Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

Could President Donald Trump be charged under his own executive order?

I had to ask myself that after he signed an executive order to crack down on anti-Semitism on college campuses, only a few days after insulting his audience in a recent speech to a national Jewish organization in Florida.

What else can you say about a guy who pats you on the head with one hand and slaps you in the face with the other?

A lot of you are in the real estate business, because I know you very well, Trump told attendees at the Israeli American Councils 2019 national summit in Hollywood, Fla., according to a transcript posted on the White House website. Youre brutal killers. Not nice people at all, but you have to vote for me, you have no choice.

Youre not going to vote for the wealth tax, he also said. Yeah, lets take 100 percent of your wealth away. No, no. Even if you dont like me; some of you dont. Some of you I dont like at all, actually. (Laughter.) And youre going to be my biggest supporters because youll be out of business in about 15 minutes, if they get it.

It should come as no surprise that some other Jewish groups condemned the presidents remarks with such uncomplimentary terms as deeply offensive and vile.

Jewish Democratic Council of America Executive Director Halie Soifer said in a statement Dec. 8 that Trump used anti-Semitic stereotypes to characterize Jews as driven by money and insufficiently loyal to Israel. Jewish advocacy group J Street tweeted that the president is incapable of addressing Jewish audiences without dipping into the deep well of anti-Semitic tropes that shape his worldview.

Well, this is just Trump being Trump, say Trump apologists, and that much is spot-on accurate. Most of his speech talked about his gestures of strong support for Israel, including his decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem.

And what could be more Trumpian than to sign an executive order Dec. 11 targeting what his administration describes as a growing problem with anti-Semitic harassment on college campuses.

Thats a worthy and unfortunately necessary goal. Over the last decade, anti-Semitic incidents have grown annually and dramatically to 1,986 incidents in 2017 from 751 in 2013, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which welcomed Trumps executive order.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the league, praised Trumps new order for giving police and campus officials a new tool in fighting anti-Semitism.

Members of both parties have proposed similar actions in Congress. But Trumps executive order also poses hazards for those who care about preserving something that is necessary yet regrettably embattled these days: free speech.

For example, the order comes as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Israeli government has been rising up on some campuses. The movement began as a protest against the Israeli governments treatment of Palestinians. But over time that legitimate political issue has become intermixed in too many minds to mean opposition to the Jewish state itself.

A more technical but still intriguing sticking point raised by the presidents order is its use of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to withhold federal money from schools that fail to act against discrimination against Jews.

Can Jews, besides being a religion or an ethnic group, be considered a race and therefore a protected class under Title VI? Experts speak eloquently on both sides of that issue, so I dont expect that question to go away soon.

But our president, as he has shown many times, isnt into nuance. If you want to accept the tremendous amount of federal dollars that you get every year, you must reject anti-Semitism, he said. Its very simple.

No, nothing about race, ethnicity and fighting discrimination is simple. Meanwhile the plague of anti-Semitism appears still to be rising, with campuses hardly topping the list of terror threats.

The day before Trumps signing ceremony, two shooters, including one said to have published anti-Semitic posts and to have been a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, which is hostile to Jews, killed four people in a rampage in Jersey City, N.J., that appears to have targeted a kosher market before the shooters also were killed.

The Department of Homeland Security recently shifted its strategy to focus on domestic racial terrorism, including white terrorists. Thats a welcome move. So would leadership, not just provocation, from the White House.

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Trump fights anti-Semitism one day, fuels it the next - Bowling Green Daily News

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

Everywhere I go these days the store, the bus, synagogue, and certainly when I give speeches people ask me what I think about the political stalemate and chaos that Israel is experiencing. I am so startled by what has happened that it has taken me a few days to comprehend the reality that we are heading to a third election in one year.Who do I blame?I see the leaders of both Blue and White and Likud as responsible for the failure to form a government. I understand that Blue and White declared that they would never sit in a government with an indicted prime minister, and that doing so would not only mean reneging on a campaign promise but also swallowing a value that I very much respect.But there is a concept in Judaism called eit laasot lHashem heifeiru Toratecha there is a time to act for God and to break the Torah times that require going against the dictates of the Torah in order to do an act for God and save the Jewish people and the transmission of its Torah.Sources from within the negotiations have told me that the Likud offered a deal whereby Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would serve as prime minister until the beginning of May, and would then step aside to deal with his trial. Blue and White head Benny Gantz would become prime minister, and the No. 1 goal moving aside Netanyahu and showing that someone else can serve in that office will have been accomplished. In addition, Gabi Ashkenazi could have been defense minister and Yair Lapid could have been foreign affairs minister.I can think of no greater eit laasot for Blue and White to break the Torah than to create a unity government with Likud, with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for six months. Lets remember: now that we are heading to a third election, Netanyahu remains prime minister for close to that amount of time anyway.I know there are many in Blue and White who said that they do not trust Netanyahu, and do not believe that he would leave office in May. But there are statutes that could have been passed to enshrine into law that he would have to do so. So Blue and White is to blame.The blame equally falls to the Likud and Netanyahu. I completely understand their argument that the right-wing/religious bloc of 55 seats voted on the assumption that their representatives would support Netanyahu for prime minister, and that they did not want to abandon those supporters.I also understand Netanyahus desire to have an additional 32 mandates in his coalition beyond Likud to provide him with support. But the Blue and White demand that it first enters a unity government with just Likud and then explore bringing other parties into the coalition was more than just reasonable. It was based on the logic that a majority of the country wants to see governing from the political center, and the 67 mandates of Likud and Blue and White would provide just that. The majority in the center would be setting the agenda for the country and not any of the extremes as it should be. Asking Blue and White to swallow Netanyahu as prime minister while under indictment and the entire right-wing/bloc joining along with the Likud was unfair. So Likud is to blame. AND WHILE I also blame Avigdor Liberman and Amir Peretz for not bringing their parties into a Likud-led government, I do not believe that a narrow government led by a prime minister under indictment would have been the best thing for our country. But since they could have prevented torturing the country with a third election within 11 months, they are also accountable for the ridiculous situation that has been forced on the people of Israel. What bothers me the most, though, is that this 22nd Knesset did not take any action to make sure that we dont find ourselves in the exact same situation on March 3 as all polls indicate will happen. Somehow they found the ability to legislate that each party will receive NIS 700,000 more than they did for the September election, and that each faction will receive a whopping NIS 430,000 per Knesset member for campaigning a 30% increase that is a disgrace in and of itself.But that they passed a law for increased funding while not passing legislation to prevent the current stalemate from repeating itself is simply incomprehensible. Israels founding leaders never could have imagined the political chaos that we are experiencing, so there is no law governing this situation other than continuing to go to another election. The 22nd Knesset owed it to the people of Israel to pass a constitutional law that mandates a change if after three elections no one is able to form a government.There are numerous ideas regarding what that law would say to FORCE the two largest parties to work together. For instance: if they cannot work together, then none of the existing MKs in those parties can run for reelection. That alone would force them to create a unity government.The law could go even further and declare that if they cannot form a government, then Knesset members and ministers will not be paid during the subsequent election campaign. (Did you know that MKs are getting a raise this January 1, and the monthly salary will now rise above NIS 45,000?) That for sure would force them to find a solution.But they didnt.They voted for the dispersal of the Knesset while making sure they have more money to use in the election, but did not even try to pass legislation to prevent a fourth election. And for that all 120 MKs are to blame!I love the Knesset. When I bring groups there I tell them that the very existence of a parliament of the Jewish state in which legislators debate and decide what is best for the Jewish people is a fulfillment of 2,000 years of prayers in exile that we not be bound to the decisions of foreign kings and czars. But now the vacuum of leadership and lack of action by our leaders has caused a real crisis of confidence of the Knesset as an institution. And that is such a shame.Now we are all forced to go to the polls to vote for the same candidates and the same slates, with the parties having more of the publics money stuffed into their pockets that will undoubtedly ensure we arrive at the same stalemate again.For the sake of the Knesset as an institution, and for the benefit of the wonderful citizens who make up this country, I sure hope I am wrong.The writer served as a member of the 19th Knesset.

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A former MK reflects on the political state of affairs - The Jerusalem Post

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

Over the past few years, Disney has made it a point to center their stories around ethnically diverse characters and cultures. And last week, Walt Disney Studios finally introduced their first Sephardic Jewish princess, Rebekah. And just in time for Hanukkah.

In September, Disney announced that Princess Rebekah (voiced by Sephardic-Jewish actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler) would make her debut on the Disney Junior show Elena of Avalor where she would teach Elena and her kingdom about Jewish traditions and the story of Chanukah.

In the December 6th episode titled Festival of Lights, Rebekah becomes stranded on the coast of Avalor while returning to her home of Galonia, a Latino-Jewish kingdom to celebrate Chanukah with her grandmother Miriam.

Stressed that she wont be able to give her family a good Chanukah celebration, Elena and her family take Rebekah in and make sure Chanukah runs as smoothly as possible. They help Rebekah make a new menorah to light the candles, learn how to cook traditional Chanukah food, and Miriam gives a G-rated history lesson on the holiday.

Elena and her family are receptive when it comes to learning about Chanukah and they never feel the need to force their Christian beliefs on Rebekah and her family. Its understood that different cultures and traditions can exist without feeling the need to talk about your own. The importance of Chanukah and what it means to Rebekah and her family takes precedence.

One of the best things about the episode and Rebekahs debut is that she doesnt look like a stereotypical American Jewish character. Her dark hair and olive skin pay tribute to Sephardic Jewish culture, an ethnic subset of Judaism with roots in Spain and Portugal (although Sephardic Jews now live in countries around the world like Israel, France, Argentina, Morrocco, and the U.S.).

Ashkenazi Jewish culture, which originated in Eastern Europe, is often what is portrayed in Ameican media; think The Nanny, Seinfeld, and The Goldbergs. Unfortunately, Sephardic Jews seem to be erased from the mainstream Jewish narrative.

Theres a common misconception that all Latinx people and Latinx Americans are either Catholic or Christian. Thats why show creator and executive producer Craig Gerber wanted to make a point to show kids and their families just how diverse the Latinx culture is and that Latinx Jews exist. In an interview with Remezcla, he said,

It has always been important to us onElena of Avalor to showcase the diversity of Latin and Hispanic cultures. We decided to focus on Chanukah and a part of the culture that we hadnt yet represented on the show.

But the episode wasnt perfect.

Many Sephardic Jewish viewers who tuned in for the episode were upset (and rightfully so) that Rebekah was using Yiddish words like bubbe and nosh, especially since Yiddish is a language that originated with Ashkenazi Jews. Instead, they should have had her using Ladino words like avuela.

Its disappointing that Disney couldnt do a better job of representing Sephardic Jewish culture but the show creators defense was even worse. Gerber took to Twitter to write,

When we know were only getting one shot at representation in a fairytale world, weve always opted for greater inclusion, which sometimes means blending traditions here and there. Its the same for the series in general.

While its admirable to try to go for greater inclusion, lumping cultures together is certainly not the answer, especially when Sephardic Jews get such little representation to begin with.

Despite all the problematic aspects of the episode, Rebekahs presence does mark an important first step for Disney, especially at such a crucial time for American Jews.

Its no secret that antisemitism is once again on the rise in the United States. According to the ADL, between 2018 to 2019, there were 6,768 incidents of antisemitism in the US with over 3,700 of those incidences occurring in 2019. And with Trump continuing to empower white supremacists and Nazis, those numbers will only continue to increase.

It has been proven time and time again just how important representation is. It allows people to be seen, but it also educates the public about cultures and identities that they may not be exposed to. There are still plenty of people in the country who have never met a Jewish person, so this may be their first glimpse into Judaism.

Rebekah is more than just a childrens cartoon character, she represents millions of kids around the world who are just like her. They get to see their culture take a front seat, and be celebrated. And they finally get to know what it feels like to look at a television screen and have a Disney princess to look up to.

Heres hoping that we get to see more of Rebekah. And next time, maybe theyll get it right.

Mulan May Finally Offer Some Authenticity Among Live-Action Reboot Fatigue

Alysia Stevenson is a twenty-seven New York City transplant currently living in Florida with her boyfriend and three furbabies. When shes not writing, you can find her watching beauty tutorials on Youtube or Parks and Rec for the millionth time.

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Disney Finally Gave Us a Jewish Princess But They Got A Few Too Many Things Wrong - Femestella

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

Food and food traditions have always played a significant role in many Jewish holidays and celebrations, and the eight days of Hanukkah are no exception. This year, Hanukkah begins at sunset on Sunday, December 22, and ends Monday, December 30. Atlanta-based Jewish educator and food and culture writer Robbie Medwed delves into the origin behind the fried foods served during Hanukkah, which includes where to find the delicious, deep-fried jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot in Atlanta.

The eight days of Hanukkah commemorate the victory of the Maccabees, a small group of Jewish rebels who fought (and won) against the Greek rulers in 164 B.C.E. after they conquered the land of Israel, outlawed all Jewish practices, and desecrated the holy Temple in Jerusalem.

What Hanukkah celebrates, at its core, is the victory of the few over the many, rabbi Ari Kaiman of Atlantas Congregation Shearith Israel in Morningside explains. The Jews beat the Greeks and restored the Temple, and when they did, they found just enough oil to light the menorah for one day, but it lasted for eight.

Jews light their own menorahs known in Hebrew as a Hanukkiyah or Hanukkah menorah each night of the holiday in remembrance of the light lasting for eight days. In honor of the miracle, Kaiman adds, we eat foods cooked in oil.

Most Americans are familiar with the latke (or potato pancake,) which was brought here by the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. Made with grated potato, onions, and spices and then fried in oil, the latke has since crossed over into the mainstream and can be found in kosher and non-kosher restaurants throughout the country. But theres also one other familiar fried treat featured on the table during Hanukkah: doughnuts.

In the early 1920s, when immigration to the land of Israel was reaching its peak, immigrant Jews wanted to find a new food with which to honor Hanukkah. Enter the sufganiyah, the jelly-filled doughnut. Sufganiyah (sufganiyot; plural) takes inspiration from North African Jews who were making sfinge a fried dough dipped in orange honey syrup and savory-filled doughnuts made by Eastern European Jews. As a nod to their former oppressors, this new doughnut was named sufganiyah, which traces its roots back to the Greek word sufgan meaning fried or spongy.

During Hanukkah, as well as in the weeks leading up to the holiday, sufganiyot can be found in coffee shops and bakeries throughout Israel. Each year sees some intricately decorated doughnuts and new fillings ranging from dulce de leche and Nutella to chocolate and tropical fruit.

Over the past decade, sufganiyot have gained in popularity in the United States and can now be found regularly in bakeries and shops during Hanukkah. However, finding certified kosher sufganiyot in Atlanta can be tricky as there are only a few kosher restaurants and bakeries around town. Contrary to popular belief, kosher food isnt blessed by a rabbi. For food to be certified kosher, it has to be supervised by a qualified mashgiach or kashrut (kosher) supervisor during every step of its preparation.

What the certified kosher symbol means, at its base, is that the food item was supervised in its preparation, explains Meredith Schwartz, a former kosher personal chef in Atlanta. A trustworthy, knowledgeable person watched to make sure that every rule was followed while food was being prepared, whether it was in a restaurant or in a production facility, she continues. Theyre the person who guarantees there were no shortcuts taken along the way, that there was no mixing of meat and dairy, and certainly no pork or shellfish. Its not whether someone blessed it or that its inherently healthier, its just supervised from start to finish.

While sufganiyot are found at non-kosher establishments like Alons Bakery, Goldbergs Fine Foods, and The General Muir, try one of these five spots for some of Atlantas best kosher-certified sufganiyot.

Tip Top Kosher Market2211 Savoy Drive, Atlanta Located in a nondescript strip mall beside I-285 on the edge of Chamblee, Tip Top Kosher Market looks more like a convenience store than a grocery and restaurant. The market offers a huge selection of Israeli products and fresh pastries. Tip Tops traditional sufganiyot are flown in straight from Israel and should be ordered a day or two in advance. While picking up that sufganiyot order, grab a few other items like Israeli beer and snack foods as well as salads and some of Tip Tops incredible dairy products.

Sublime Doughnuts Briarcliff2566 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta Sublimes Toco Hills location is the only certified kosher outpost of the doughnut shop. Offerings here are decidedly untraditional, but thats part of what makes these doughnuts so popular. Try the butter toffee, the dulce de leche, or the salt and vinegar varieties to bring a little pizazz to a Hanukkah party. Pro tip: call at least 24 hours in advance and order enough alphabet-shaped doughnuts to spell out the more than ten different ways to translate the holidays name to English.

Kosher Gourmet2153 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta Kosher Gourmet is one of Atlantas longest running kosher butchers known for preparing its kosher-certified meats to order. Find fresh and frozen cuts of beef, lamb, chicken, and more here, in addition to kosher wine and kosher staple ingredients. The shop also features a deli counter with freshly made, piled-high sandwiches and traditional sufganiyot during Hanukkah. Make sure to call ahead to order doughnuts for Hanukkah here.

The Spicy Peach2887 North Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta When Atlantas kosher cooks need hard-to-find, kosher ingredients, they often head to the Spicy Peach in the Toco Hill shopping center. Sufganiyot here should always be ordered in advance. The recently expanded kosher market includes high-end ingredients like kosher duck prosciutto, Spanish chorizo, and a wide variety of Asian products as well as sandwiches and a new soup and salad bar. Dont skip the gummy candies, and be sure to try the Israeli sweet and sour Doritos.

Krispy Kreme295 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta (also Riverdale, Woodstock, Buford, Cobb Pkwy)Atlantas Ponce location on the edge of Midtown is the only in-town, kosher-certified Krispy Kreme for the North Carolina-based doughnut brand. The Riverdale, Woodstock, Buford, and Cobb Parkway shop in Marietta are also certified kosher locations. These Krispy Kremes regularly feature the traditional, jelly-filled sufganiyot called glazed raspberry filled for purchase. For large orders, make sure to order in advance.

Robbie Medwed is an Atlanta-based educator and food and culture writer who teaches Jewish Bible, law, and history at the Epstein School in Sandy Springs. Medwed has a masters degree in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, where he lived for two years. His food writing has appeared in the Atlanta Jewish Times, the Jewish Food Experience, Grok Nation, and Eater Atlanta. He also runs cocktail website, KosherCocktail.com.

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Where to Find Hanukkah Sufganiyot or Jelly Doughnuts in Atlanta - Eater Atlanta

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

In the end, the names say something: Mendelblit, Hershkowitz, Kremnitzer, Nitzan, Lemberger and Zilber vs. Ohana, Bitan and Amsalem. A kind of coincidence. But all the denials wont help.

This isnt an exaggerated interpretation. The names speak like a thousand witnesses. A bystander sees Ashkenazim blocking Mizrahim all wrapped in purely legal, democratic and professional arguments and he concludes what we cannot avoid concluding: Alongside all the other struggles, there is a bitter, bloody and devastating ethnic struggle here that refuses to die, that is far from being resolved.

The opposition to the appointment of Orly Ginsberg Ben-Ari to the position of acting state prosecutor has reached the dimensions of public hysteria. The not entirely unreasonable appointment of a not entirely unadmired attorney by a minister who isnt entirely incompetent has turned into a target of wild, violent attacks. A coup, a knife in the back, throwing a grenade inside the tank and black flag are just some of the insane denunciations of an appointment that could have been expected to cause some controversy among professionals, but not become a casus belli.

The ferocity of the opposition is indicative of distress and of the ground burning beneath the feet of the opponents. Such verbal violence proves exactly what the detractors of the prosecution and the legal system want to prove that theres a clique, a closed club, that strangers are forbidden to enter. That we are all from the same village, and woe to those from another village who try to join.

Justice Minister Amir Ohana comes from a different village. He has been targeted by insults that ministers far worse, more corrupt, and more dangerous than he have ever received: Floor rag, the slave is king, a criminal spectacle, a ruthless thug, and all of it smells of racism.

Another justice minister at a different time would have been forgiven Ben-Aris appointment; he might even have been praised for thinking out of the box, for being unpredictable, for being a gay minister who chose a woman for a senior position.

But now suddenly Avichai Mendelblit, Shai Nitzan and Daniel Hershkowitz are the fearless gatekeepers of democracy, a rare, Israeli-style combination of Andrei Sakharov, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rene Cassin, the Just-Not-Netanyahu camps heroes of the hour.

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Nitzan, who arrogantly permitted so many war crimes without blinking, is now the hero of the left. Can you believe this? Thats how it is when everything is infected with malignant Bibi-phobia; even a reasonable appointment of an attorney from within the prosecution is the end of the world.

Ben-Ari is actually quite representative of the prosecution, both in terms of professional ability and the blind automatic protection of the defense establishment in which she so excelled. No legal giant ever stood up to her.

The ethnic aspect will of course be hidden and repressed. Its not politically correct in either camp to talk about it. But there is still an ethnic struggle here. The whitewashed code name is the new elites vs. the old elites.

The fact that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Ashkenazi from Rehavia, is, like Menachem Begin, the hero of these new elites is no contradiction; everything possible has already been said about his talent for portraying himself as a victim of the old elites.

Ohana is the new elite. There has never been a justice minister named Ohana. This was always a job reserved for our kind from Pinhas Rosen, Dov Yosef, Yaakov Shimshon Shapira, Haim Zadok and Haim Cohen, through Dan Meridor, Yossi Beilin, Yosef Lapid, Yaakov Neeman, Haim Ramon, Daniel Friedmann and Tzipi Livni. Of the countrys 21 justice ministers, only four had any Mizrahi origins and only two were identified as Mizrahim. But whos counting?

Heres whos counting: Those who feel excluded and discriminated against. Those who hear Mendelblit and Hershkowitz coming out against Ohana.

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Attack on state prosecutor appointment exposes the real fear of Israel's 'old elite' - Haaretz

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

DECEMBER 15, 2019

RACISTS AND COMICS share a lot of material: stereotypes, misapprehensions, and a sense of grievance at the status quo. As Dave Chappelle pointed out explicitly in a recent Netflix special, and as many current comedians can tell you to their cost, theres a thin line between laughing at a specific person and bitterly mocking an entire people. And sometimes, depending on the audience and the topic, that line can move as you approach it.

In this context, it was a strange experience to read the new book byDave Barry, Adam Mansbach, and Alan Zweibel, A Field Guide to the Jewish People. Just a few years ago, I would have seen the book as a piece of harmless fun, with my only real complaint being that the jokes about fulfilling the publishers mandated word count rang a little too true. But today, a year after the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, and with an administration in Washington that often traffics in the most arrant antisemitism, a book that pokes fun at the Jews and their self-described oddities prompts me to recall a familiar phrase: Is this good for the Jews? As an editor of Jewish media, I am constantly haunted by this refrain. And, in this case, its not a trivial question.Power is important. Situation is important.

In 2008, when Mansbach published his well-regarded novel The End of the Jews (a couple of years before he wrote the killer lampoon of kids books, Go the F**k to Sleep), you would have been shunned as a nihilistic dystopian had you suggested that, by 2019, Jews or Latinos might be under threat from the American government.When Barry, the atheist son and grandson of Presbyterian ministers, won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1988, he might have been surprised to learn that, 30 years later, he would have a Jewish wife and a bat-mitzvahed daughter, and would have been the sandek or baby-holder, for the bris [circumcision] of [his] grandson Dylan.And when Zweibel was writing for the original Saturday Night Live, he would have presumably been bemused by the idea that, in his 70th year, he would be writing books of rabbi jokes with a priests son.

But thats where we are. Depending on whom the we refers to.

In Field Guide, Barry, Mansbach, and Zweibel follow the success of their amusing Passover book For This We Left Egypt? (2017) with a new funny-Jew title. As a comparison of the subtitles suggests, Who they are, where they come from, what to feed them, what they have against foreskins, how come they carry each other around on chairs, why they fled Egypt by running straight to a large body of water and much more. Maybe too much more, has abroader aim than A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them. Not just the quirks of Passover, but the peculiarities of an entire people, history, and culture, are now up for commentary. The new title, you will notice, also moves, rhetorically, from We to They.

For engaged Jews like myself who are well versed in the facts of normative American Judaism, Field Guide is a funny book, based on surprisingly solid research. It only slightly annoys by its deployment of false assumptions to get to jokes. But reading the title and the introduction We hope you like it. More important, we hope you paid for it made me uneasy. This jokey guide to Jews raises important questions: Who are the authors? What is the tone? Who is the intended audience?

Theres an inbuilt idea to any Field Guide defined by Merriam-Webster as an illustrated manual for identifying natural objects, flora, or fauna in nature that the subject is part of natural history. Yes, the title is obviously a joke about how to identify free-roaming Jews as seen in nature, but again it raises a question of the intended audience. Who cares enough about the Jews to read a whole joke book surveying their history and culture (well, that of mostly Ashkenazi American Jews)? Either you care enough because you are already an engaged Jew, or you care enough to learn more about them (and there is lots to learn from Field Guide) and would rather learn through humor, leavened with some comic untruth, than sift through an accurate but dry history.

Youd have to bet that there are more of the former prospective readers than the latter. According to a 2013 Pew survey, a full 70 percent of the United Statess Jews attend Seders, while only 23 percent attend synagogue regularly. Once you include the number of non-Jews who also attend Seders, in order to bulk up the initial figure, and then take regular synagogue attendance as a rough proxy for being Jewishly literate enough to be interested in Field Guide, the change in audience between the Haggadah and its sequel becomes drastic. Its much smaller, more engaged (hence, perhaps, all the research), and, like the authors, older and maler.

The books opening contains a lot of goofing off across a number of small set pieces: dedications, foreword, introduction, prologue. These are designed to help the three authors establish a rapport and a public relationship: Mansbach and Barry display mutual appreciation across the generations and a fondness for Zweibel as an incompetent doofus who doesnt fit in or pull his weight, and who moreover has an absurd appearance Alan is very sensitive about the size of his head, which is enormous, like a UPS truck with ears. The less said about it the better, is my feeling. And by it, I mean Alans gigantic head.

But all this stop-starting, in-joking, adducing of invented rabbis, and use of hoary old stereotypes doesnt establish an effective tone.A better option might have been to move to the front a question-and-answer session included at the end of the book, which does a better job of back-and-forth repartee. This would certainly have been preferable tostarting off with three full pages of Common Biblical Names, along with their putative translated Meaning[s] e.g., Queenie: Looks kind of like that girl in that movie; Quentin: Has a podcast; Quinn: Fraught; Richard: Self-cleaning oven.

So, given that the book is not pegged to a specific occasion like Passover and, despite its title, features plenty of knowing winks to a Jewish audience, what do we do when we encounter a rupture of this insider shtick? Near the beginning, just before the list of names, there is a section called What Are the Different Types of Jews? Illustrated by three kinds of Jewish men (Jews in this book are, by default, men), it distinguishes among Jews based on a joke about how they would treat this conundrum: So, let us say that it is Saturday, and lying on a sidewalk in front of a synagogue is a delicious broiled pork chop. [] Here is how, according to the tenets of their respective denominations, each type would behave.

In this list, the authors, startlingly, include Messianic Jews as if they were just any other denomination. Yes, there are strands of Messianism in the ultra-Orthodox Chabad sect, but would pick up the pork chop with a pair of tongs [] [to] mail [] to a Gentile friend on Monday morning is neither worth the gag nor the ensuing discussion of those Lubavitchers who believe the Rebbe was the Messiah. Its not clear why this joke was included when there is barely a single Jew in any of the other denominations listed who would accept as Jewish anyone who believes in the divinity of Jesus. But I guess that the Field Guide would not be an authentic American Jewish artifact if it didnt provide sufficient opportunities to kvetch.

In short, a perfect Hanukkah gift.

Dan Friedman is the director of content and communications at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Heis also a contributing editor to8by8Mag.comand theauthor of an ebook about 1980s rock group Tears for Fears.

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Dave Barry and the Jews - lareviewofbooks

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

Rabbi Aaron Weininger is the first openly gay person to be accepted into rabbinical school in the Conservative denomination of Judaism. Photo by Lee Prohofsky

Rabbi Aaron Weininger of Adath Jeshurun Congregation shares how he made his way from summer camp days to being the first openly gay person to be admitted to rabbinical school in the Conservative denomination of Judaism.

Through Rabbi Aaron Weiningers darkest days, one thing has al- ways remained constant: his community. When Weininger was in sixth grade, his sister was undergoing chemotherapy at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan. While his parents stayed with her in the hospital, Weininger says he never had to worry whether or not hed be getting dinner each night.

That winter, hot meals arrived daily at our home. Amidst crisis, our community sustained us. With my sister back home and recovering, it was the same community that danced at my Bar Mitzvah one year later, he explains.

At a young age, the strength of Weiningers Jewish community was very apparent to him. He grew up in an active synagogue community in New York, attended Jewish day school and summer camp, and was in USY (United Synagogue Youth) summer programs.

All of these pointed to the power of connecting the spark of each person to something greater in the face of joy and crisis. Each person has a spark. As a rabbi, I believe in creating space for that spark to connect with othersto find challenge, comfort, and grow in relationship, Weininger says.

Rabbi Aaron Weininger, seen here to the left of Hazzan Joanna Dulkin and Rabbi Harold Kravitz, is an associate rabbi at the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka. Photo by Lee Prohofsky

From his summer school days to now, when Weininger serves as an associate rabbi at Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, community has always been of utmost importance to him. But not just his Jewish community. As the first openly gay person to be accepted into rabbinical school in the Conservative denomination of Judaism, the GLBT community is an important home to Weininger, too.

I always felt Gods love, but felt my Jewish community denying it. So there was no conflict or need to reconcile between my faith and my sexuality. Just faith in my community to really see me, and the rest of the LGBTQ community, and to embrace us, Weininger says.

During his senior year of college in 2006, two weeks before the Conservative movements historic decision to change its policy on gay ordination, Weininger says his childhood synagogue hosted its annual Thanksgiving homecoming Shabbat.

It was a beloved tradition to invite all former synagogue youth group leaders to speak about Jewish life on campus. I learned that coming out as gay shut down my invitation to speak. At my Bar Mitzvah, I wasnt ready to accept myself. But at 21, my synagogue wasnt ready to accept me, Weininger recalls. The hurt deepened later as I came to mentor kids in different settings in rabbinical school who did not feel safe coming out, who feared getting kicked out of their homes, who felt they were crushing their parents dreams, who left Judaism, and worse. I felt fortunate. My parents and siblings were behind me. I began to appreciate how many people came before me, and made it possible, who put themselves out there for me to be a rabbi.

Now a rabbi himself, Weininger focuses on engaging the community of his synagogue in the GLBT community at a young age. Starting with the books they read to our preschool kidsreflecting the many ways to celebrate family, the messages conveyed from the pulpit, and the conversations that happen face-to-face with teens and adults.

Adath is proud to support J-Pride, a local effort through Jewish Family and Childrens Service of Minneapolis, participate in annual Pride festivities, and work closely with Keshet (a national Jewish organization).The Keshet Leadership Project, which Adath just completed, was a year-long multi-phased program that gathers, trains, provides resources for, and supports Jewish institutions to become more inclusive of LGBTQ individuals and families, he says.

Another way Weininger focuses on the needs of the GLBT community is by always using warm and welcoming language. Adath uses wording like We are straight, LGBTQ, Ashkenazi, Sepharadi, people of color, all ages, physical abilities and family structures instead of we welcome you in its membership materials. Additionally, Adath strives to eliminate limiting gendered language. Instead of asking Bnai Mitzvah families to circle male or female on their forms, Weininger says they leave a blank space after the words gender identity to welcome any response and keep pace with each family.

Since becoming the first openly gay person to be admitted into rabbinical school in the Conservative denomination of Judaism, Weininger has merged his faith and GLBT identity in the welcoming environment of Adath. He says visibility has been an important part of this.

Making each person feel a vital part of the community is much more powerful than sending the message that we welcome youas if the you is detached. I certainly know as the grandson of a Holocaust sur- vivor the power of being visible, whether wearing my tallit, lighting the Hanukkah candles, or many other Jewish rituals that proudly and publicly proclaim to the world that we will never be ashamed of who we are, Weininger says. Each one of us must be prepared to live and draw from our lived experience to help others access theirs.

For more information about Rabbi Aaron Weininger, visit adathjeshurun.org.

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From Summer Camp To The Synagogue - Lavender Magazine

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

But no change has been as threatening as cremation. In 1980, less than 10 percent of dead bodies in the United States were cremated. Last year that number reached 53 percent, and by 2035, the N.F.D.A. expects it to climb to 80 percent. The largest corporate funeral business, Service Corporation International, boasts about its strategy to presell cemetery spaces to people in their late 50s and early 60s, when, given the trends, the likelihood is that many of those same people will opt for cremation or other greener options by the time they die.

People prefer cremation for many reasons, including that funerals with cremation are about 40 percent less expensive than conventional ones, which typically cost just over $9,000, in addition to grave and cemetery fees. Cremation is also somewhat environmentally kinder, though it releases greenhouse gases into the air.

For family funeral-home owners, most of whom are not getting rich, cremation cuts deeply into revenues. Theyve tried to compensate, in part, by selling personalization: legacy videos, memorial fingerprints of the dead stamped in stone, in stationery, in jewelry. Urns in the shape of hearts, angels and butterflies, as well as teddy bears, mallard ducks and cowboy boots, carved images on caskets, MemorySafe Drawers that tuck into caskets to hold letters, photos and other mementos for the dead.

The industry is more conservative, though, when it comes to families taking personal control of their dead. Most funeral homes are well intentioned, and they dont want to change because they sincerely believe they know better than we do about how to grieve, says Tanya Marsh, the law professor. In part, funeral homes and the public are hindered by laws from 100 years ago, when embalming and full-service funerals were central. That means that in most states, a young funeral director who doesnt want to include embalming in her business still has to go through training and do an apprenticeship. Many states also require all funeral homes to install expensive embalming facilities.

For consumers, some of the legal constraints can seem exasperating. Family members can drive their dead mother to her burial plot in California, but they cant in New York and Connecticut. By law, a funeral professional has to do it. Also, in some states, only funeral directors can file a death certificate (which typically has to be done within 72 hours of death). In Nebraska and in New York, which Marsh says has the most extensive funeral and cemetery regulations in the country, funeral staff also must be present for a burial. And if a body has to cross state lines from Alabama to Mississippi for burial, it must be embalmed first. As Josh Slocum, head of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a watchdog and educational group, and an author, with Lisa Carlson, of the book Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death, says, The funeral-industry lobbyists have a stronghold on legislation.

The industry also has taken on competitors, no matter how small. About a decade ago, Louisianas state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors issued a cease-and-desist order to a group of Benedictine monks after they began making and selling cypress caskets to support the monastery. At the time, the caskets retailed for $1,500 to $2,000, less expensive than many others. The state board argued that only funeral directors are allowed to sell funeral merchandise in order to protect consumers. The monks sued. And in 2013, in a case that the industry fought all the way to the Supreme Court (the court refused to hear it), the monks won.

Around that same time, Pennsylvanias board of funeral directors filed two complaints against Daniel Wasserman, a rabbi in Pittsburgh who performed funerals according to Orthodox Jewish custom: bathing and dressing and helping bury the bodies of his congregants. The state claimed he violated the Funeral Director Law by conducting funerals without a license and threatened to sue. Similar state laws prevent home-funeral guides, unless they have a funeral directors license (and some do), from touching dead bodies for payment (many charge a consultation fee or accept contributions from families), lest it be construed as acting as a funeral director and practicing without a license.

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The Movement to Bring Death Closer - The New York Times

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Posted By admin on December 20, 2019

THURSDAY12/19

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Winter Semester Registration Now open to the general public. More than 100 courses, classes and programs on diverse subjects, including art appreciation, culture and travel, health and well-being, global issues, science, philosophy and religion take place from Jan. 13 to March 6. Highlights include:

The Listening to Women series, featuring six sessions from Feb. 6-March 12 focusing on innovative women.

Hello, Dolly Dec. 19-22, a Main Stage production, at The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-365-2494; http://www.theplayers.org.

Einsteins Circle discussions, including Full Speed Ahead: Back to the Moon! with Kenneth Bechis (Feb. 5); Stalin and Roosevelt, Gorbachev and Reagan, Putin and Trump with Robert Toplin (Feb. 19);

The winter lectures series, which includes talks including Forged by Fire: RescuersMoral Heroes of The Holocaust with Andre Krauss, on March 5.

The CONNECTIONS documentary film series, moderated by Julie Cotton, screens films on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. On tap: The Biggest Little Farm (Jan. 21); RGB (February 11); Catching Sight of Thelma and Louise (March 3); and two more.

Register at 941-309-5111 or visit http://www.OlliatRinglingCollege.org.

Lights in Bloom celebration 6-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 4 at Selby Gardens, 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Explore and view life-size gardenthemed holiday lights that transform the gardens into a tropical wonderland. The tropical holiday paradise includes nightly visits from Santa and his elves before Christmas Eve, childrens arts and crafts activities and games and live entertainment. Food for purchase from the Michaels on East grill and a cash bar. $20 members, $25 nonmember adults; $7 children age 5-12; free for kids younger than age 5. Closed on Christmas Day and Jan. 3. http://www.selby.org.

Live Music for Charity 6-9 p.m. Dec. 19, Ciao Gelato, 317 W. Venice Ave., Venice. Donate a toy or cash. All musician tips go to local charities and will be matched. Music by George Byrne. 941- 445-5840; email rockbud@comcast.net.

Assisted Living the Musical: THE HOME for the Holidays Through Dec. 22, the Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. Recognized as one of the most successful, nonprofit community theaters in the country, entertains with full-scale musicals, oneact plays, other stage productions, and a summer childrens theater. 941-488-1115; http://www.venicestage.com.

A Motown Christmas featuring the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Dec. 19-20, at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. http://www.sarasotaopera.org or http://www.westcoastblacktheatre.org.

FRIDAY12/20

Jazz at Two 2-4 p.m. Dec. 20, Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. The Mark Moultrup Music Quintet performs music from the American songbook, jazz favorites and some holiday classics. $10 at the door for Sarasota Jazz Club members, $20 for nonmembers. 941-366-1552.

The annual Lakewood Ranch Jingle 5K Run/Walk On-site registration opens at 4 p.m. Dec. 20 for this races along Main Street, Lakewood Ranch. Tie jingle bells to your shoelaces, which they will supply, and lighted flashers. Holiday music will be played along the course with live music at the post-race party. Registration: $11- $35. Kids runs start at 6 p.m. 5K runners at 7 and 5K walkers at 7:10. thejingle5k.org.

A Very Merry Holiday Pops Concert Dec. 20-21, Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave. at the Venice High School campus. The Venice Symphony performs an eclectic

selection of seasonal music, from holiday classics to songs from holiday films with special guests the Sarasota Key Chorale. $27- $51. http://www.thevenicesymphony.org; 941-448-1010.

Bob Hopes Christmas Gala Dec. 20-21, Gulf Theater at the Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda. Bob Hope impersonator Bill Johnson will be joined by Holly Faris as Phyllis Diller and Marilyn Monroe, with special guest Michelle Dellafave, a former dancer on The Dean Martin Show. http://www.militaryheritagemuseum.org; 941-575-9002.

A Classic Crosley Christmas: A Timeless Holiday Through Dec. 22, Crosley Estate, 8374 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Join Gwendolyn and Powel Crosley for a riotous retelling of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, music with the Mistletones, Get tickets at the Manatee Performing Arts Center Box Office, online and at 941-748-5875.

A Country Christmas at Hunsader Farms 6-10 p.m. Dec. 20-22, Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton. Hayrides, kiddie train rides, a petting zoo, games, Christmas village, pictures with Santa, outdoor Christmas movies on a big screen and more than 300,000 twinkling Christmas lights. Food and drink vendors. $10 cash only, free for age 5 and younger. 561-322-2168; http://www.hunsaderfarms.com

Friday Night Concert Series 5-7 p.m. Dec. 20, Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice. The Bridget Phillips Band. 941-484-6722; http://www.visitvenicefl.org.

SATURDAY12/21

Venice Plein Air Meet and Paint 9 a.m.- noon Dec. 21, Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice. A morning of painting followed by a critique. Visit the Facebook page.

Live Nativity Noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 21-23, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota. Camels, donkeys, goats and other animals. $18 adults, $8 for age 12 and younger. Free for active military and veterans. bigcathabitat.org; 941-371-6377.

Deck the Halls! A Holly Jolly Holiday Dec. 21-22, Bownes Lab Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. An all-new musical celebration of everything that makes the holidays in Sarasota special. 941-366- 9000; http://www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Christmas Dinner Dance 5-9 p.m. Dec. 21, Knights of Columbus, 512 Substation Road, Venice. Knights of Columbus Council 7052 is hosting its Christmas Dinner-Dance Party. Champagne chicken, scalloped potatoes, buttered peas and carrots, salad, dessert. Entertainment by The Allegros. $20. Reservations required. Call Lynda Kent at 941-408-4902 or Maria Montalvo at 941-623-7519 for Spanish speakers.

Tuba Christmas 5:15-6:15 p.m. Dec. 21, Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice. Info: James at 863-214-1483 or email at northportmusic@yahoo.com.

Venice Oldies Dance 7-10 p.m. Dec. 21, Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice. $20. Get tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com.

The Sounds of Christmas featuring the Ditchfield Family Singers Dec. 21-22, Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. 941-488-1115; http://www.venicestage.com.

SUNDAY, 12/22

Holly Jolly Trolley Tour 2 p.m. Sunday, DST Trolley Depot, 1826 Fourth St., Sarasota. Guide Jenny Jingle narrates a special daytime holiday tour with cocoa at the Trolley Cottage before the tour, carols and Christmas stories of Sarasota. Prizes will be awarded for Best Ugly Sweater on every tour. Visit the Holiday Boutique in the Vintage Sarasota Gift Shop. discoversarasotatours.com; 941-260-9818.

The ninth annual Taste of Chanukah Food & Music Festival 3-6 p.m. Dec. 22, The Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Live music, catered kosher food, arts & crafts, the Skyriders Trampoline Show, a graffiti wall, a laser light show, trackless train ride, live music, magicians. $5, free for younger than age 13. Free parking. http://www.atasteofchanukah.com.

The Choral Artists of Sarasota perform 5 p.m. Dec. 22, Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. A cheerful concert of choral music with brass and organ. Guest conductor Todd Craven. Tickets $5-$38. https:// choralartistssarasota.org/.

Menorah Lighting 5 p.m. Dec. 22, 395 Dearborn St., Englewood. Music and food. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. 941- 493-2770.

Sounds of the Season Dec. 22 at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. The Choral Artists of Sarasota performs its 41st season. Tickets start at $20 at http://www.ChoralArtistsSarasota.org; 941-387-4900.

The Ten Tenors Home for the Holidays 7 p.m. Dec. 22, The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. A mix of festive favorites and modern holidays hits. 941-953-3368; 800-826-9303; http://www.VanWezel.org.

MONDAY12/23

A Carol Sing and the Nativity Story 5 p.m. Dec. 23, Siesta Key Beach, 946 Beach Road, Siesta Key. BYO chairs and blankets. http://www.Escape-to- Sarasota.com.

TUESDAY12/24

Holly Jolly Trolley Tour 2 p.m. Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), DST Trolley Depot, 1826 Fourth St., Sarasota. Guide Jenny Jingle narrates a special daytime holiday tour with cocoa at the Trolley Cottage before the tour, carols and Christmas stories of Sarasota. Prizes will be awarded for Best Ugly Sweater on every tour. Visit the Holiday Boutique in the Vintage Sarasota Gift Shop. discoversarasotatours.com; 941- 260-9818.

Christmas Candlelight Celebration 6-7 p.m. Dec. 24 in the Gazebo at Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice. Presented by the Venice Bible Church.

WEDNESDAY12/25

The annual Pinecraft Christmas Parade Dec. 25 near the intersection of Bahia Vista Avenue and Beneva Road in Sarasota. The Sarasota Amish and Mennonite community hosts this parade, traditionally held on Christmas afternoon. Participants assemble in the parking lot at Der Dutchman restaurant, 3713 Bahia

Vista St., at 1 p.m. The parade starts soon after that. Visit the Facebook page.

LOOKING AHEAD

Menorah Lighting 5 p.m. Dec. 26, Warm Mineral Springs, North Port. Cosponsored by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. 941-493-2770.

Deck the Halls at Ca dZan 5-8 p.m. Dec. 26, on the grounds of the Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. The mansion is all decked out for the holiday season including a 10-foot tree. Tickets: $15, free for members and included with Art After Five admission. 941-358-3180.

The Santa Stumble Pub Crawl 9 p.m. to close Dec. 26, Siesta Key Village, Siesta Key. Hosted by the Block that Roxx. Also includes SKOB, Gilligans Island Bar, Daiquiri Deck and 3.14 Pi. siestakey.com

Venice Klezmer Festival 4:30- 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29, at the Gazebo at Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice. A concert by Boris & Natasha and the Freilach Klezmer Band, a giant menorah made out of Legos, a live appearance by Judah the Maccabee, the lighting of the 12-foot menorah, a performance from Chabads Hebrew School of the Arts students, Dreidel House. Traditional Hanukkah food including falafel, latkes, donuts, and Matzah ball soup. Free. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. 941-493-2770; http://www.chabadofvenicec.com.

ONGOING

The Fence Through Feb. 8, Regatta Island in Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. This huge public photo exhibition a showcase of the best from Gulf Coast photographers appears on both sides of a fence between the islands twin bridges. Each photo series is comprised of as many as five images that share a thematic connection or tell a story. Free. 6 a.m.-6 p.m. 941-358-7275.

AT MAJOR VENUES

Asolo Repertory Theatre 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-351- 8000; http://www.asolorep.org.

Harmony for the Holidays Dec. 21-22. Shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Sound of Music Through Dec. 28.

In the Conservatory: Gruesome Playground Injuries Dec. 31-Jan. 19.

Bookstore1Sarasota 12 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. http://www.sarasotabooks.com or 941-365-7900.

Cultural Center of Charlotte County 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175; http://www.theculturalcenter.com; sunevents.com/.

Florida Studio Theatre 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 941-366-9000; http://www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Winter Mainstage:

Bright Star Through Jan. 3. Gompertz Theatre.

Handle with Care Through March 8, Keating Theatre.

FST Improv: Out of Bounds Through Dec. 21.

Cabaret:

Thats Amore! Through Feb. 2 in Court Cabaret.

Outlaws and Angels Through March 29.

Childrens Theatre:

Pinocchio Saturdays and select Sundays through Jan. 2. Keating Theatre.

Gulf Theater at the Military Heritage Museum 900 W. Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda. http://www.militaryheritagemuseum.org; 941-575-9002.

Bob Hopes Christmas Gala 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20-21. Bob Hope impersonator Bill Johnson will be joined by Holly Faris as Phyllis Diller.

McCurdys Comedy Theatre & Humor Institute 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. 941-925-3869; http://www.mccurdyscomedy.com.

Brett Leake Dec. 19-22.

Bermuda Mavericks Dec. 20-21.

Rahn Hortman Dec. 26-29.

New Years Eve With Basile Dec. 31.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Building #1, Sarasota. 941-309-5111; http://www.olliatringlingcollege.org.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-365-2494; http://www.theplayers.org.

Walk Through Wednesdays Through April 8. A two-hour tour.

The Sarasota Ballet Tickets: $30 and up at http://www.SarasotaBallet.org; 941-359-0099.

Program 3: John Ringlings Circus Nutcracker Dec. 20-21 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance Jane B Cook Theatre at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-359-0099.

The Sarasota Opera House 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. http://www.sarasotaopera.org

Perlman Music Program

PMP Sarasota Winter Residency Dec. 21-Jan. 4, USF Sarasota- Manatee Campus.

Celebration Concert Jan. 4, Sarasota Opera House.

A Motown Christmas featuring the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Dec. 19-20. http://www.westcoastblacktheatre.org.

The Nutcracker Dec. 21-22. Performed by The Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; 800-826-9303; http://www.Van- Wezel.org.

The TEN Tenors Home for the Holidays Dec. 22.

Moscow Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker Dec. 28.

The Venice Chorale Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice. Season tickets: $55-$70, $15 for students. Single tickets: $20-$25, $5 for students. 941-218-3779; http://www.thevenicechorale.org.

Venice Community Concert Series Venice Community Church, 825 The Rialto, Venice. 941-488-5525; http://www.venicecommunityconcertseries.com.

Jazz Masters 7 p.m. Jan. 18. The Jazz Masters, a six-member jazz ensemble featuring top jazz talent from South Florida, performs jazz standards, selections from the Great American Songbook, and original music written by members Peter BarenBregge (woodwinds); Dick Hyman on piano; Tom Jestadt (drums); Mark Neuenschwander (bass); Randy Sandke (trumpet); and Michael Treni (trombone). A meet-andgreet reception follows.

Venice Institute for Performing Arts 1 Indian Ave., Venice. 941-218- 3779; http://www.veniceperformingartscenter.com.

A Very Merry Holiday Pops 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21. With special guest The Key Chorale.

Decades Rewind 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 31. $25-$60.

The Venice Symphony 230 Tamiami Trail, Ste. 3A, Venice. Performances at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice. Saturday Night at the Symphony: Buy three concerts and save 15 percent. 941-207-8822; 941- 412-4725; http://www.thevenicesymphony.org.

A Very Merry Holiday Pops Dec. 20-21.

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WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO - Key West Florida Weekly

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Posted By admin on December 19, 2019

Thursday, December 19

Every third Thursday of the month, Eleventh House takes over the downtown Miami dive bar Mama Tried to help connect locals with the city's thriving community of mystics. The queer astrological party welcomes the curious as well as the committed and gives everyone who checks in a complimentary astro name tag with their astrological sun, moon, and rising signs. Though admission is free, tarot and natal chart readings cost $5 to $25. Dance, drink, and don't forget to ask your mom for your time of birth. 7 p.m. Thursday at Mama Tried, 207 NE First St., Miami; 786- 803-8087; eleventhhouse.org. Admission is free.

It's been weeks, and you still haven't fully recovered from the onslaught of high-gloss events and activations surrounding Art Basel. On top of that, Christmas and Hanukkah are around the corner, meaning you'll be spending a lot more time than necessary with the family. You need a release; you need to be somewhere that isn't wholesome or wealthy. You need to go to Churchill's. Thankfully, Miami's favorite punk dive is set to host 305 Fest, a whole weekend of local acts curated by Miami's own, including Cheap Miami, Hardcore for Punx, and Death to the Sun. Thursday through Saturday at Churchill's Pub, 5501 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-757-1807; churchillspub.com. Admission costs $5.

Look, it's The Nutcracker Tchaikovsky, George Balanchine choreography, Sugarplum Fairies, the whole nine yards. It's the same every year, and that's the appeal. Miami City Ballet is putting on the celebrated Christmas spectacular at the Arsht Center, and it's an ostensibly cultured holiday activity that's kid-friendly. Who knows, after this performance, they might ask for ballet shoes or a violin instead of some stupid toy they saw on TV. 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $30 to $89 via arshtcenter.org.

Friday, December 20

Sure, you could stay in and try to catch A Charlie Brown Christmas on basic cable. But wait didn't you cut the cord this year? Rats! Luckily, the local jazz station WDNA will present this cherished holiday classic in a new way: with live musical accompaniment. The Derek Fairholm Trio will play Vince Guaraldi's classic cool-jazz score alongside a screening of the TV special; sounds like an extremely cozy way to learn the true meaning of Christmas. 8 p.m. Friday at WDNA FM, 2921 Coral Way, Coral Gables; 305-466-2178; wdna.org. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.

Nature Links for Lifelong Learning will bring holiday cheer at its Winter Gala and Fundraiser. The event will help the organization continue its vital work with young adults with intellectual disabilities by equipping them with the skills to lead fulfilling, productive lives through a nature and art-oriented curriculum. The night will also include a showcase of the students' artwork, which will be available for purchase, and proceeds from the sales will go toward Nature Link's 2020 programming. The event will also include presentations from students, community speakers, and musical performances by local bands Donzii and Spooky Fortune. Food and beverages will be provided, and there will also be a raffle offering prizes from Coconut Grove vendors. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Shake-A-Leg Miami, 2620 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove; 786-505-4657; naturelinks.net. Tickets cost $30 or more with a donation via eventbrite.com.

Saturday, December 21

The Black Market, your friendly neighborhood altflea market, will return for a special holiday edition this Saturday at Las Rosas. Peruse the various crafts, clothing, vintage vinyl, zines, and other wares for sale while listening to the sweet (or maybe not-so sweet) sounds of Vetnough, Yr Glow, Electric Supply Company, and Lipstick Alley Inc. Drag performers Yoko Oso and Opal Am Rah will also be in attendance, and Shelley Novak is ready to host. 9 p.m. at Las Rosas, 2898 NW Seventh Ave., Miami; lasrosasbar.com. Admission is free.

Miami record label and party Terrestrial Funk is collaborating with Open Space to bring Berlin-based DJ and Acting Press cofounder PLO Man to Miami. The show will take place at the Center for Subtropical Affairs, a lush ecological learning center and occasional benefactor of the arts. The lineup also includes DJ Ray and Brother Dan. No outside beverages will be allowed on the premises, but drinks will be available for purchase throughout the night. 8 p.m. Saturday at the Center for Subtropical Affairs, 7145 NW First Ct., Miami. Tickets cost $11 via terrestrialfunk.comand $20 at the door.

You may have been for a cruise on the bay before, but have you ever sailed along the lovely river from which our city gets its name? HistoryMiami will host a Moon Over Miami River Cruise for those interested in learning more about this vital artery. Sit back and relax while Paul George a local historian even New Times consults from time to time tells you about the city's inhabitants, going back to the Tequesta Native American tribe. Tickets also include admission to HistoryMiami Museum. 8 p.m. Saturday at Island Queen Cruises & Tours, 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; historymiami.org. Tickets cost $60 via historymiami.org.

Sunday, December 22

Get ready to ball so hard when the annual Y100 Jingle Balldelivers a who's who of pop music royalty this Sunday. The Jonas Brothers, Khalid, and French Montana are just a few of the artists slated to perform on the star-studded lineup. Besides boasting some of the biggest names in music from the past year, the holiday season's biggest music event promises special surprises as well. 7 p.m. Sunday at the BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; y100.iheart.com.Tickets cost $33 to $501 via ticketmaster.com.

Mi So Retro: See Sunday.

Photo by @snphotographynparts

Mi So Retro is Miami's monthly gathering for all things vintage. With a number of vendors offering collectibles and other wares from the year 2000 and earlier (yikes!), this month's edition at Gramps will include unique retro music, art, clothes, and gaming ephemera. Plus, the Mario Kart station will give guests a chance to throw back to Thursdays past while they sip the bar's signature drinks. Sell, trade, swap, and hang out at this nostalgic party. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; @misoretro. Admission is free.

Monday, December 23

If you're looking for a Christmas experience for the whole family, head to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum for a magical toy workshop, seasonal storytelling, and costumed holiday characters at A Holly, Jolly Holiday Event. Take a ride on the North Pole Limited Train, and meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas with holiday-themed scavenger hunts, reindeer games, music, food, prizes, and surprises. Don't forget to capture the magical memories in the photo area. 6 p.m. Monday at Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 12450 SW 152nd St., Miami; 305-253-0063; goldcoastrailroadmuseum.org. Tickets cost $30 via eventbrite.com.

The heat coming from the candles on a freshly lit Hanukkah menorah is one of the great joys of the holiday season. So is seeing Jimmy Butler hit a three at the Triple A. Thankfully, you can do both the same evening at the Miami Heat's Jewish Heritage Night. The team will celebrate its Jewish supporters with an on-court menorah lighting, early entry, kosher barbecue, and other fun. Celebrate the best holiday on the Jewish calendar while watching the sport most of the Chosen People are too short to play professionally. 7:30 p.m. Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-504-8440; jewishheritagenight.com. Tickets cost $25 to $500 via jewishheritagenight.com.

The Critmare Before Christmas: See Tuesday.

Photo by Adrian Legra

Tuesday, December 24

This one is for those of us who keep striking out on Tinder and JDate. Every year, as the goyische masses retreat home for their strange tree holiday, the hottest Jewish guys and gals in South Florida descend upon LIV for Matzoball, which calls itself the "nation's leading Jewish singles event." It's also sponsored by a dating app called Swipe, so if this isn't the 21st-century equivalent of the matchmaker song from Fiddler, we don't know what is! There's gonna be more action here than your Birthright trip, and that's a guarantee! 10 p.m. Tuesday at LIV Nightclub, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; matzoball.org. Tickets cost $60 to $100 via eventbrite.com.

Looking to shake things up this Christmas Eve? Why not enter the world of fixed-gear bicycle racing? Head to Crandon Park for the Critmare Before Christmas, a winner-takes-all fixed-gear crit race organized by Fixed Mafia Miami. For those not well-versed in underground bike racing, a fixed-gear bicycle (or "fixie") is a bicycle that has a drivetrain with no freewheel mechanism. A criterium, or "crit," is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit. The theme of this Tuesday's race is a tongue-in-cheek take on The Nightmare Before Christmas, so channel your inner Jack Skellington and don't forget your helmet they're compulsory if you want to take part. 7 p.m. Tuesday at Crandon Park, 6747 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne; @Miamifixedmafia. Admission costs $10 at the gate.

Little Women: See Wednesday.

Photo by Wilson Webb

Wednesday, December 25

The Greta Gerwig-directed reimagining of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is this season's latest Oscar contender. Despite taking many artistic liberties, the adaptation still follows the March sisters and their exploration of their individual identities as they enter womanhood around the time of the Civil War. With a high-caliber cast including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, and Florence Pugh, as well as a star turn from Meryl Streep as Aunt March, this new twist on an old classic in 35mm is a must-see. 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and showtimes through January 2 at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 786-472-2249; gablescinema.com. Tickets cost $11.75.

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The 15 Best Things to Do in Miami This Week - Miami New Times

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