In this pandemic year, staying safe and apart from loved ones makes for a less festive Festival of Lights, but if you have an internet connection, there are fun ways to celebrate Hanukkah virtually.
The Jewish and Israeli streaming service ChaiFlicks is hosting its first Hanukkah Film Festival, offering its subscribers eight days of specially selected movies including “The Mover” and “The Shabbos Goy.” During this time, new subscribers can get a lifetime subscription for $18. Sign up at ChaiFlicks.com.
Israel Film Center Stream has added 10 new films to its collection, just in time for Hanukkah. Titles include the Ophir Award-winning “The Cakemaker” and “Baba Joon,” multiple Ophir nominee “The Kind Words,” and festival favorites “The Other Story,” “The Last Suit,” “Wedding Doll,” “A Borrowed Identity,” “Cupcakes,” “Yossi” and “Zaytoun.” Each film costs 5.99 to stream at IsraelFilmCenterStream.org.
Foo Fighters frontman and founder Dave Grohl isn’t Jewish, but he has teamed up with Grammy-winning producer and MOT Greg Kurstin on “Hanukkah Sessions,” eight songs written by Jewish artists that will be released one per day during the holiday.
“Greg and I were kibbitzing about how we could make Hanukkah extra-special this year. Festival of Lights?! How about a festival of tasty LICKS! So hold on to your tuchuses…we’ve got something special coming for your shayna punims,” Grohl posted on Twitter. “[We] decided to celebrate Hanukkah by recording eight songs by eight famous Jewish artists and releasing one song each night of Hanukkah–for you, so we hope you enjoy.” Night one’s honoree: The Beastie Boys. Visit https://twitter.com/foofighters to watch.
Can a Jewish woman from Mexico City find acceptance in a small town in Oregon? Does giving up Jewish foods on a diet mean giving up your Jewish identity? These stories and other funny, poignant, and meaningful tales about sibling rivalry, parents and children, and Jewish life will be told in The Braid/Jewish Women’s Theatre’s salon show “Arise My Friend My Beautiful One and Go Forth,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. PST. The performance will be followed by a Q&A with the cast. Tickets are $18. Click here for reservations.
