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10 Jewish things to do on Christmas in New York
(New York Jewish Week) — This year, Dec. 24 and 25 are the seventh and eighth nights of Hanukkah — meaning the tail-end of this eight-day Jewish festival just happens to overlap with a little-known Christian holiday called Christmas.
Of course, the tried-and-true tradition of “Jewish Christmas” — a.k.a. “Chinese food and a movie” — is a classic for a reason, and here in NYC there’s no shortage of movie theaters (from art houses to cineplexes with stadium seating) and world-class Chinese restaurants.
However, if you’re looking to do something a little bit different this year, you’re in luck: The confluence of Hanukkah and Christmas means that in this oh-so-very-Jewish city in which we reside, there’s a myriad of Jewish-oriented entertainment options this upcoming Christmas weekend. Keep reading for some of our top picks.
Dec. 24
Joel Chasnoff: Christmas for the Jews
City Winery, 25 11th Ave.
After a two-year hiatus, Jewish comedian Joel Chasnoff returns for his long-running Christmas Eve comedy show at City Winery. “Passover candy sales, El Al security guards, his short-lived stint on the Solomon Schechter basketball team and his year as a tank gunner in the Israeli army,” reads the promo copy. “If you’re a fan of Joel’s often absurd, always insightful take on Jewish life, this is the show for you!” Chasnoff will be joined by fellow comedians Talia Reese and Eli Lebowicz. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., show starts at 8:00 p.m. From $30.
Comedian Joel Chasnoff (Courtesy)
A Very Jewish Christmas
Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd St.
Join “some of the best Jewish comedians in the country” for a night of Christmas Eve laughs at Chelsea’s Gotham Comedy Club. Featuring Ariel Elias, Gary Vider, Neko White, Rafi Bastos and Ashley Austin Morris. Two shows: 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $25.
MatzoBall
Harbor NYC, 621 West 46th St.
If you want to get your drink and your dance on, there’s no shortage of Jewish-oriented dance parties on Christmas Eve. Most iconic of all is the MatzoBall, the classic Jewish singles party, which this year is at Harbor New York City, “NYC’s newest rooftop lounge and event venue.” 10:00 p.m. From $50.
Hanukkah Lit
Slate, 54 West 21st St.
Hanukkah Ball
Nebula, 135 West 41st St.
+972 Events is hosting not one but two Jewish events in NYC on Christmas Eve: Hanukkah Lit at Slate, a multi-use club in Chelsea that has a games area and an indoor slide, and the Hanukkah Ball at Midtown’s Nebula. Both events start at 10:00 p.m.; tickets start at $28. Get Hanukkah Lit tickets here and Hanukkah Ball tickets here.
“The Night Before Christmas” Hanukkah Party
Tao Downtown, 369 West 16th St.
“You know it’s time to celebrate when Christmas Eve and Hanukkah overlap on a Saturday night!” reads the promo copy for The Streicker Center’s first-ever “The Night Before Christmas” party, held at Tao Downtown. This Temple Emanu-El-affilated event is for those ages 21 to 39 and will feature all-you-can-eat Asian food and “unlimited premium open bar,” plus tunes by DJ Ann Streichman and a set by rapper Kosha Dillz. From 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; tickets $48.25.
Dec. 25
Yiddish New York
Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, 36 Battery Place and online
Dec. 25 is the first full day of Yiddish New York — an online and in-person event at the Museum of Jewish Heritage described as “the nation’s largest festival of Yiddish music, culture and language.” Featuring concerts, workshops, performances and more, the festival runs through Dec. 29. Sunday’s program includes a puppet-making workshop for kids and a lunchtime concert by Kateryna Ostrovska. From $12.24; for tickets and information, click here.
Music at the Museum: Celebrate Chanukah at Eldridge
Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge St.
Head to the Lower East Side’s Museum at Eldridge Street “for an afternoon of infectious Klezmer energy for all ages.” Sing and dance along to the sounds of the Litvakus Collective (Zisl Slepovitch, Joshua Camp, Larry Eagle, Dmitry Ishenko and Jake Shulman-Ment) as well as National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene actor and singer Maya Jacobson. While you’re there, check out the exhibit on menorahs from around the world and — bonus! — should you have a post-concert hankering for a Chinese feast, you’re smack in the middle of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Concert begins at 2:00 p.m.; tickets $27.28, with reduced prices for seniors, students and children.
“A Very Jewdy Christmas”
Stand Up NY, 236 West 78th St.
Jewish comedian Judy Gold is presenting “A Very Jewdy Christmas” — two standup sets on Christmas Day at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets $36, plus $18 drink minimum.
Comedian Judy Gold (Via Twitter)
27th Anniversary David Broza “Not Exactly Xmas Show”
City Winery, 25 11th Ave.
Israeli superstar David Broza is doing his annual Christmas Day show — which encompasses “Broza’s signature fusion of his Israeli hits, Spanish flamenco, Cuban rhythms, American folk and rock and roll.” Plus, as in previous years, expect performances by “unannounced guests.” Doors at 6:00 p.m., concert begins at 8:00 p.m. From $65.45.
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The post 10 Jewish things to do on Christmas in New York appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Phyllis Pollock died at home Sunday September 3, 2023 in Winnipeg, after a courageous lifetime battle with cancer.
Phyllis was a mother of four: Gary (Laura), daughter Randi, Steven (deceased in 2010) (Karen), and Robert. Phyllis also had two grandchildren: Lauren and Quinn.
Born in Fort Frances, Ontario on February 7, 1939, Phyllis was an only child to Ruby and Alex Lerman. After graduating high school, Phyllis moved to Winnipeg where she married and later divorced Danny Pollock, the father of her children. She moved to Beverly Hills in 1971, where she raised her children.
Phyllis had a busy social life and lucrative real estate career that spanned over 50 years, including new home sales with CoastCo. Phyllis was the original sales agent for three buildings in Santa Monica, oceanfront: Sea Colony I, Sea Colony II, and Sea Colony. She was known as the Sea Colony Queen. She worked side by side with her daughter Randi for about 25 years – handling over 600 transactions, including sales and leases within the three phases of Sea Colony alone.
Phyllis had more energy than most people half her age. She loved entertaining, working in the real estate field, meeting new and interesting people everyday no matter where she went, and thrived on making new lifelong friends. Phyllis eventually moved to the Sea Colony in Santa Monica where she lived for many years before moving to Palm Desert, then Winnipeg.
After battling breast cancer four times in approximately 20 years, she developed metastatic Stage 4 lung cancer. Her long-time domestic partner of 27 years, Joseph Wilder, K.C., was the love of her life. They were never far apart. They traveled the world and went on many adventures during their relationship. During her treatment, Phyllis would say how much she missed work and seeing her clients. Joey demonstrated amazing strength, love, care, and compassion for Phyllis as her condition progressed. He was her rock and was by her side 24/7, making sure she had the best possible care. Joey’s son David was always there to support Phyllis and to make her smile. Joey’s other children, Sheri, Kenny, Joshua and wife Davina, were also a part of her life. His kids would Facetime Phyllis and include her during any of their important functions. Phyllis loved Joey’s children as if they were her own.
Thank you to all of her friends and family who were there to support her during these difficult times. Phyllis is now, finally, pain free and in a better place. She was loved dearly and will be greatly missed. Interment took place in Los Angeles.
By BERNIE BELLAN Over 100 individuals gathered at the Gwen Secter Centre on Tuesday evening, July 18 – under the big top that serves as the venue for the summer series of outdoor concerts that is now in its third year at the centre.
The occasion was the celebration of the Gwen Secter Centre’s 35th anniversary. It was also an opportunity to honour the memory of Sophie Shinewald, who passed away at the age of 106 in 2019, but who, as recently as 2018, was still a regular attendee at the Gwen Secter Centre.
As Gwen Secter Executive Director Becky Chisick noted in her remarks to the audience, Sophie had been volunteering at the Gwen Secter Centre for years – answering the phone among other duties. Becky remarked that Sophie’s son, Ed Shinewald, had the phone number for the Gwen Secter Centre stored in his phone as “Mum’s work.”
Remarks were also delivered by Raquel Dancho, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, who was the only representative of any level of government in attendance. (How times have changed: I remember well the steadfast support the former Member of the Legislature for St. John’s, Gord Mackintosh, showed the Gwen Secter Centre when it was perilously close to being closed down. And, of course, for years, the area in which the Gwen Secter Centre is situated was represented by the late Saul Cherniack.)
Sophie Shinewald’s granddaughter, Alix (who flew in from Chicago), represented the Shinewald family at the event. (Her brother, Benjamin, who lives in Ottawa, wasn’t able to attend, but he sent a pre-recorded audio message that was played for the audience.)
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by a group of talented singers, led by Julia Kroft. Following the concert, attendees headed inside to partake of a sumptuous assortment of pastries, all prepared by the Gwen Secter culinary staff. (And, despite my asking whether I could take a doggy bag home, I was turned down.)
This is a developing story.
(JTA) — Palestinian gunmen killed four people and wounded four in a terror attack at a gas station near the West Bank settlement of Eli, the Israeli army reported.
An Israeli civilian returning fire at the scene of the attack on Tuesday killed one of the attackers, who emerged from a vehicle, and two others fled.
Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, said one of those wounded was in serious condition. The gunmen, while in the vehicle, shot at a guard post at the entry to the settlement, and then continued to the gas station which is also the site of a snack bar. A nearby yeshiva went into lockdown.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced plans to convene a briefing with top security officials within hours of the attack. Kan reported that there were celebrations of the killing in major West Bank cities and in the Gaza Strip, initiated by terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamas said the shooting attack Tuesday was triggered by the Jenin raid.
The shooting comes as tensions intensify in the West Bank. A day earlier, Israeli troops raiding the city of Jenin to arrest accused terrorists killed five people.
The Biden administration spoke out over the weekend against Israel’s plans to build 4,000 new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also finalized plans to transfer West Bank building decisions to Bezalel Smotrich, the extremist who is the finance minister. Smotrich has said he wants to limit Palestinian building and expand settlement building.
Kan reported that the dead terrorist was a resident of a village, Urif, close to Huwara, the Palestinian town where terrorists killed two Israeli brothers driving through in February. Settlers retaliated by raiding the village and burning cars and buildings.
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The post Palestinian gunmen kill 4 Israelis in West Bank gas station appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
