To incorporate learning about the holiday of Hanukkah and about charity, called Tzedakah in Hebrew, Temple Beth El used the project named Chanu-Can.

In their religious school classes, students learned about and discussed the holidays and how they could make a structure of cans using this year's theme from the Bible.

The classes collected food and money to purchase cans.

The students then spent time thinking of a theme, planning a sculpture of cans, and collecting cans.

Temple Beth El board member Bernie Schonbach was the chief Chanu-Can engineer.

He checked to make sure the constructions would not fall and were safe.

Schonbach commented that "watching all the teachers, parents and children getting involved made it a worthwhile program."

After the constructions were completed, a Hanukkah party was held in the social hall.

The structures and the classes' short plays were presented; songs were sung; latkes and doughnuts were eaten and games were played.

Cantor Kevin Wartell and Rabbi Moshe Re'em sang a duet "Justice, Justice."

Awards were given by Jewish Family Educator Shari Spark, who was in charge of the project.

She thanked those who worked hard on the project, including the adult team captains: Pat Luftman, Michael Finley, Sandi Fine and Henry Luftman.

She also thanked Greg Harris, the can gatherer, Bruce Reich for transportation of cans, and Sherri Bassner for planning.

Judges for the Chanu-Can structures were Barry Siegel, of Jewish Family Services, and Katherine Hoffman, of Second Harvest Food Bank.

The award for best story went to Team Torah: grades kindergarten, first, third and fifth for their Torah with the Tree of Life.

The award for the best color of a structure went to Team Mitzvah, grades second, fourth and sixth for the Rivkeh's Well, Water Jug and Palm Tree.

The award for the best use of foods went to Kadima for its charity construction called Thou Shalt Give Tzedakah.

The Best Achievement in Engineering went to the Midrasha class for Elijah's Door.

The overall best structure award was a tie between Thou Shalt Give Charity, by the Kadima, and Team Torah's Torah and the Tree of Life.

Pallets and cartons were saved to deconstruct the sculptures and repack them.

The following Tuesday night, members of the Temple Beth El Men's Club were on hand to take everything down and the cans were distributed by Second Harvest Food Bank and Jewish Family Services.

More food was collected this year than last year.

There were about 8,000 packages of foods collected, including 7,400 cans plus 600 boxes of macaroni and cheese, according to Schonbach.