Winter Holiday Magazine A SUPPLEMENT TO THE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Name: GIANT; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087156 HAPPY CHANUKAH Wishing you peace, love and joy as you celebrate the Festival of Lights. 2 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Keystone Motors; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087157 XC40 XC60 XC90 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 3 Holiday Magic Winter Holiday Magazine Take a stroll through illuminated trees, glowing orbs, and a shimmering tunnel of lights. Take in a light show set to music and enjoy a “fountain” performance like you’ve never seen. Experience the holidays at Longwood Gardens, now through January 5, 2020. 7 10 Th ings to Do in Philadelphia in December BY ERIC SCHUCHT 12 Chanukah Gift Ideas 2019 BY JESSE BERNSTEIN 19 Let’s Get Serious about Chanukah BY MATT SILVER 24 Chanukah on the Silver Screen BY SELAH MAYA ZIGHELBOIM 29 Th e Perfect Christmas Pairing: Chinese Food and Movies BY EXPONENT STAFF 32 Off Th e Beaten Path: Ways To Volunteer Th is Chanukah BY JESSE BERNSTEIN 34 Advertiser Index longwoodgardens.org 4 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 5 Name: West Laurel Hill; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087155 2100 ARCH STREET | PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 215-832-0700 PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN ROSENBERG GENERAL MANAGER EILEEN PURSLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LIZ SPIKOL MANAGING EDITOR ANDY GOTLIEB DIGITAL EDITOR SELAH MAYA ZIGHELBOIM STAFF WRITERS JESSE BERNSTEIN ERIC SCHUCHT MATT SILVER Name: Rob Vahey Insurance - Geico; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087193 PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JENNIFER PERKINS-FRANTZ ART DIRECTOR STEVE BURKE GRAPHIC DESIGNER JUSTIN TICE DIRECTOR OF SALES SHARON SCHMUCKLER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN BARON TAYLOR ORLIN SHARI SEITZ STEPHEN WISEMAN CLASSIFIED SALES NICOLE MCNALLY FINANCE DIRECTOR MIKE COSTELLO 6 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Things to Do in Philadelphia in December ERIC SCHUCHT | JE STAFF T he weather outside may be frightful, but festivals, candlelightings and craft shows are events that people may fi nd delightful. Philadelphia is fi lled to the brim with activities to keep your spirits warm during the cold season. So put on your hats and jackets, fi ll up your hot cocoa mug and head out into the winter wonderland for tons to see and tons to do. For suggestions, here are 10 of the many things to do around the area this December. See 10 Things, Page 8 for Men Women Width: and Babies Name: Gifts Patricia Adams; 3.625 in; Jewelry • Clothes • Bags • Housewares Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087196 Name: Stupp Furs; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087325 Appraisals • Restyling Repairs • Cleaning • Storage Exciting 2020 collections featuring furs by • • • • • • Michael Kors YSL Zandra Rhoads Bisang Dena Lyons de Carlis and more... 379 Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA 610.896.6662 261 N. Old York Rd. Jenkintown, Pa 215.885.4747 www.stuppfurs.com Haverford Square 379 Lancaster Ave Haverford, Pa 19041 • 610-642-0585 • Patricia-adams.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 7 10 Things Continued from Page 7 1. Philadelphia Zoo Th e Philadelphia Zoo has been transformed through Jan. 5 into a chilly delight. Visitors will witness LumiNature, a multimedia light and music experience. Grab some hot chocolate and adult beverages as performers stroll across the 12 diff erent illuminated areas to see, each with a unique wildlife message and theme. Make sure to watch out for lions, tigers and bears — oh my! OksanaKiian / iStock / Getty Images Plus 3. Latke/Vodka Fundraiser Party Warm yourself with latkes and vodka from Congregation Rodeph Shalom at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6, at its annual Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art fundraiser. Th e museum is located inside the syna- gogue and has hosted exhibits since 1975. Th e party helps to support the work of the institution in exhibiting contemporary art that illuminates the Jewish experience. 4. Holiday Drink Festivals LumiNature Northern Lights exhibit at The Philadelphia Zoo facebook.com/philadelphiazoo 2. The Hidden Maccabee Sister Chanukah commemorates Judah Maccabee, but what of his sister, Judith? While lesser-known, she also had a part to play in the Jewish restoration of the Second Temple. Th is presenta- tion at Gratz College at noon on Dec. 5 will have Congregation Adath Jeshurun’s Rabbi Shai Cherry use art, history and Jewish text to tell the story of a person who has been marginalized and misunderstood for centuries. Th e lecture costs $24 and includes a kosher lunch. 8 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Fill your cup or mug at these two drink festivals, both making a return this December to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. Th e ninth annual Valley Forge Beer and Cider Festival on Dec. 14 will have more than 150 beers and ciders available for sampling from close to 20 breweries and cider makers. Alcohol not your thing? Well that same weekend there’s the seventh annual Coff ee and Tea Festival: Valley Forge, scheduled for Dec. 14-15. Partake in samples while perusing more than 50 exhibitors. Meantime, the wineries of the Bucks County Wine Trail are hosting an annual Holiday Celebration on Dec. 7-8. Seven wineries will off er spiced wine tastings, cookie sampling and artisanal cheeses while holiday music plays. Get some Chanukah shopping done with special discount pricing on wine gift packs, gift baskets and wine accessories. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 5. Craft Show Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in Wynnewood off ers a chance to shop local at its commu- nity-wide 45th annual craft and gift show. Shop across more than 60 vendors at the synagogue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. Admission is $3 for one person, but $5 for two. Happy shopping! Name: Pasha; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087189 Stylish, Unique & Chic Women’s Clothing & Accessories Stylish, Unique & Chic Stylish, Unique & Chic Women’s Clothing, 610-525-2777 Women’s Clothing & 839 W Lancaster Ave Accessories & Gifts Bryn Mawr PA Accessories 19010 www.pashaboutique.com TimoninaIryna / iStock / Getty Images Plus 6. Sixers Vs. Miami Heat Game Dec. 18 is game day when the 76ers take on the Miami Heat at 7:30 p.m. Join Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel as congregants head to the Wells Fargo Center. Th e synagogue has 30 tickets reserved, each $43. Call BZBI at 215-735-5148 for more informa- tion on how to reserve your spot. Make checks out to BZBI or Matthew Whitehorn at Dilworth Paxson, 1500 Market St., Suite 350E, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102. 7. Chanukah at KleinLife Th e city’s largest senior center is getting into the holiday spirit. KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia will serve a Chanukah meal at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 20 with entertainment by Sally Mitlas and the Budesa Brothers singing holiday tunes. Th en an intergen- erational Chanukah candlelighting is planned for 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 23. 610-525-2777 839 W Lancaster Ave Bryn Mawr PA 19010 610-525-2777 839 W Lancaster Ave www.pashaboutique.org Bryn Mawr PA 19010 www.pashaboutique.com A.Brandt+Son A. Brandt + Son ANTIQUE AND ESTATE JEWELRY t a VINTAGE ACCESSORIES Gr l e iday g Ho oppin We buy Gold, Silver and All Precious Metals Sh See 10Things, Page 10 We appraise and purchase jewelry from estates 223 Haverford Avenue, Narberth 610 617 0993 www.abrandtandson.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 9 Name: Wardrobe Boutique; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087190 10 Things Continued from Page 9 8. Rittenhouse Square Candle Lighting There are menorah lightings, and then there’s the annual ceremonial candlelighting of a giant menorah at Rittenhouse Square. The Jewish community of Center City will come together on the second night of Chanukah, 5 p.m. on Dec. 23, for the lighting and holiday treats. The event is sponsored by Center City Kehillah in cooperation with and funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. wardrobe wardrobe BOUTIQUE 233 Haverford Avenue • Narberth PA • 610 667 2134 BOUTIQUE 233 Haverford Avenue • Narberth PA • 610 667 2134 Rittenhouse Square  Zerothesignal / iStock / Getty Images Plus 9. Lightings and Celebrations Several area synagogues are getting in on the holiday spirit with activities and ceremonies of their own. The Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will host its annual Chanukah party at 6 p.m. on Dec. 23. There will be face painting, a magic show by Danny Archer of Smoke & Mirrors Magic Theater, balloons, potato latkes, sufganiyot and a menorah lighting, all free of charge. Congregation Beth Or encourages families to bring their menorah to its Chanukah Community Candle Lighting and Glow Stick Shabbat Worship at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 27. And the City of Philadelphia will light up Boathouse Row along the east bank of the Schuylkill River with blue and white lights for Chanukah at 5 p.m. on Dec. 29. 10. National Museum of American Jewish History WE’RE A twitter ABOUT JEWISH PHILADELPHIA. Follow us @jewishexponent 10 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 While the Christians are away, it’s time for the Jews to come out and play. What better way to explore Jewish culture than to spend the day at the National Museum of American Jewish History. Dec. 25 is Being __ at Christmas, an event with live music from Alex & The Kaleidoscope, an interactive show aimed at children 4-8. So drop off the kids and use the opportunity to see the “Notorious RBG” exhibit on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. l eschucht@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0751 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: The Cynwyd Club; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087326 THE CYNWYD CLUB Holiday Parties Special Events Bar & Bat Mitzvahs Weddings Rehearsal Dinners School Team Banquets 610-667-4524 ● cynwydclub@cynwydclub.com 332 Trevor Lane ● Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 ● www.cynwydclub.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 11 h a k u n a Ch deas I t f Gi 2019 JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF WITHOUT CHEATING: Do you know when the fi rst night of Chanukah is this year? Go ahead, take a guess. For you go-getting gift hunters out there, this list is for you. The absolutely defi nitive list of the Chanukah presents sure to tantalize and delight. 12 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Chinnapong / iStock / Getty Images Plus It’s Dec. 22! You’ve actually got some time to fi gure out what you’re going to surprise your friends and family with this year, gathered around the candle- light. That doesn’t mean you should drag your feet here, necessarily, but it’s not exactly go-time yet. Knit Touch-Screen Glove You’re walking down the street on a windy December day, hands stuff ed in your pockets, headphones snugly in your ears. You feel your phone buzz in your pocket with what must be an important email from work. In the past, you might have had to do the unthinkable: peel off your gloves in the freezing winter to use your touch screen. But no longer! Th e knit touch-screen gloves allows you warmth and the ability to use your touch-screen phone, for $8.99 on amazon.com. In Her SHOES Breezy Tops, Tanks & Chic Footwear for your Next Vacay RESORT PREVIEW 2020 L ET US ...THIS BE YOU R HOLIDAY ONE-STOP SHOP... SEASON 817 OLD YORK RD. JENKINTOWN, PA 19046 • 215-881-2252 MON-SAT 9:30AM-5PM • ANY EVENING BY APPT. LINDASLOFTLTD.COM ‘Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins’ By Eric Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman It’s only the best children’s book about the holiday! Follow Hershel as he braves a succes- sion of increasingly fearsome goblins, intent on ruining Chanukah for the whole town. You can fi nd “Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins” on amazon.com for $17.99. Schedule Y Your our Driving Lesson or Road T Test est T Today! oday! Schedule our Road T Test T Test est T Today! T Today! oday! Schedule Y Your Y Your our Driving Driving Lesson Lesson or or Road est oday! 610.664.7400 Driven2Drive.com 610.664.7400 610.664.7400 Driven2Drive.com Driven2Drive.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 13 Chanukah Gift Ideas, 2019 ‘The Jewish Cookbook,’ by Leah Koenig You can fi nd every manner of chicken, brisket and other staples in Leah Koenig’s new cookbook, out this year from Phaidon. Better yet, many of the recipes are drawn from the far corners of world Jewry, rendered with love and beautiful color photographs. For $35.99 from Target, that’s a bargain. Weighted Blanket We don’t make a commission from selling weighted blan- kets. But man, those things are awesome. Th ese heavy, form- hugging blankets have to be felt to be believed. Find one at laylasleep.com for $99. Fit Smart Yoga Mat It’s almost 2020, and you or someone you love haven’t given yoga a try yet? Rectify that with this ridiculously high-tech yoga mat that rolls itself up, gives you extra grip as you get sweatier and “comes with bonus yoga routines, powered by Women’s Health, that you can hear using your smart speaker.” Just $89.95 on amazon.com. 14 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Maccabot Th e Maccabot is a dancing Chanukah robot, presumably brought to life with the spirit of the holiday (also 3 AA batteries). It’s 8 inches tall, comes with spinning laser lights and plays “I Have A Little Dreidel,” “Chanukah Oh Chanukah” and “Al Hanisim.” All of this for $19.95 from traditionsjewishgift s.com. Interior Painting - Exterior Painting - Carpentry Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing - Wallcoverings 610-664-5555 www.johnneillpainting.com Natural Beeswax Chanukah Candles Take your chanukiah to the next level with the sweet, honey aroma of beeswax candles. Th ey burn for over an hour, fi t most candlesticks and come in packs of 45. Just $11.95 on amazon.com. Yoga Gear is here! HOLIDAY GIFT ITEMS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST... ...we have a Baby Boutique too! 352 Righters Mill Rd. | Gladwyne, Pa | 610.649.1100 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 15 Chanukah Gift Ideas, 2019 Russ & Daughters New York Brunch Ready for this? Th is Russ & Daughters’ brunch for six, available on amazon.com for $140, includes one pound of Gaspe smoked salmon, one pound of all-natural cream cheese, six assorted bagels, one chocolate babka, one pound of custom roast coff ee, one ceramic coff ee cup and an insulated tote bag. No need to make the trek to New York! Bring Russ & Daughters wherever you want. Th is is an out of the box gift , but it’s a guaranteed splash. Holiday Holiday Entertaining Entertaining Menu Menu Now Now Available Available CARLINOSMARKET.COM 610.649.4046 CARLINOSMARKET.COM 610.649.4046 CARLINOSMARKET.COM 610.649.4046 128 MARKET WEST CHESTER, 19382 128 W. W. W. MARKET MARKET ST. ST. ST. WEST WEST CHESTER, CHESTER, PA PA PA 19382 19382 128 2616 COUNTY LINE RD. ARDMORE, 19003 2616 E. E. E. COUNTY COUNTY LINE LINE RD. RD. ARDMORE, ARDMORE, PA PA PA 19003 19003 2616 16 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM MAKI-SAN-Magazine.pdf 1 11/6/2019 12:28:35 PM Otterbox Phone Case Th e Otterbox phone case has been a really solid, functional Chanukah gift for a long time. Th ey’re wonderfully durable, helping countless phones over the years survive all manner of drops. Th e newest versions are thinner, and not quite as unwieldy as Otterbox cases of the past. Th ey come in blue, pink, black and ocean green. Get it on amazon.com for $22.20. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Ember Temperature-Control Smart Mug Th is mug, which can be controlled with the Ember app, keeps your hot drink at the exact temperature you prefer (between 120 and 145 degrees). Set the mug on the charging coaster, and get an hour of battery life for the mug. Never take that unexpected lukewarm sip of coff ee again. Get it on amazon.com for $69.90. Bryn Mawr · Media · West Chester Bryn Mawr · Media · West NG Chester w Bryn w w. B Mawr RYNM · AWRRUNNI CO .c om West Chester Bryn Media · · West West Chester Chester Bryn Mawr Mawr · Media w w w. B RYNM AWRRUNNI NG CO .c om w w w. B RYNM AWRRUNNI NG CO .c om w w w w w. NG CO CO .c .c om om w. B B RYNM RYNM AWRRUNNI AWRRUNNI NG Help us support Help us us support Help support WHERE our Help Help us support support troops WHERE our troops WHERE our our need troops they it the WHERE most... troops WHERE our they the most... they need need it it it the they need most... the they need most... the most... their feet. their feet. their feet. feet. their Learn how you can make a difference . . . make w Learn w w. s how n how e a you k e r can s f o make r s o a a l difference d difference i e r s .o r . . g . . . Learn you can Learn Learn how how you you can can make make a a difference difference . w w w. s n e a k e r s f o r s o l d i e r s .o r g JEWISHEXPONENT.COM w w w. s n e a k e r s f o r s o l d i e r s .o r g w w w. s n e a k e r s f o r s o l d i e r s .o r g w w w. s n e a k e r s f o r s NOVEMBER o l d i e r 28, s 2019 .o r g 17 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE Chanukah Gift Ideas Instant Pot Th e Instant Pot is nearly ubiquitous at this point, but there’s a reason for that: It’s awesome. A combined pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker and warmer. Easy to use, easy to clean and extremely durable. Find an Instant Pot on amazon.com for $67.99. Small Blue Kiddush Cup Th e National Museum of American Jewish History Museum Store has a wealth of good options, even beyond Judaica. But we’re partial to this small silver-plated zinc Kiddush cup, hand-painted with rich blue enamel. Pick it up at judaicashop.net for $70. ● jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 GIVE THE GIFT O OF A BARRACK EDUCATION Our students are athletes, artists, engineers, actors, scientists, and activists who go on to become leaders in their fields and engaged citizens of the world. VISIT US TO SEE WHY OUR STUDENTS LOVE WHERE THEY LEARN. Students develop a lifelong appreciation of learning, an understanding of their place in history, and a passion to reach their potential. OPEN HOUSES 272 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 jbha.org • 610-922-2350 Wednesday, December 18, 2019 Friday, March 20, 2020 Partnering with All Open Houses are 9:30 am- 12:00 pm 610.922.2350 • admissions@jbha.org 18 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Accredited by Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and Secondary Schools. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Le t’s Get Ser iou s abou t Ch anukah L MATT SILVER | JE STAFF et’s be real: Chanukah is far from the most theologically signifi cant Jewish holiday on the calendar. Reasonable minds can diff er over whether it counts, strictly speaking, as a holiday at all. Does Chanukah carry the religious or liturgical heft to merit serious observation (or such cultural signifi cance)? Or is it simply a collection of biblically inconsequential festival evenings strung together haphazardly like dorm-room Christmas lights. Frivolity, fried foods and Adam Sandler. Bloated electric bills and just plain bloating. Was Chanukah always supposed to be like this? Was it ever supposed to be more solemn and sobering in tone, or at least more original — more Jewish and less Jewifi ed Christmas? See Chanukah, Page 20 arinahabich / iStock / Getty Images Plus Name: Urban Air Willow Grove; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087577 Willow Grove Urban Air Adventure Park In WIllow Grove Activate Awesome at Urban Air Willow Grove for your next Group Outing! Urban Air has something for Everyone! It is the perfect spot for Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Spirit Nights, Team Events, and Corporate Events! ACTIVATE AWESOME Sky Rider Coaster | Ropes Course | Climbing Walls | Wipeout Warrior Course | Battle Beam | Dodgeball | Trampolines 1150 Easton Road Willow Grove, PA 19090 215-902-9330 | www.UrbanAirWillowGrove.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 19 Name: Temple University Press; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 9.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087412 Holiday Gifts for everyone on your list Chanukah Continued from Page 19 “It is good to remember that (Chanukah) is not a major holiday, but it has caught on because everybody has a winter festival that’s related to light, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cele- brating ours,” said Rabbi Leah Berkowitz of Congregation Kol Ami in Elkins Park. “If we’re celebrating (Chanukah) and not acknowledging other Jewish holidays, then that’s a problem. But if you’re doing Sukkot and Passover and Shavuot and the High Holidays and Shabbat — if you’re doing all of those things and you want to make a big deal out of Chanukah, then that’s fine.” Ah, but what of that semi-queasy irony — a New York Times op-ed from this time last year went so far as to call it “hypoc- risy” — in how most secular American Jews have come to cele- brate Chanukah, a holiday born out of resisting assimilation? Hypocrisy’s probably a bit extreme; many families are trying simply to safely shepherd their children through the minefield of holiday season Christmas envy without suffering righteous admonishment. Still. “There is a certain irony to how Chanukah is celebrated because if we look at the historical, biblical origins of Chanukah, it’s very much about not assimilating,” Berkowitz confirmed. “It’s this small group of Jews that fought because they didn’t want to assimilate, because they wanted to keep observing Judaism in a strict way. So ... that (Chanukah) is the holiday that’s become the Jewish Christmas is the biggest irony.” Religious school students light up the darkness at Congregation Kol Ami in Elkins Park.  Photo by Rabbi Leah Berkowitz Wherever books & ebooks are sold TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS tupress.temple.edu 20 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 1969-2019 The Maccabees fought and killed to avoid being absorbed into the Hellenized world all around them. They adhered to a strict interpretation of what it meant to be Jewish and literally would’ve rather died than become the Hellenized Jews they reviled, who ate pork and didn’t circumcise their male children and participated in pagan rituals. Many see it as just another battle in the age-old war between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism — conservatives and tradi- tionalists versus the reform-minded. Throw in a megalomaniacal king in Antiochus IV who, by most historical accounts, was far more hostile to observant Jews than his dynastic predecessors, and you’ve got ready-made bellicosity. Just add oil ... or take it away. But perhaps the question shouldn’t be whether the Maccabees WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM HOT FOOT SHOES HOLIDAY SALE Maglara / iStock / Getty Images Plus Made in Israel would’ve approved of what Chanukah’s become, primarily because the answer is too obvious. Of course, they wouldn’t have. How most American Jews celebrate Chanukah today would’ve terrified Judah and company, and these weren’t men who scared easily. But so what? So what if how we celebrate their most unlikely victory, and the miracle that followed, isn’t necessarily in keeping with their highest ideals? So what if while our Hebrew school kids sing Mattathias bold, five brave sons had he: Eliezer, Simon, John, Jonathan and Judah Maccabee, we’re out buying and wrap- ping the latest must-have iteration of PlayStation, attending to our most unseemly consumerist compulsions just like all the other Christmas-celebrating Americans? According to clergy on both sides of the aisle, Chanukah and Christmas, despite very real differences, both exist to light up the darkness. And the way to make sure that Chanukah has not lost its power to illuminate — literally, spiritually, existentially — is not by abandoning it’s celebration; it doesn’t even necessitate a cold-turkey approach to the arguably maladjusted Chanukah Frankenstein that we hath wrought. It’s just by using Chanukah for some good, too. Addition by addition. Keeping the frivolity, keeping the fun, and injecting some meaning, too. Clergy in the know say the power of Chanukah is all in how you use it; you know, motion in the ocean type stuff. “One thing that I do to bring meaning into the season is I do a tzedakah menorah,” said Berkowitz about a custom born out of family Chanukahs that she’s exported to Kol Ami’s religious school. “So every night, I do light a candle. But instead of giving a gift for each candle, I give tzedakah to a certain cause. And I try to pick causes that would be connected to people I’d be giving gifts to.” But the clerics agree: living your best Chanukah isn’t about extremes. Avoid the baby and bathwater scenario. “You don’t have to do (your version of the tzedakah menorah) instead of gifts,” Berkowitz clarified. “Because, while we don’t want to compete with Christmas, we want to make Chanukah as beau- tiful as any other holiday so that kids have warm memories of it and don’t feel deprived. “So I wouldn’t say don’t get your kids gifts, I would say while you’re giving gifts, also consider tzedakah and giving your kid the opportunity to give tzedakah and letting them know that that’s a gift also.” See Chanukah, Page 22 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Excludes prior purchases, other discounts, and certain merchandise excluded Justa Farm Shopping Center 1966 County Line Rd, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 215-969-9626 • HOT-FOOT-BOUTIQUE.SHOPTIQUES.COM Give The Gift of Relief Name: Hemp Headquarters; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 3 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087498 The area’s best selection of lab-tested CBD which is a natural herbal remedy for infl ammation and anxiety. CBD is safe and non-psychoactive. Visit our retail store for a one-on-one consultation. No medical card needed. 115 York Road • Willow Grove, PA 19090 WWW.HEMPHEADQUARTERS.SHOP Don’t Have A Computer? Call (215) 657-1099 for a mail order catalog. 10% Off All CBD Products - Online Code: CBD4ME Promotion Expires Dec. 31, 2019 What’s going on in Jewish Philadelphia? Submit an event or browse our online calendar to find out what’s happening at local synagogues, community organizations and venues! Submit: listings@jewishexponent.com Online: jewishexponent.com/events/ WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 21 Name: Meadowood Sr Living:C/O Varsity; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00085707 Discover The Grove. And rediscover Life Without Shoveling. Please join us for “Tastes and Tours at Ten” Be among the first to walk through our newly completed model home, enjoy a delicious brunch and learn about exclusive end-of-year savings. Wednesday, December 4 at 10 a.m. Please also join us for a Dine & Discover luncheon Explore life at Meadowood over a chef-prepared lunch. Thursday, December 19 at 11 a.m. THE GROVE AT Space is limited, so please RSVP for all events at 484.991.7850 or TheGroveAtMeadowood.net. Location: Meadowood campus, 3205 W. Skippack Pike, Worcester, PA 19490 Name: Foulkeways at Gwynedd; Width: 4.9167 in; COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH & GUIDED TOUR Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00085056 LIFE, on a Scale of You . Rediscover your passions or devote more time to life-long hobbies, the choice is yours. Foulkeways is based on Quaker values and respect for the environment. Discover us today! foulkeways.org | 215-283-7010 1120 Meetinghouse Rd, Gwynedd, PA A Life Plan Community 22 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Ch anukah Continued from Page 21 Much of how we live today would prob- ably not have jibed with the ethos guiding the swords of Mattathias the Bold or his fi ve brave sons. Judah Maccabee, the third and most celebrated son, the legendary general and original Hebrew Hammer, would have found the garden-variety Chanukah bazaar bizarre. He might’ve branded us blasphemers and used that hammer (legend has it that Judah was called “Hammer” not just because of his ferocity in war but also because the hammer was his battle weapon of choice) of his against us in ways in our civilized society might fi nd untoward. Th ese were heroes and soldiers and tough men, but they lived in brutal times and were brutal. Should we stop singing their praises then? Th e Maccabees weren’t perfect, and neither are we. Being Jewish doesn’t inoculate us from the American condition and, more broadly, the human one. And it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for and celebrate the highest of ideals even while, most of the time, falling a good deal short. Th at’s not hypocrisy. Th at’s just living. So give yourself, and your neighbor who overindulges his kids once a year, a break. And give the Maccabees a break, too. Like us (and like our contemporary celebration of Chanukah), they were prod- ucts of their time and far from perfect, but they were conquering heroes, nevertheless. When we memorialize their exploits in song, we’re not hypocrites; we’re not war mongers, either. Failing all else, do what a rabbi in search of meaning would do: look to the Talmud. Berkowitz tells of an argument, memo- rialized therein, between the sages Hillel and Shammai over the proper way to light the Chanukah menorah. “Shammai argued that you should start with eight candles and diminish to one, because that’s what would have happened with the oil,” Berkowitz explained. “But Hillel argued that you should start with one candle and grow to eight, which is what we do [today] ... because ‘in matters of holiness, we increase; we do not decrease.’” So if you’re looking to add some sanctity to all the secular this Chanukah, perhaps all that’s needed is a new way of looking at lighting the menorah. ● msilver@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0737 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Artistic Eyewear; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087560 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 23 Chanukah on the Silver Screen: BRAT_PIKACHU / iStock / Getty Images Plus How Media Makes a Holiday SELAH MAYA ZIGHELBOIM | JE STAFF 24 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM T his holiday season, the Hallmark Channel added two movies with Jewish characters to its lineup. And that won’t be the only new milestone this winter for the Festival of Lights. In September, Disney announced its fi rst Jewish princess would debut on “Elena of Avalor,” to the delight of Jewish Disney fans everywhere. Th e new Sephardic princess, who will be voiced by Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“Th e Sopranos”), will appear on a Chanukah-themed episode of the show. Over the decades, Chanukah has taken on an increasingly visible role in American culture. Americans see Chanukah in giant public menorah light- ings, in the blue-and-white holiday cards that sit next to the red-and-green ones during December, and in movies and on television screens. Children might see the “Shalom Sesame” characters learning about Chanukah, while adults might see some tongue-in-cheek jokes about the holiday on shows like “Saturday Night Live” or “Th e Colbert Report” Christmas special. But that wasn’t always the story. In the early days of television, there was a “tug of war” over Jewish representation in media, explained Eric A. Goldman, fi lm historian and author of “Th e American Jewish Story Th rough Cinema,” among other works. Some early television shows might have a Jewish episode, where perhaps a rabbi might drop in. Many TV writers were Jewish, but they under- stood that, as Jews made up only a small fraction of audiences, it didn’t make sense to write for them. Name: The Sweater Mill-display*; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087544 Name: Spice..Indian Thai Bistro; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087504 OPEN ON CHRISTMAS!! Authentic Indian and Thai Cuisine Best of Main Line | BYOB, No Corkage Fee all around Indian kitchen” OPEN “Best ON CHRISTMAS!! –Craig LaBan of Philadelphia Inquirer Tommy and Chuckie study Torah in secret during the “Rugrats” retelling of the Chanukah story. 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In 2003, “The O.C.” popularized the term “Chrismukkah.” In one episode of “Friends,” Ross, dressed in an armadillo costume, teaches his son about Chanukah. “As interfaith marriage grew and grew and grew, and interfaith marriages were more a reality in this country, Chanukah became more and more ever present,” Goldman said. Chanukah became especially important to children, who might feel a twinge of jealousy when they see their Christian friends partaking in Christmas celebrations (and those Christmas presents). Children’s media has a lot to offer those children, too, while teaching non-Jewish children about Judaism. “An American Tail” opens with a scene of the Mousekewitz family celebrating Chanukah. There’s also the “Rugrats” Chanukah special, which children of the ‘90s and early 2000s recall with nostalgia. Examples like these give children a great sense of pride as they grow up, Goldman said. Chanukah also fills an educational role in children’s media, Name: Artis Senior Living; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087477 Join us for this free event Memory Café: Holiday Greeting Card Creations Memory Cafés are a welcoming place for people with cognitive impairments and for their families and friends. Join us to help create hand-crafted Holiday Greeting Cards for you to personally wish Happy Holidays to all whom mean the most to you. Limited to 20 attendees. Please RSVP by Tuesday, December 10 th Thursday, December 12 th 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Being held at: Artis Senior Living of Huntingdon Valley 2085 Lieberman Drive, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 (located behind Huntingdon Valley’s Post Office) To RSVP, or for more information, please call 877-352-1884 or visit www.TheArtisWay.com/JewishExponent 26 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Adam Sandler performs “The Hanukkah Song” on “Saturday Night Live.” YouTube screenshot explained Pamela Nadell, director of the Jewish Studies Program at American University and past president of the Association for Jewish Studies. “It’s a part of the notion of educating our children to under- standing the diverse groups that are in American society,” Nadell said. “We have this sense of we’ve got Chanukah, we’ve got Kwanzaa and we’ve got Christmas all falling at the same time. The U.S. Post Office is going to issue a Chanukah stamp, alongside its wealth of Christmas stamps. ... It’s a way of expressing one’s Jewish identity, of recognizing the diversity of America’s Jews.” Chanukah’s proximity to Christmas, and its friendly symbols of lights, latkes and dreidels, make it an easy choice for children’s media, said Diane Ashton, professor at Rowan University and author of “Hanukkah in America: A History.” “The fact that Chanukah is visible in popular media has spread WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Hot Foot; in; Depth: YOU’LL LOVE Width: THE 3.625 RESULTS ! 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087248 20% OFF Area Rug Cleaning Bob Zakian President We’ll take 20% off every rug cleaned. Minimum 2 rugs, any size*. Present this ad at time of pickup SALE ENDS DEC. 15, 2019 The Disney Channel original movie “Full-Court Miracle” is a modern retelling of Chanukah. YouTube screenshot Since 1923 the expectation that this is the standard thing to do and here’s how to do it,” Ashton said. “Popular culture is very instructive. It really tells people what is expected of them in many ways. It’s done that for Chanukah.” Th e visibility of Chanukah, compared to other Jewish holidays, extends beyond media, too. One example is the public giant menorah lightings that Chabad organizes in cities across the country. Th ere aren’t giant seder plates, Goldman noted, or giant sukkahs on Park Avenue. Th at is all despite the fact that Chanukah is a minor Jewish holiday. As the Jewish mom in “Th e Hebrew Hammer” tells her crime-fi ghting son aft er he saves Chanukah: “It isn’t even one of the High Holidays. Now, if you had saved Yom Kippur or Passover, you might have what to brag about.” But the elevation of Chanukah doesn’t have to be a bad thing. “It’s sort of a statement that we live in a culture where we don’t have one religion,” Goldman said. “Th ere is no state religion, and we recognize that Judaism is part of the Judeo-Christian fabric. New Location... 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We may not neces- sarily want to know every word to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” yet it is unavoidable; and try as we may to deny it, we have to admit that an Advent calendar full of chocolates does seem to have a leg up on the counting of the Omer. But a so-called holiday season needs to be enjoyed with ritual. And so, the holy combination of Chinese takeout and double-fea- tures — taken in from the comfort of the couch or at the pleas- antly empty multiplex — has become a tradition for many of our co-religionists. Dim sum and “Die Hard?” Beef lo mein and “It’s a Wonderful Life?” Dare we say, these combinations give latkes and applesauce a run for their money. Here, for your reading pleasure, the staff of the Jewish Exponent recommends their perfect Chinese food-and-movie combo to make it through Christmas 2019. Jesse Bernstein: Hunan chicken/“Th e Irishman” (2019). Have I had many versions of each one before? Yes. Is there something valuable in revisiting old themes with a new twist, over and over? Yes. Is the consumption of each done best when I have nothing else to do that day? Folks, you better believe it’s yes. Hunan chicken is a slow burn with a fi ery fi nish, and so, too, is Martin Scorcese’s “Th e Irishman,” a new, three-and-a-half-hour mob movie with — get this — Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. It’s a movie that’s good the fi rst time and, like Hunan chicken, is sure to reward going back for left overs. FACE PAINTING, BALLOON ARTIST, ARTS & CRAFTS FOR ALL AGES, POPCORN, COTTON CANDY. LIVE MUSIC, JUGGLING, DANCING, TRADTIONAL DONUTS & GOODIE BAGS FOR ALL CHILDREN! FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL LUBAVITCH OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA 215-725-2030 RABBI ABRAHAM SHEMTOV, REGIONAL DIRECTOR SPONSORED BY ARI BEN ROCHEL IN MEMORY OF ROCHEL BAS AVRAHAM O.B.M. 28 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 How does chow mein and “Eight Crazy Nights” sound? Eric Schucht makes the case. Photo by user bob walker, via Flickr WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Matt Silver: Dan Dan Noodles from Han Dynasty/“A Serious Man” (2009). Larry Gopnik is trying as hard as he can to be a mensch, which in his suburban Midwestern milieu of 1967 is defined narrowly, and vaguely, as “a serious man.” Gopnik’s neighbor and would-be cuckolder, Sy Abelman, is considered a serious man but is really a fraud, a pedantic blowhard. No one but Gopnik seems to notice. Gopnik’s Jewish day school-educated son, approaching bar mitzvah, is lost in a malaise of pot smoke and Jefferson Airplane lyrics, and his daughter is systematically looting cash from his wallet to save up for a nose job. Throw in a grades-for-cash boon- doggle from which Gopnik (a university professor) can’t extricate himself and a tenure committee poised to pounce on any perceived misstep, and it really starts to feel like Hashem must be punishing this beleaguered math-geek for something. The more he learns, the less he seems to know. Everywhere he turns for advice — from his divorce lawyer, to his dentist, to a parade of junior rabbis (the senior rabbi, Rabbi Marshak is always “thinking” and, thus, too busy to meet with him) — he’s given some abstract parable, some indecipherable piece of spiritual gobbledygook. In one memorable scene, Gopnik, a physics professor, teaches a lecture hall full of bewildered students Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. As we see the entire lecture hall shot from on high, blackboard filled with incomprehensible mathematic scribble, Gopnik finishes his proof and, with resignation, enlightens: “It proves we can’t ever really know what’s going on.” Gopnik pauses, before continuing: “But even though you can’t figure anything out, you will be responsible for it on the midterm.” Matt Silver recommends Dan Dan noodles to go along with any viewing of “A Serious Man” Photo courtesy of user jschoelver A movie so contemplative and funny and rich in layers calls for Chinese food with a multidimensional flavor profile. Han Dynasty, Philly’s original foray into the Sichuan Revolution, has got to be the choice. The cumin-heavy dishes are dry and bitter, like the film’s comedic sensibility, and also spicy, like Gopnik’s next-door neighbor who sunbathes topless, the alluring Mrs. Samsky. The famous Dan Dan Noodles (which may be ordered without the pork) are slippery like Sy Abelman and nutty like Gopnik’s unemployable brother (played pitch-perfectly by Richard Kind), who’s working on a secret treatise called the “Mentaculous” that turns out to be detached from every known reality. Add some extra chili flakes for those relatives who are See Chinese, Page 30 Name: Development Corporation for Isr; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00085110 with gifts of ISRAEL BONDS ISRAELBONDS.COM Development Corporation for Israel Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director Sharon Richman & Ari Sirner, Registered Representatives 1511 Walnut St, Suite 301 • Philadelphia, PA 19102 philadelphia@israelbonds.com • 215.545.8380 • 800.752.5671 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA. BOND WITH A NATION OF LIMITLESS POTENTIAL Vector dreidels and menorah: iStock israelbonds.com WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 29 Name: Attleboro Retirement Community; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087333 ChInEsE Continued from Page 29 geniuses in the only place that really matters, their own minds. Lastly, and this is most important, make sure to order the large helping and fi nish it all, thereby ensuring the onset of that distinctly Jewish brand of self-loathing that permeates “A Serious Man” and ulti- mately makes the food, and the fi lm, most worthwhile. Call for more information about our Winter Incentive! Name: Carol Schwartz Gallery; Width: 4.9167 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 00087292 Eric Schucht: Chow mein/“Eight Crazy Nights” (2002). Th is combination seems fi tting as they’re both cheaply thrown together messes. Like chow mein, “Eight Crazy Nights” is something few seek out. You don’t ask for it, but accept it anyway. Th e Jewish people don’t really have a lot of options when it comes to Chanukah fl icks, especially the animated kind, so beggars can’t be choosers. I’m a fan of the stir-fry travesty because I refuse to be an adult and make my own decisions. It’s a consistent, consumable dish that’s easy to order, easy to find and it gets the job done. Basic filler. The same can be said of the Adam Sandler musical “comedy” with bad voice acting, offensive stereotypes and overused toilet humor. Not sure if you’ll feel the spirit of the season aft er watching, but you’re sure to feel something. Oh, and make sure to eat out of a to-go box because it’s a crime to class up anything that’s just thrown on the living room TV for background noise as you think about your life choices. Selah Maya Zighelboim: Orange chicken/ “An American Tail” (1986). I love Pixar, so I will happily set myself up in front of an animated children’s fl ick this Christmas. And what better to go along with a children’s movie than a dish surely meant for children? Something sweet, sticky and colorful? For that reason, I’m pairing “An American Tail” with orange chicken. Th ough it’s not a Pixar movie, “An American Tail” makes for a great winter watch, full of Jewish themes. It’s a cute musical fi lm about a Russian Jewish mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz. It opens on a scene of the Mousekevitz family celebrating Chanukah, but that celebration is inter- rupted by cats, who, representing Cossacks, destroy the village and their home. Th e family immigrates to the United States, but on the way there, Fievel get separated and 30 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM goes on an adventure to try and reunite with them. There are also some snapshots of humans that might intrigue the adult part of your brain, such as a scene of people going through immigration at Ellis Island. Andy Gotlieb: Any kind of lo mein/“Good- fellas” (1990). My favorite movie (that and “Trading Places”) features a lot of food-heavy scenes, whether the boys were at the Bamboo Lounge, the Copa, Tommy DeVito’s moth- er’s house, Henry Hill’s house, Paulie Cicero’s backyard or a federal penitentiary, among other locales. It’s actually kind of surprising the mobsters didn’t all die from heart attacks before getting whacked, considering the amount of sausage, pasta and other Italian delicacies they consumed. I couldn’t really think of a Chinese equivalent to what the gangsters were eating, but lo mein basically is spaghetti, so there you go. And lo mein is hard to screw up — even the skeeviest Chinese takeout joint can make a tasty version. It’s also a fairly safe bet that “Goodfellas” will run multiple times over the holiday season. l Selah Maya Zighelboim recommends orange chicken while watching the classic animated film “An American Tale.” rez-art / iStock / Getty Images Plus Name: Development Corporation for Isr; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00085110 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 31 Off The Beaten Path WAYS TO VOLUNTEER THIS CHANUKAH JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF T he thing about doing good for others is that there is an inexhaustible supply of opportunities and, of course, others. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, there are people who need helping and a lot of diff erent ways to help them. Th at December has become a season to “give back” in the United States has much to do with Christmas and little to do with Chanukah. But you’d be hard pressed to fi nd a bad time to recommit to service, so why not do it around the festival of lights? Th is year, we have a couple of lesser-known options for giving a helping hand to those who need it. JEVS Human Services off ers a program called 3 Cups of Coff ee, which just celebrated its fi rst anniversary. First created by Pennsylvania Women Work, it is a short-term mentorship program designed to help job-seeking individuals connect with professionals in their chosen fi eld for job advice and networking assistance. Professionals fi ll out a simple application to be connected to prospective mentees. Aft er they’re paired up, based on mutual career interests, the two meet up for three one-hour coff ee meetings over six weeks. Better yet, lucky mentor-mentee pairs who fi nd themselves near a Saxby’s can get a free coff ee for their eff orts. From Generation to Generation A Family Tradition For All Occasions Formerly of Fleets T AILORED C LOTHING S PORTSWEAR A CCESSORIES F OOTWEAR photography courtesy of Jay Gorodetzer F ORMAL A TTIRE ... S ALES & R ENTALS F OR M EN & B OYS ! Sizes 2-50+ Regulars Slims - Huskies Portlys - X-Longs Drossner Family HOURS: M. T. TH. F. SAT. 10-5 • WED. 10-8 • SUN. 12- 4 RED LION RD. & HUNTINGDON PIKE, HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA 215-914-2060 • WWW.THEMENANDBOYSSTORE.COM 32 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE Celebrating Our 22nd Anniversary JEWISHEXPONENT.COM What has growing food in a desert 3 Cups of Coffee pairs job-seeking individuals with professionals in their field. Photo by Linette Kielinski In the year that the organization has operated the JEVS banner, 16 pairs have been made, according to Chris Richter, marketing communications manager at JEVS. The barrier for entry is low, and the time commitment is, too. “You don’t have to have been around a really long time to be a mentor,” Richter said. Another way to pitch in this Chanukah season is KleinLife of Northeast Philadelphia’s annual Adopt-A-Family program. The program, like 3 Cups of Coffee, pairs someone to give with someone who needs giving. Interested families and businesses are invited to “adopt” another family that can’t afford to purchase Chanukah gifts. Each year, participating volunteer families donate toys, clothing and gift items to deserving families. This year, said Inna Gulko, director of support services at KleinLife of Northeast Philadelphia, seven or eight families have already been “adopted” through the Adopt-A-Family program, with contributions from individual families, private donors, syna- gogues, sisterhoods and the American Heritage Credit Union. Still, there is plenty of time left for interested parties to help brighten another family’s Chanukah when they need it most. “It always feels great to cheer them up, and help them during the holiday season,” Gulko said. l jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 taught us about surviving droughts? MAKE YOUR YEAR-END GIFT TO DAY AT A F H U.O R G / W H E AT Professor Zvi Peleg and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed a new cultivar of wheat that is 30% more water efficient than the standard, domestic crop today. By crossbreeding domestic crops with wild wheat, we’ve shown that it’s possible to grow more with less. Since 1925, American Friends of the Hebrew University has connected the passions of Americans with innovation at the Hebrew University. KNOWLEDGE MOVES US. MONICA LOEBL National Director of Development T: 561.948.3342 E: mloebl@afhu.org From left: Amy Anderson; Inna Gulko, director of support services for KleinLife; and Melissa Garman Photo by American Heritage Federal Credit Union JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 28, 2019 33 Name: Gertrude Hawk Chocolates; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 4.75 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087329 THE PERFECT Chanukah TREAT! Many Kosher Chocolates Available! Find a store near you or shop online anytime www. GertrudeHawkChocolates .com Name: Henning’s Market; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 3 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 00087331 Name: Irma Brookstein; Width: 3.625 in; Depth: 1.75 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 00087332 Invitations Stationery Calligraphy Gifts 34 NOVEMBER 28, 2019 Les Femmes 157 Manor Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 215-938-1440 Fax: 215-938-0421 Advertiser Index A. Brandt + Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Alexander Horn & CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 American Friends Hebrew University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Artis Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Artistic Eyewear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Attleboro Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Bryn Mawr Running Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Carlino’s Specialty Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Carol Schwartz Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Development Corporation for Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Driven 2 Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Foodarama Caterers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Foulkeways at Gwynedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Gertrude Hawk Chocolates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 GIANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Gladwyne Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Goldstein’s Funeral Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Hemp Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Henning’s Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Hot Foot Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Irma Brookstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 John Neill Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Joseph Levine & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Keystone Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Linda’s Loft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Longwood Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lubavitcher Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Maki-San . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 McCaff rey’s Supermarkets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Meadowood Sr Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Pasha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Patricia Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Rob Vahey Insurance - Geico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Rossi Shoe Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Spice Indian Thai Bistro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Stupp Furs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sweet Mabel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Temple University Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Cynwyd Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Men & Boys Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Sweater Mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Urban Air Willow Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Wardrobe Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 West Laurel Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Wilkie Lexus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Zakian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Joseph Levine & Sons; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 00087367 For over 130 years, Joseph Levine & Sons has served the community in Philadelphia and its sur- rounding suburbs. Founded in 1883, our firm has been continuously owned and operated by a mem- ber of the Levine family, passing from father to son for five generations. We believe that ours is a sacred profession, one that is bound by a trust with the families we serve as well as the community we live in. We are here JEWISHEXPONENT.COM to serve you, both near or far. With our national affiliations, we can address your funeral needs any- where in the US, including in Florida and New York. And with our international affiliations we can do the same worldwide, including in Israel and Russia. Through a long-held commitment to our neigh- bors, our faith and our history, Joseph Levine & Sons continues to be steadfast in the values we hold most sacred: Service, Tradition and Dignity. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE To learn more, please visit us at www.levinefuneral.com or email us at info@levinefuneral.com NOVEMBER 28, 2019 35 Name: Wilkie Lexus; Width: 7.5 in; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black plus one; Ad Number: 00087159 FEEL LIKE A KID DURING THE HOLIDAYS Remember the thrill and joy of the holidays when you were a child? At the Lexus December to Remember Sales Event, rediscover that feeling with exciting offers on the Lexus of your dreams. But hurry — this event ends with the season. Choose From A Vast Selection Of New And Certified Pre-Owned Lexus Models. 568 West Lancaster Avenue • Haverford, PA 610-525-0900 • www.WilkieLexus.com FACEBOOK FOURSQUARE PINTEREST TWITTER