What’s Happening: Menorah Lightings, Singles Events and Comedy

FRI DEC 20

Klezmatics: A Hanukkah Concert
The Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics return to the Pico Union Project, one of their favorite venues, with a Hanukkah concert that welcomes the holiday and Shabbat. Seven-piece gypsy rock band Mostly Kosher also will perform. 8:30 p.m. concert. $35 general admission, $45 reserved seats. Pico Union Project, 1135 Valencia St., Los Angeles. (213) 915-0084. .

Shabbat Service and Menorah Lighting
With the start of Hanukkah 48 hours away, Kol Tikvah holds a Friday night Shabbat celebration. Attendees bring menorahs and light their candles on this celebratory Shabbat, featuring California Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel as the guest speaker. If you RSVP and bring an unwrapped new toy or gift card valued at $20, you can enjoy a hosted dinner with latkes. 5-8 p.m. 5:30 p.m. musical Shabbat services for all ages featuring the temple band, Kolplay, followed by fun activities and dinner. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670.

SUN DEC 22

Menorah of Giving
For the first night of Hanukkah, Chabad North of Montana encourages all in the community to bring a can of food to a menorah lighting ceremony. The goal is 1,000 cans. The building of “The Can Menorah” starts at 4 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., organizers announce the winners of the student competition, “Shed a Light on Homelessness.” The cans will later be distributed among local food banks. The event includes live music by Neirot Children’s Choir, hot latkes and doughnuts. Free. RSVP required. 4-6 p.m. Annenberg Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica. (310) 280-6598.

David Broza and Friends
Spend the first night of Hanukkah with the international entertainer known as the Israeli Bruce Springsteen. David Broza brings his eclectic concert, “Broza & Friends,” to The Broad Stage. Raised in Spain, England and Israel, Broza performs music reflecting the diversity of his upbringing. Dramatically, he starts his show alone. With each new melody, he brings out additional performers. Trio Havana is among Broza’s special guests. 7:30 p.m. $45-$75. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. (310) 434-3200.

YJP Lights & Strikes
Pop open the Champagne, schmooze over cocktails and knock down bowling pins at Lucky Strike Hollywood. Young Jewish Professionals of Los Angeles’ annual Hanukkah soiree draws hundreds of young adults, who will be there for the top-shelf bar, the menorah lighting and the bowling while a DJ plays contemporary and traditional music. 21-and-over only. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $40-$75. Lucky Strike Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. (323) 467-7776.

Farmers Market Hanukkah
A family-friendly Hanukkah celebration takes place at the Original Farmers Market at Fairfax Avenue and Third Street. Kids create a giant Lego menorah and enjoy candle-making; PJ Library offers arts and crafts activities and face painting; and the music of Jason Mesches delights the little ears of children. Rabbi Chaim Fischer of Miracle Mile Chabad lights the menorah. 2:30-4:30 p.m. menorah building and candle-making. 4:30 p.m. live music. 5 p.m. lighting. Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles. (323) 933-9211.

MON DEC 23

Public Menorah Lightings
Join Sinai Temple Rabbis Nicole Guzik and Erez Sherman at Westfield Century City this afternoon when they light candles to welcome the joyous eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. Guzik and Sherman lead the crowd in song and prayer on Level 1 at the top of the Constellation Boulevard entrance, near Nordstrom and the Crack Shack. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. sinaitemple.org/event/hanukkah-celebration. Additional menorah lightings take place in Culver City and at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. For more information, click the link above or here.

Christmas Dinner Volunteers Needed
Help Temple Israel of Hollywood serve its annual Christmas dinner to those in need. The Reform congregation is searching for volunteers to help prepare and serve Christmas dinners to less fortunate Angelenos. Volunteers are needed today from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for preparation and setup and Christmas Day from 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for food preparation, serving and cleanup. Shifts are mostly two hours. Choose your shifts and make a difference. Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd. (323) 876-8330.

Lights & Latkes
Jewish Veg holds its vegan Hanukkah celebration, Lights & Latkes, at a private home in Pacific Palisades. Since Hanukkah means dedication, many believe this is an ideal time to rededicate your life to a kinder, more sustainable world around a vegan diet. The evening is co-organized by Beth Chayim Chadashim’s Vegan Havurah and the community service agency Recruiting for Good. Rabbi Jonathan Klein, the rabbinic chair of Jewish Veg L.A., delivers a presentation. Kosher-certified meals available upon advance request. 6-9 p.m. $18. Address given upon RSVP.

TUE DEC 24

MatzoBall Singles Party
Tonight is Christmas Eve, so it is time for the MatzoBall, the self-proclaimed leading Jewish singles event. Called the nation’s No. 1 holiday party, the good times stretch well past midnight. Have a drink, hit the dance floor and let loose around others who, like you, are looking to meet somebody special in time for New Year’s celebrations. Must be 21 or older to attend. ID required. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $40. Derriere Nightclub, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.

Tribal Ball
Like the Matzoball, the Tribal Ball calls itself the community’s biggest singles event of the past decade. Mixing, mingling, dancing and romancing will take place as hundreds attend this evening at the newly reopened Bootsy Bellows. Celebrate with two DJs and two parties in the Main Room and the exclusive VIP Room. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $30 for “Jewniversal” early bird pass, $35 regular admission, $50 VIP front-of-the-line access. Bootsy Bellows, 9229 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

“Fiddler on the Roof” Singalong
It has become a bona fide “Tradition” for the Laemmle Theatres to screen “Fiddler on the Roof” on Christmas Eve, and the Laemmle’s 12th annual “Fiddler on the Roof” singalong, coinciding with the third night of Hanukkah, keeps the custom going. Dress up in costumes from the shtetl and enjoy trivia, prizes and the opportunity to sing melodies of memorable songs “If I Were a Rich Man,” “To Life,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Anatevka” and others. 4:30 p.m., some locations. 7:30 p.m., all locations. $18. NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino; Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont; Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Lumiere Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; and Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. (310) 478-1041. laemmle.com. A “Fiddler” singalong also takes place for the first time in Long Beach at the Art Theatre, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 6:45 p.m. candle lighting. 7 p.m. screening. (562) 438-5435.

“Merry Erev Christmas”
Comedian and actor Elon Gold performs at the Laugh Factory tonight for the seventh annual “Merry Erev Christmas” comedy show. Gold is bringing along a team of very merry — and funny — guests for two shows in one evening. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $40 general, $60 priority, $85 VIP. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (323) 656-1336, ext. 1.

Comedy Night
What Jew doin’ on Christmas Eve? If you don’t have plans, consider joining Shomrei Torah Synagogue as its men’s club holds its sixth annual comedy night. Performers are stand-up comedian and Journal columnist Mark Schiff, Stephanie Blum (“Moms Rule” web series), popular club comic Howard Berger and Jimmy Brogan, who has appeared on “The Tonight Show.” 7:30 p.m. doors open. 8 p.m. show. $50 front row, $36 general admission, $40 at the door. Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. For tickets and information, call Mark Cutter at (818) 406-2003 or click the link above.

Have an event coming up? Send your information two weeks prior to the event to ryant@jewishjournal.com for consideration. For groups staging an event that requires an RSVP, please submit details about the event the week before the RSVP deadline.