The month of December is brimming with musical activities at Temple Micah. On Friday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m., the sanctuary will once again be lit with excitement as we celebrate the annual Hanukkah service, featuring the Temple Micah Youth Choir. The sanctuary is set up so that we all face the middle of the room, where tables are overflowing with menorahs of every shape and size. Don't forget to bring your menorah, with five candles for the fourth night of Hanukkah. The ever-popular 3-D glasses will be provided. This is a spectacular service that is not to be missed.

The next evening, Dec. 8, the CrossCurrents Dance Company returns to Temple Micah for a benefit concert at 8 p.m. All proceeds from the concert go to Micah House. This is the third year that Temple Micah is hosting this event. It is deeply meaningful to the dancers to have the opportunity to support such a noble cause through their gift of dance. The mission of CrossCurrents--to reveal the strength of our human stories through the language of dance--complements that of Micah House. The company seeks to frame and capture the intricate web of shared experiences that connect us to each other and to our larger communities. Please come and see the dance company the Washington Post praised for its "well crafted, dramatically cogent" choreography.

On Sunday, Dec. 9, the Temple Micah Not Ready for Purim Players will hold its first organizational meeting of the year, at 1:30 p.m. On March 20, we will return to the Great White Way for "A Broadway Purim," after last year's successful production of the "Beatles Purim Schpiel" and the previous year's "East Side Story." Snippets of many of your favorite Broadway shows are woven together to tell the story of the smart and beautiful Esther, the wise and pious Mordechai and the no-good Haman. (Remember "Beauty and the Beast?" Then think: Esther and Haman.) Thespians and lovers of the theatrical arts are encouraged to attend this meeting. Future rehearsals will take place after religious school.

On Dec. 9, Kol Isha is presenting Marsha Bryan Edelman, a conductor and musicologist of some renown, from 1-3:30 p.m. I had the honor to work with Dr. Edelman a few years ago with Hazamir: the National Jewish High School Choir, in New York, as they celebrated their 13th anniversary of presenting quality Jewish choral music by talented high school students.

The Temple Micah Orchestra has already had its first rehearsal of the season, but it is not too late to join the festivities. We are gearing up for the annual Shabbat Shira service, to be held on Saturday, Jan.19. Our next rehearsal is Thursday, Dec.13, at 6:40 p.m. All instrumentalists are welcome to join--no audition required. Email the music director for more information.

The Temple Micah Pickup Band will play at the Kabbalat Service on Friday, Dec. 21.

The Temple Micah Choir will meet to rehearse on Thursday, Dec. 6 and 20. We are preparing for the annual Jewish Choral Festival at Strathmore Hall March 2. New choir members are always encouraged to join our fabulous group.