SHAI and Temple Israel of Great Neck coordinated a beautiful community-wide Hanukkah Concert & Celebration at Temple Israel on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

The concert featured the Jazzukkah Ensemble, some of whom are Israeli musicians who travel to the United States specially for these performances. The ensemble featured  Hazzan Elana Rozenfeld’s vocals, Alon Benjamini on drums, Gilad Abro on bass, and Itamar Dahan playing piano and Temple Israel’s own Hazzan Brian Shamash. Jazzukkah is a unique ensemble playing typical Hanukkah songs in the Jazz genre. Audiences find that Hanukkah and jazz make a surprisingly perfect pair. The “new flavor” comes from the fact that both jazz and traditional Jewish Ashkenazi music share a deep history of improvisation, soulful minor scales, and complex rhythms.

The lively and soulful concert was followed by a candle lighting ceremony by community members in the sanctuary and dinner and Hanukkah treats in the Grand Ballroom.

It was a beautiful performance by the Jazzukkah Ensemble and Hazzan Brian Shamash, and another terrific collaboration between SHAI and Temple Israel of Great Neck. SHAI is grateful for the staff at Temple Israel of Great Neck, who always greet the Persian community with open arms.