When Hanukkah is about to begin at Temple Beth El, South Whitehall, the adults and children meet together to plan their ChanuCan project, which benefits Second Harvest Food Bank as well as the Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley.

This project began in 2011. At Temple Beth El, the project is directed by Shari Spark, coordinator of Ritual and Services, as a project of Jewish Family Education.

Meetings were held, teams were organized and the 2019 theme selected was “Jewish Journey’s ... Let’s GO!”

Donations were accepted and cans were purchased and collected.

And then, the building of the structures began.

After the structures were completed, an ExtravaCANza party was held Dec. 15, 2019, in the social hall.

The fun and festivities included delicious latkes and doughnuts, dreidel games, crafts, magic with the Great Marookie and judging of CANstruction projects.

These structures included the Exodus or journey out of Israel and the giving of the Ten Commandments, the journey on the ships coming to America, the Statue of Liberty, going back to Israel by air on El Al or Beth El Al, and landing back in Israel (Aliyah).

The winner of CANstruction was the Statue of Liberty. After the CANstruction projects were completed and judged, they were taken apart and the cans were donated to the food bank and pantry.