The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...to be Jewish
Being Jewish on Christmas always reminded me of that early 1900's song, Teddy Bear's Picnic, where people are warned not to go into the woods because it has been taken over by the entirety of the teddy bear population. Teddy Bear's deserve their own holiday in a world that is dictated by human action, just as the holiday that the Jewish Community gets on Christmas. At some point over the past 50 years, Christmas revealed that 614th mitzvah and phenomenon: the mass. Not the kind of mass a church holds, but the mass consumption of a good movie and good Chinese food. About six years ago, Saturday Night Life captured this whole phenomenon in their claymation short, Christmas Time for the Jews.
We in the Philadelphia Jewish world take every opportunity we can to celebrate this rare and exiting time when the city becomes our playground. Let's start with Christmas Eve, shall we?
Our featured event that evening, and the place where the Collab team will be hanging out is the 13th Annual "To Life Party" at the Public House and Mission Grill. Each location will have it's own DJ, bottles to be popped and definitely the place to see and be seen. I hear that the VIP tickets are going fast and general admission tickets are still available. Click on the link above to get your tickets for this fantastic event! Here is the formal event description:
Making a return appearance for the 7th consecutive year will be no other than DJ YAN spinning some of the best House and Dance beats you ever heard at Mission Grill. Making their first appearance at our TO LIFE party will be Double Down DJs Jason Weiss and Josh Schreiber spinning Top 40 Dance and all the tunes that you know and love at Public House. In honor of our 13th Year (Bar-Mitzvah) we will be giving out 600 grab bags graciously donated by SUGARHOUSE CASINO to our attendees. The Grab Bags have a value of over $250.00 and contain coupons, gift cards, and other items.
But listen, if people outside of the 20s and 30s demographic make you uncomfortable, the Collab team has partnered with some of our favorite buddies from the Moishe House and the National Museum of American Jewish History for our own "Being Jewish on Christmas: After Hours" event! From 5:30-8:30 be prepared to eat Chinese Food to your heart's delight and watch a classic film picked by the event's coordinators. It's still a surprise, so you'll have to wait and see. December 25 10:45-noon Vinyasa yoga
Class is $12 and all proceeds will benefit a selected charity. Registration preferred. Location 1100 S Broad Street. Class is open to all people, all levels, beginners welcome. If you want to register, click here!
Phunadelphia: Halloween Edition
As this weekend embarks on St. Hallow's eve, it's probably good to get a sense of the Halloweeniest things that this city of brotherly love have to offer. Has anybody thoughtabout Trick-or-Treating at Occupy Philly? If you do, please let us know. With a picture. Thanks.
So yes, there are your halloween standards like having the Eastern State Penitentary in Fairmount and the Ghost Tours of Philadelphia though the Indepence Visitor Center, but with the amount of late-night cultre going on in Philadelphia, there is bound to be more. Here are a few options of weekend to-do's check it out!
Thursday
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PHRIGHTFEST: 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. UpBar (10th and Walnut)
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Defend the Future Tour: Music and Mural Party: 6-10PM at Pub Webb
Friday
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Heaven & Hell - A Philadelphia Halloween Party : 2hr open bar w/ John G & Isaac Jordan 9:00 pm – 2:00 am @ Lucky Strike Lanes
Saturday
- The Halloween Boo Moonlight Cruise: ticket information HERE
- Hollywood Halloween: A Red Capet Event. South Philly Bar and Grill.
Sunday
- Gameday II: Eagles v. Giants at Cav's Rittenhouse with the Collab team. 8:00 PM
Sukkot with the Collaborative
Sukkot is here!! We're super excited to shake some lulavs, smell some heavenly etrogs, eat circular foods, and dine under the stars in makeshift huts. To learn more about Sukkot, visit Birthright Israel NEXT's beautiful & simple Sukkot Guide.
In celebration of Sukkot, The Collaborative and our great partners are putting on three events during the eight-day holiday, all over the city!
Sukkot in Northern Liberties
Wednesday, October 12 @ 7:30-9:30pm
Northern Liberties
In partnership with The Jewish Center of Northern Liberties
"Israel Alumni" Sukkot/Shabbat Dinner
Friday, October 14 @ 7-11pm
Roxborough
MiCasa SUKKAHsa
Tuesday, October 18 @ 6-10pm
Lower Merion
In partnership with The Chevra
Gearing up for tonight's Synagogue Wine Tasting
So maybe it's time to admit something -- we're serious oenophiles over here at the Collaborative (and yes, we're aware that's just an obnoxious way of saying we're winos). Examine the facts: at last week's happy hour, both Danielle and Molly were seen with glasses of house red in hand. At last night's event, our viewing of the Israeli Fringe play "Smiley" in Northern Liberties began and ended with a wine and cheese reception (with the actors helping us finish off the final bottle).
And finally tonight, we're partnering up with other community organizations for the annual Synagogue Wine Tasting (see Molly on the right, shlepping wine boxes in preparation... in red pumps, no less!) This event is the perfect blend (pun very much intended), pairing a fun wine tasting with a chance to learn about all the city's synagogues, and leave with free High Holiday tickets! This free event is open to everyone, so bring a friend. Looking forward to saying a l'chaim with all of you tonight!
Danielle and Molly: Philly's Phavorite Collaborative Project Directors
The end of the summer season brought about a few changes here over at The Collaborative. Last week, we brought Danielle Selber and Molly Wernick on to The Collaborative team. You may have spotted them last week at Marathon Grill at our New to Philly Happy hour, and though neither is really new to Philly, they are both new to this exciting venture.
Name: Danielle Selber
DOB: 5/8/1985
Silly Factoid: Has read the Harry Potter series twenty times!
Though she hails from Lower Merion, PA, Danielle's dark complexion and curly locks can only come from her Israeli and Morrocan descent. Having just recieved her MA in Jewish Studies from Gratz College, Danielle is most definitely ready to continue to take Philadelphia's young Jewish community by storm. When she's not eating beets in the office, Danielle spends her time working with Birthright NEXT, Couples, 'Burbs and LGBTQ Events, and working with Molly for the Topics on Turf Series. Outside of the Tribe 12 offices, you can find Danielle cozying up with a good book and beating out any Scrabble challenger she can find.
Have any questions for danielle? Shoot her an email: danielle@thecollaborative.org
Name: Molly Wernick
DOB: 04/25/1988
Silly Factoid: Has an inexplicable love for breakfast sandwiches
Born and raised in Elkins Park, PA, Molly's enthusiasm for Jewish Geography and love of shmoozing brings her pep and step to the Tribe 12 team. This past May, Molly graduated from Ithaca College she is all-too-eager to infuse her love of witticisms and creative engagement methods into her daily work. In between eating different types of tofu at her desk, Molly heads up the Women's, Sports, and Arts events while creating the Topics on Tap series along side of Danielle. Out of the office, you might catch Molly watching CNN or keeping up with those Phightin' Phils.
Questions for Molly? Don't hesitate to drop a line to molly@thecollaborative.org