ELLICOTT CITY, MD — The Jewish Federation of Howard County and the Board of Rabbis invite the community to attend a candle lighting on the first night of Hanukkah Dec. 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will be singing and light refreshments at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Dr.

Mitzvah Day and Chanukah Celebration will be held Dec. 25 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Bet Yeladim Preschool, 8910 Old Annapolis Rd., in Columbia. The program is aimed at children ages three to eight and their siblings and grown-ups. They will create activity books for clients of Voices for Children, the will decorate and fill Love Mugs for clients of the Federation's community social worker, color Mitzvah Day cards to be added to Jewish Volunteer Connection's winter care packages, assemble no-sew blankets for children in need through Project Linus and participate in the Hanukkah celebration at 10 a.m. Organizers also will be collecting Walmart and Target gift cards for clients of the Jewish Emergency Network (JEN).