Enlightening experience

Jennifer Kho

Seniors clapped, sang and played dreidel games Tuesday at Costa Mesa

Senior Center’s first-ever Hanukkahcelebration.

“It’s my idea that every holiday should be celebrated,” said Aviva

Goelman, the center’s executive director. “I think they’re excited. I

just want to make them aware there are people who celebrate other

holidays besides Christmas. And we have Jewish patrons. I want them to

feel we are serving them as well as everyone else.”

Each event in the center’s holiday series -- including tree

decorating, storytelling by Santa and performances by the TeWinkle Middle

School band and choir, the Page Private Schools choir and the Phoenix

House -- was attended by more than 100 seniors, Goelman said.

The Hanukkah party was the center’s last holiday event of the year.

The center had to turn a few seniors away from the party, which

included a candle-lighting ceremony, lunch donated by Taco Mesa and

Hanukkah songs by Partners in Time, a two-person singing group that

performs exclusively for charitable organizations.

Joan Ellis, a Costa Mesa resident, said she enjoyed the dreidel game

with the rest of her table.

“We’re learning something new,” she said. “I’m learning something

about the culture. I know nothing about this dreidel game, but I’m having

fun. The one who gets the most [chocolate] pennies wins, and it looks

like it’s going to be me, if I don’t eat them all.”

Sidney Chester of Costa Mesa said he especially enjoyed the food.

“I’m having fun,” he said. “This is very enjoyable, with my friends

and good food.”

Warren Atherton of Costa Mesa attended the party with his wife, Sue.

He said they appreciated the chance to learn more about Judaism.

“It’s a good idea,” he said. “I’m Christian, but I would like to know

about other people’s religions.”

Hildegard Provence of Costa Mesa said she was using the experience to

develop more cultural understanding.

“This is very nice,” she said. “I like it because I like to be

introduced to other cultures. I like the candles and the singing. It’s

beautiful that people spend the time to do this.”

Partners in Time members Patti Lumb and Steve Ostrin -- who also plays

the guitar -- said they have sung together to help charities for the last

six years.

“We both used to do this professionally, and it makes our hearts sing

to do it for charitable organizations,” Ostrin said. “It makes us feel

we’ve made the world a little bit better. We do it for fun.”