformed for the holidays is another great way to enjoy the Festival of Holidays in the park! Make sure to stop by the 60 foot Christmas tree decorated with over 1,500 Victorian style decorations on main street!

No matter how you celebrate the Holidays, Hanukkah, Christmas, Navidad, Kwanzaa or Diwali, Disney Parks is the merriest place to be! The Festival of Holidays is the perfect way to celebrate all of the various cultural and spiritual holiday traditions. The food and beverage options the parks have rolled out this holiday season is also a great way to highlight festive traditions. Visiting many of your favorite attractions that have been transformed for the holidays is another great way to enjoy the Festival of Holidays in the park!

No matter how you celebrate the Holidays, Hanukkah, Christmas, Navidad, Kwanzaa or Diwali, Disney Parks is the merriest place to be! The Festival of Holidays is the perfect way to celebrate all of the various cultural and spiritual holiday traditions. The food and beverage options the parks have rolled out this holiday season is also a great way to highlight festive traditions. Visiting many of your favorite attractions that have been transformed for the holidays is another great way to enjoy the Festival of Holidays in the park!

freeimages.com/krzysiuc(CNN) - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's -- the winter holidays are closer than you think even if you're still in shorts. For many folks, Thanksgiving travel means a flight or drive to a family gathering spot. But the long Thanksgiving weekend can be a fantastic time to plan a bona fide vacation. Plimoth Plantation: 137 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA 02360; +1 508 746 1622Few things say Thanksgiving like the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You want the most immersive Christmas travel experience possible.