Covid Diversions: It’s starting to look a lot like Chanukah

Compiled by Michele Doctoroff

(AJNews) – For the past eight months, Michele Doctoroff  has been sharing collections of Jewish content COVID diversions that she calls her “weekly Jewish hug.” This week’s compilation is titled: “It’s starting to look a lot like Chanukah” and it is mostly Chanukah themed. Enjoy!

Prince Charles to appear in digital tribute to Lord Sacks on Sunday  Prince Charles, former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will take part in a digital tribute to Rabbi Lord Sacks.  The pre-recorded programme, which will also feature contributions from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and  Lady Sacks, will mark the end of the 30-day period of mourning for the Emeritus Chief Rabbi. Sunday, December, 6, 11:00 am.  However if you miss it, the same link will allow you to watch it when you are able.   (When my childhood pen-pal from South Africa, sends this to me at the last minute, I just had to include it, and thus my list is a bit longer this week!)

Great Chanukah Songs for Little Kids, and those who like to be transported back to childhood!  25 minutes, and even though you may not understand it all, it is joyful!  https://youtu.be/t2b57bZcekU  And as this is coming from Israel, see if you can notice the difference between Chanukah in Israel and Chanukah in the Diaspara….just for fun – let’s see who will be the first person to email me back with the answer based on this video!

Yiddishe Tango, anyone? A beautiful half hour podcast of music to warm your soul and spice up the imagination  https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jewishradiohour/episodes/2020-11-01T08_49_21-08_00  Imagine….and dance like no one is watching!

Love Yiddish Songs?  Here is a great find!  A whole book of songs, in Yiddish, many translated, transliterated, and with musical notation. Zingen Mir Far Shalom, by Sam Lipstein https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/yiddish-books/spb-nybc207596/liptsin-sem-zingen-mir-far-sholem?utm_source=weeklyreader&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklyreader

SHTETL BERLIN –  a festival of living Yiddish music and culture in Berlin and around the world December 11-13, register https://www.shtetlberlin.com/

The Pain of Two Homelands:  The Rift Between American Jews and Israel, this presentation by Dr. Tal Becker, from The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, should generate a lot of thought and discussion.  Register and join in on Sunday, December 13, 11:00 am https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuc-qqqzMsGtTVwg9CDLPqCAJiQcNpLFbZ  with thanks to Becky who is always keeping us informed

Saturday Night Live;  A Canadian Reform Community Chanukah Celebration. Fill every night of your Chanukah calendar with celebration!  Saturday, December 12, 6:00 pm, register https://urj.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqcOmrqj0rE9cpKXIdmQvT7nXsidELrrZu?fbclid=IwAR1nDx0JwkFX8PQxU2Abb0NfGzhEv4sykCreU1hdNlojVZZgoBelFqT5Qf0

11 Great Books about and for Jewish Children of Color For Jewish children of color, living with a rich and complex background means it is especially important, both for them and their white Jewish friends, to read about characters with equally complex cultural backgrounds and unique stories that co-create the colorful mosaic of the Jewish experience. https://reformjudaism.org/blog/11-great-books-about-and-jewish-children-color?utm_source=TMT-Tuesday&utm_campaign=Feature&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2020_11_24

Justice in Action;  Report on Secular Education in the Ultra-Orthodox and Chasidic Communities in the USA, Thursday, December 10, 12:00, register https://mmjccm.org/programs/justice-action-secular-education-and-ultra-orthodox-and-chassidic-communities?utm_source=CSR&utm_medium=Email_112420&utm_campaign=JIADEC10  Tune in to learn more about the lack of secular education in Chassidic yeshivas and the current efforts to bring about the changes necessary to ensure a basic education for all children

Yiddishe Khanike Party!  One can never have too many parties this year!  Celebrate with the Workers Circle, Sunday December 13, at 11:00, register https://circle.org/event/2020-yiddish-khanike-party/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=8f1ea417-2997-459b-9652-46bd0be106a9

Have some Chanukah fun with Shalom Sesame in this short playful skit https://youtu.be/NV-ddVH-iiM

Shiri Maimon Concert, from Israel One of the most prominent and successful singers of the last decade in Israel, Shiri has a rare vocal ability, and a one-of-a-kind stage presence. She has six hit albums out, and in addition to her own packed concert tours, has starred on Broadway in the musical Chicago, and has appeared everywhere from Eurovision to the MTV Music Awards, to Judging The X Factor.  Sunday, December 13, 2:00, no need to register, just click on the link at https://www.temple-israel.org/event/virtual-laker-concert-shiri-maimon

Note that any thoughts or views presented in the above are not necessarily supported or endorsed by this writer and are solely the messages from where they originate.

If you have any feedback or ideas for this column, or wish to unsubscribe please contact Michele Doctoroff at switzert@telus.net