Holiday Hours

We wanted to wish you all a Chag Sameach (happy holiday), whether your holiday is just beginning or whether you have finally finished the last of the latkes. Please note that we are open regular hours today (10 a.m.-8 p.m.). Tomorrow we will close at 5 p.m. Friday we are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please stop by, or call the box office for tickets (646.437.4202) to hear Josh Nelson and his Kosher Gospel choir.

*Photo: Battery Park City in the winter.

Garden of Stones in Snow

The weekend snow inspired me to run to “Timekeeper,” the new virtual exploration of Andy Goldsworthy’s Garden of Stones, to see how the storm was captured on camera. For those of you who haven’t used the spin browser for yourself, you can watch images of the Garden through time lapse photography. So when the snow began at 1:32 on Saturday afternoon, the camera picked up each flake as it alighted on to a stone. As the wind picked up, each hour brought a new layer of white, and at 1 a.m. there were so many flakes that the camera became a shimmering prism through which you could view the Garden. By the time I arrived at work on Monday, the Garden was enveloped in white, yet the boulders themselves were bare. The Garden lay undisturbed in its winter beauty.

If you want to see the Garden Monday through Friday, but can’t swing a visit downtown, be sure to check out the daily photo on the Garden site. I have no doubt that we will be treated to more winter scenes like this one.

Mah Jongg Memories

We are very happy to announce that the Museum of Jewish Heritage is creating an exhibition exploring the traditions, history, and meanings of the game of mah jongg in Jewish-American culture. Crack, Bam, Dot! Mah Jongg in Jewish-American Life will be on view May 2 through December 2010.

If you are as big a fan of the game as we are, you are probably asking how you can help. Good news! The project team is seeking to interview men and women about their memories and experiences playing or observing the game. They are also looking for photos of people playing mah jongg. The Museum may use the materials in the exhibition or on the exhibition’s website. If you have photos to loan or memories to share, please contact mmartens@mjhnyc.org. In the meantime, we wish you many happy games in the new year.

Czech out this Menorah!

Last night marked the first Hanukkah party hosted by President Obama and the First Lady. There were a lot of stories about how the White House kitchen was koshered for the occasion, the size of the invitation list, was it smaller or larger than in past administrations, and frankly a lot of material that could only be manufactured in the nation’s capital. What interested me, however, was the menorah that was lit at the party. It came from our colleagues at The Jewish Museum in Prague. The menorah was loaned on the basis of a request from First Lady Michelle Obama, who visited Prague’s Jewish Town (the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Old-New Synagogue and Pinkas Synagogue) in April during an official visit to Prague by President Barack Obama.

According to the museum’s press release, the menorah dates from 1873, and is the work of the Viennese silversmith Cyril Schillberger; it was originally most likely dedicated to the congregation in Prostějov. Like other Judaica stolen from Jewish communities and sent to Prague by the Nazis, this menorah was miraculously saved and put in the Jewish Museum’s collection.

On Wednesday night, it was lit by the children of Scott Moran, Commander of the U.S. Navy who is stationed in Iraq, and their mom, Allison Buckholtz. No word on dreidel winnings or amount of latkes consumed.

Note: The White House Hanukkah candle-lighting was not open to the press, but official photos were released soon after. This one is taken by Samantha Appleton.

Reasons to Love New York, 2009 Edition

Once again, New York Magazine came out with their Reasons to Love New York issue. We enjoyed coming up with our own reasons so much last year, that we thought we would try to come up with some new ones.

From Abby:
Being able to enjoy wine at dinner in a restaurant and not having to worry about driving home.

Purchasing coffee at a cart from a total stranger, yet mysteriously pining for him when he is not there.

The Brooklyn Bridge – utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing.

From Keika:
Even the average New Yorker knows some Yiddish.

From Lisa:
Mom and Pop stores can still survive and even thrive here despite the big chain stores.

Being able to order Uzbekistani food on the Upper West Side

And here are my thoughts:

NY 1, especially Pat Kiernan.

There is so much to do on any given day, even on December 25 if you are Jewish. Yes, you can go to the movies or out for Chinese food, or you could go to a Museum, to a concert, or both.

The gas lights and brownstones on my street remind me of Henry James, Edith Wharton, and all the other great literary works that are set here.

Tell us your reasons for putting up with the high rents, the small spaces, and the cold weather.

Twilight of the Jewish Vampires

Rabbi David Wolpe’s article last week in the Jewish Journal, Five Reasons Vampires Aren’t Jews is as illuminating as it is amusing. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you find Edward's behavior in New Moon as annoying as I do.

In response to Rabbi Wolpe, I’ve compiled some good news for all the Team Jacob fans out there. While in the Twilight saga, werewolves are of an altogether different tribe, I believe they share more in common with Jews.

They are born into the tribe. It is important that the tribe’s history is passed on from generation to generation (L’dor V’dor). They become a (wolf) man at the same time they come of age. That is when they are responsible for their families and their community (much like a bar mitzvah). Finally, the werewolves believe in bashert. Werewolves “imprint” once they meet their soul mate, the person they are meant to be with forever.

Let us know what you think about this important topic...

Happy Hanukkah

As the song says, the weather outside is truly frightful, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Hanukkah and all the city has to offer. Downtown, we are especially excited about the opening of the ice skating rink at Battery Park City.

If you’d rather stay warm and toasty inside, I can highly recommend my favorite latke recipe. Yes, it is true that they are actually not from a famous Jewish cook, or even from my grandmother (who preferred to make frozen latkes, I don’t know why). Interestingly, these delicious Parmesan, basil potato pancakes are from the kitchen of Giada De Laurentis. Apparently she was a private chef for a Jewish family and created the recipe for them one Hanukkah. While my Hanukkahs are always dairy events (bring on the sour cream!), you can eliminate the Parmesan and still make a tasty dish with the garlic, basil, and onion.

From our kitchens and offices to yours, have a Happy Hanukkah!