Four Questions for Beth Litz, Chanukah on Ice Lamplighter

The Boulder County Center for Judaism and the Boulder JCC are pleased to honor Beth Litz with the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah at this year’s Chanukah on Ice at WinterSkate in downtown Louisville on December 10th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Chany Scheiner, Program Director of the Boulder County Center for Judaism, said, “Each year we honor someone whose actions have made a positive difference to the Boulder Jewish Community. In the case of Beth, with whom I have had the pleasure of working for the past 12 years, it is particularly appropriate that she is our Lamp Lighter this year. Not only does she constantly bring light to our community, but her partnership was essential to the creation of Chanukah on Ice and her hard work has been crucial to making it the wonderful community celebration it has become. Having her light our Chanukah on Ice Menorah is our way of showing her how much we appreciate all she has done for our Jewish community.”

And now to the asking – and answering – of our four traditional Lamp Lighter questions:

How many years have you lived in Boulder County?
I moved from New York City to Boulder in 1995. I had never even been here before, but it sounded like a nice place to live. I had heard there were trees, mountains, and clean air, and coming from NYC, that all sounded good. However, initially seeing cows and prairie dogs so close to houses, made me a bit nervous that I had said goodbye to city life and moved to “Green Acres.”
But it was a good decision; shortly after I got settled, I met the man I would marry on a singles hike. We bought a house in Louisville in 1998, about two months before our son was born.

What has been your favorite thing about working as the Director of Shalom Baby at the Boulder JCC?
I loved so many things about my job, but the families and the children were the best parts. I loved connecting families to new friends, fun activities, and our wonderful community.

What’s your favorite thing about Chanukah?
I love lighting the menorah with my family and watching the candles burn. It reminds me of how we need to spread more light throughout the world.

Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory from your own childhood?
I remember getting together with cousins and friends and playing dreidel. We would form a big circle on the kitchen floor and play using walnuts. When my own kids were younger, we also played dreidel with our havurah, but the kids used M&M’s or chocolate gelt coins.

No reservations are necessary for this fun, family-friendly event. Just show up at WinterSkate (824 Front Street in downtown Louisville) at 4:00pm. The lighting takes place at 5:00 and the festivities continue until 6:00pm.

Admission to WinterSkate is $3 for adults and $2 for children 4-12. Kids three and under are free. Skate rental is $4, or you bring your own skates if you have them.

Enormous thanks go to the Boulder County Center for Judaism, Boulder Creek Events, the Boulder JCC, the Boulder Jewish News, JEWISHcolorado, Ed and Julie Victor, and WinterSkate. Without their generous support, this event would not be possible.

For more information, call 303-494-1638 or email lbkosher@gmail.com.