Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "jewish"

The Best Food Comes From the Heart

2011-09-15T20:14:12Z

The best food in world does not come from five-star restaurants that take months to get a reservation and a month's salary when you finally get one. No, the best food comes from treasured family recipes lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. That beautiful tradition will be celebrated at the upcoming Jewish Food Faire sponsored by Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, from 9 am to 3 pm. Savor stuffed cabbage, corned beef on rye, chopped liver and a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods, among other iconic Jewish foods.

"The best food comes from the heart," said Sheila Wolfe, Jewish Food Faire Chair. "That's what we want to convey with this year's Faire theme, 'From Generation to Generation.'" "What says love more than a steaming bowl of chicken soup, for instance," said Wolfe. "Sacramentans eager to surround themselves with wonderful, nurturing and delicious food will have a very special experience," she added. "Much of the food for sale at the Faire is lovingly made by hand by members of our congregation using their own treasured family recipes which were handed down to them by a mother or grandparent."

Embrace tradition at the Jewish Food Faire on October 16th at Congregation Beth Shalom, 4746 El Camino Avenue, Carmichael. For more information, visit www.cbshalom.org.

Disclosure: I am a unabashed foodie and a member of Congregation Beth Shalom.

Jewish Food Faire to Celebrate Culture's Rich Traditions

2011-08-25T14:48:37Z

Foodies and those who just love good food in a festive atmosphere will gather at Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, for the 35th Annual Jewish Food Faire, featuring iconic Jewish deli items such as authentic corned beef on rye, bagels and lox and noodle kugel, plus a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods.

The Faire, located at 4746 El Camino Avenue (Mission), will be held from 9 am to 3 pm, but come early because the food does tend to go fast.

This year's Food Faire theme is "Generation to Generation," recognizing the rich tradition practiced by many cultures in the Sacramento area of passing down family recipes from one generation to the next.

Join us for wonderful food that cannot be found anywhere else in the area, local arts and crafts and music. For more information, contact www.cbshalom.org.

Disclosure: I am a unabashed foodie and a member of Congregation Beth Shalom.

Family fun day planned for Sacramento's Annual Jewish Heritage Festival!

2011-05-16T22:45:27Z

Come for the falafel and stay for the community. That’s the spirit of this year’s Jewish Heritage Festival, being held May 22, 2011 at the West Steps of the Capitol from 1:00-6:00 p.m.

“This is a day for bringing Jews and non-Jews together for an afternoon of celebration,” said Caren Zorman, Special Projects Director for The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, which organizes the annual event. “I hope everyone comes out to be with their friends from throughout the region.”

Held in conjunction with National Jewish American Heritage Month, Zorman added that the Festival is representative of traditional food, live music and entertainment, dancing, cultural exhibits and displays, family and children’s activities, a special teen zone, and more.

This year’s Festival focuses on families and features local favorites Marty Cohen and the Sidekicks, The Freilachmakers, and Lucy’s Bones. Attendees also can rock out to the sounds of Jewish surf music with headliner Meshugga Beach Party, a group based in San Francisco who has performed throughout California for nearly 10 years.

In addition to the main stage music, Zorman said special family and children’s activities have been designed by juggler and storyteller Izzi Tooinsky and include visits from Queen Esther as well as the Magical Moonshine Theater. A Teen Zone offers the perfect place to chill. As in prior years, there will be a traditional Israeli shuk (street market) featuring a variety of vendors selling food and merchandise as well as information booths from synagogues, organizations, and agencies that are happy to provide community resources.

Said Zorman, “We want to create an environment where everyone can bring a blanket and relax, while eating great food, listening to great music, and spending the day feeling proud to be Jewish.”

The Jewish Heritage Festival is Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at the West Steps of the Capitol. For more information, visit www.jewishsac.org.

Disclosure: Elissa Provence is the Managing Editor and Director of Communications for The Jewish Voice.

Young Jewish Professionals Shake the Lulav for Sukkot NextDor...and Then Save the Deli

2010-09-24T23:58:27Z

Sitting on the edge of wonder, it is time to build the sukkah and dine under the stars with the region's young Jewish professionals, leaders, community, family, and friends. It’s harvest time. In Sacramento, perhaps more than many cities or regions around the world, we can very much identify with the spirit of Sukkot.

Tomorrow evening, Friday, Sept. 24, join NextDor and PJ Library in Sacramento for a Shabbat Sukkot dinner together! We'll dine outside in the sukkah, learn about Sukkot traditions, shake a few lulavs, and read stories. PJ Library is even providing the food! This event is the evening before NextDor's own big Sukkot dinner, so take advantage of both chances to make friends and enjoy dinner under the sky.
PJ Library has also asked NextDor members to read stories for the kids (they will supply the books). Send your RSVPs and questions to SacramentoPJLibrary@live.com.

Both UC Davis JLSA (Jewish Law Student Association) and KI have additional Shabbat celebrations, including comedian Simon Kaufman at KI brought to you by Rabbi Kaufman and family.

On Saturday, NextDor unfolds its 3rd Annual Sukkot Extravaganza at a private home in East Sacramento on the edge of the Fab 40’s. There will be a havdallah and the traditional Sukkot blessings followed by a tasty potluck & lots of socializing under the beautifully decorated sukkah.

We request that each person bring a food dish or bottle of wine to share with the group. If you are interested in bringing a Sukkot-inspired dish, please check out http://itotd.com/articles/322/the-foods-of-sukkot/ for ideas. To receive the address of the event, please contact Patricia Leonard via email at patricialeonard@nextdor.org.

Lastly on Sunday, go Save the Deli! Have you read the book? If not, eat your way to deli heaven, and enjoy the manna falling from the skies, literally. That’s right, Congregation Beth Shalom is flying in deli and bakery from the likes of Katz’s in NYC and Cantor’s in L.A. for the 33rd Annual Sacramento Jewish Food Faire. And someone’s riding the 80 to hit up Saul’s in Berkeley. Head out to Carmichael between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. More details NextDor!
Blog NextDor about your favorite traditions or any of the experiences you host at your sukkah or activities from your synagogue. There’s a lot going on across the region.
And thanks for your support!
-Patricia Leonard, Co-Chair Education and Programs NextDor
-Jason Weiner, Co-Chair Membership
-Ryan Lewis, Vice-Chair NextDor
-Brian Fischer, Chair NextDor

Jewish Young Professionals to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah

2010-09-08T20:28:58Z

At sundown tonight, a new year begins. The Jewish New Year of 5771, that is. This celebratory holiday is known as Rosh Hashanah, which literally means "head of the year" or "first of the year" in Hebrew. To symbolize one's hopes for a "sweet" new year, it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey. NextDor, Sacramento's organization of Jewish young professionals, is taking this tradition a step further.

On Saturday, September 11 from 5-9 pm, NextDor hosts a "Sweet" Open House and Havdallah complete with various desserts and dessert wine. The spread includes pomegranate and orange muscat wines from Israel, fresh-baked cookies, baklava, and honey cake, and the infamous apples dipped in honey. This open house is not just a party to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, but it's also a chance for the young professional Jewish community to be together during the High Holy Days.

Ryan Lewis, Vice-Chair of NextDor's Board of Directors, explains that "many Jewish young professionals move to Sacramento and are unaffiliated with the local synagogues. NextDor welcomes them with open arms and we hope they become inspired to get involved in our growing Jewish community." But this party is not just limited to Sacramento newbies or those who are unaffiliated; it's open to all Jewish young professionals who are ready to party like it's 5771. People are encouraged to eat as many sweets as possible, just in time to repent these sins on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The open house will be located at 2014 Capitol Avenue inside the Jewish Federation of Sacramento's building between 20th and 21st in Midtown, Sacramento. To learn more about NextDor and to get more details about the open house and other future events, visit www.nextdor.org or NextDor's facebook or meetup pages.

Shana tovah v'metukah!

Matisyahu headlines the Jewish Heritage Festival

2010-05-03T04:58:52Z

Sure, there was a rabbi or two, kosher food and people passing out the newspaper Kabbalah Today. But Sunday's Jewish Heritage Festival seemed more like a Matisyahu concert than a festival celebrating Jewish culture.

The American, Hasidic Jewish reggae artist is known for his top-40 hit "King Without a Crown," and "One Day," an official 2010 Winter Olympics Anthem. He's also known as a great live performer.

It was a much larger audience than last year's festival, several thousand people lining in front of the west steps of the Capitol, with hundreds more sitting on and behind the steps. The line for a falafel sandwich was a wait of more than 30 minutes at one point.

Vendors - including everything from a jewelry vendor to an Omri Casspi-themed Sacramento Kings gear booth, even a shofar (a ceremonial ram tusk horn) vendor - began lining 10th Street between O and L in the early afternoon. The festival kicked off a little after 1 p.m., and shortly after an eco-friendly fashion show took place on the stage.

The crowd was diverse. Some wore traditional Jewish garb, others were in urban clothes. There were families, young adults and reggae fans who were there just to see the concert.

Hundreds more showed up for the L.A. Israeli Dance Team, but it was clear that the thousands of people congregated at the stage were there for the free Matisyahu performance. Matisyahu was supposed to be onstage by 3:15 but he didn't show up until a little before 4 p.m. to an outburst of applause from an eager audience.

Live, he is usaually backed by at least a three-piece band, but today he was accompanied only by Dave Holmes, guitarist for Brooklyn band Dub Trio.

He began his set by saying that the show was his "largest acoustic gig ever." With Holmes laying out a foundation of melody on acoustic guitar, Matisyahu (Hebrew for Matthew) sang "Jerusalem," "Exhaltation" and "One Day," ending each song with beatbox solos.

Despite the small instrumentation, Matiyahu was able to cover a large range of sounds.

His voice is a soulful falsetto when he's singing, but he mainly delivers lyrics in the form of Jamaican toasting - or rhyming over a reggae beat (think Damian Marley or Yellow Man). His beat-boxing work was nothing short of amazing, with beatboxing solos on nearly every song, sometimes evolving into scat singing.

In the middle of his set he covered Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Who Feels It Knows It."

He also employed crowd-pleasing antics. He used call-and-response, and he even invited one person to give him a hug. This invitation turned into a massive group hug as people rushed the stage, leading Matisyahu to exclaim that the hugging session was like the book, "If You Give a Moose a Muffin."

One time, he answered his iPhone between songs, talking to a friend who happened to call. Off the same iPhone, he read lyrics to a new song he debuted at the show, adding, "I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't a free show."

He also riffed on what he knew of Sacramento, joking that the falafel vendor was great, as is shopping at Dimple records and swimming in the American River, which also elicited cheers.

It was satisfying enough for a free Matisyahu show and a fun day overall. That being said, hopefully he brings the whole band and plays a proper show next time he's in Sacramento.

2010 Jewish Heritage Festival: Thousands Expected to Gather Sunday, May 2nd, 1:00 p.m. at the Capitol West Steps.

2010-04-16T19:55:51Z

(Sacramento, CA)--The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region will commemorate May as National Jewish American Heritage Month by hosting the 2010 Jewish Heritage Festival. The Festival will celebrate the centennial founding of the Kibbutz movement and Israel's 62nd anniversary. It will include an expanded kid’s zone, an eco-friendly fashion show, and an acclaimed Israeli dance troupe from Los Angeles. This event is the largest Jewish celebration in Sacramento, is open to the public and is free.

"It is wonderful that so many people throughout our region attend this event and demonstrate their support for Israel,” says Skip Rosenbloom, President of the Jewish Federation, "you won't want to miss it."

This cultural event is headlined by acclaimed reggae superstar Matisyahu. Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip hop sounds, Matisyahu has a large following as a Hasidic Jewish musician from New York City singing reggae songs about his religious devotion. Matisyahu's 2009 single "One Day" was chosen as the official theme song for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
In addition to the live music and entertainment, there will also be cultural food, an artist street market, a mediterranean teen lounge, henna tattoos, storytelling and more.

In conjunction with the Presidential decree, Senator Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg has released a resolution as well as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proclamation reaffirming May as National Jewish American Heritage Month.

The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region strives to serve and enrich the Jewish community and those who support and identify with it in the greater Sacramento region, Israel, and the world.

For more information and a full list of the sponsors, please visit: www.Jewishsac.org

Contact: David Goodman, Director of Communications
Office: 916.486.0906
dgoodman24@gmail.com

###

Why On This Night Do We Eat Only Chocolate?

2010-03-26T06:21:41Z

Chocolate seders on Passover are growing in popularity.

The traditional Passover seders on the first and second nights of Passover will always be an important time for families and synagogues to gather around the dinner table to celebrate the ancient Jews' exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Not so traditional is the chocolate seder, a great alternative and festive way to commemorate this holiday. Instead of the traditional foods found on the seder plate--usually a hardboiled egg, a shankbone or drumstick, horseradish, parsley, and a fruit and nut mixture called Charoset--each item will be replaced with a different kind of chocolate.

Chocolate eggs, white chocolate for the shankbone, bittersweet chocolate for the horseradish -- and the chocolatey goodness goes on: wine is replaced with chocolate milk, and the saltwater is replaced with chocolate syrup. And don't forget the chocolate-covered Matzah.

NextDor, Sacramento's fastest-growing young professional Jewish organization, is hosting its first chocolate seder on Friday, April 2 at the Clunie Community Center in McKinley Park. Brian Fischer, Chair of NextDor, expects at least 60 people to attend the dessert-only event. "Our intent is to make Judaism more accessible, and a chocolate seder is a great way to bring together young Jewish professionals from the greater Sacramento community. It should be a really fun and delicious evening."

NextDor is not the only Sacramento organization to embrace the chocolate seder trend. The Jewish Law Students Association at U.C. Davis School of Law is also hosting a chocolate seder on the second night of Passover. A simple internet search reveals that chocolate seders are also being hosted around the country, and some websites even sell edible chocolate seder plates to make the experience even more "authentic."

Personally, I am very excited to attend NextDor's chocolate seder, because I never met a piece of chocolate I didn't like.

Sacramento’s Jewish Heritage Festival— Celebrating kibbutzim, schwarmas, and Jewish American Heritage Month

2010-03-12T14:03:57Z

Looking for Israeli dancing? A piece of Judaica? A falafel, perhaps?

You can find all that and more on May 2, 2010 when the West Steps of the state’s Capitol are transformed into an Israeli shuk during the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region’s Jewish Heritage Festival.

Coinciding with Lag B’Omer and in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, this annual event kicks off with an Israel Unity Walk and the release of dozens of doves, the universal symbol of peace.

“As American Jews we get the best of both worlds,” said Festival Project Manager Caren Zorman. “We get to openly celebrate and embrace our Judaism, while also participating in a public celebration of Israel’s independence and statehood.”

In honor of this year’s theme, “The Centennial of the Kibbutz Movement,” Sacramento-area religious schools are creating displays that highlight different kibbutz industries, such as drip irrigation, flower production, and spas/retreats, and educating the public about what each industry does while offering hands-on activities.

“We want to show everything about kibbutzim,” Zorman said. “How they started, how they have grown, what they are today, and their value to the Israeli economy.”

Master of Ceremony Sen. Darrell Steinberg will address the crowd as will Congressman Dan Lungren. Invited guests include Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinberg, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, and Councilman Steve Cohn.

This year’s entertainment features Matisyahu, whose 2009 release, One Day, was a theme song of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Grammy-nominated artist has toured in the United States, South America, Europe, Canada, Israel, and Australia and recently appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and the PBS series, The Jewish Americans.

Grammy-nominated singer, Matisyahu

Also on the entertainment program is The Los Angeles Israeli Dance Team, directed by David Dassa, son of Israeli dance choreographer Dani Dassa. The dance troupe has performed at Festival Aviv in Mexico City, the Boston Israeli Dance festival, the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, and two NBA halftime shows for the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.

“Everyone will find something to do and learn— from the Ultra Orthodox to those who are completely unaffiliated and Jewish in name only,” said Zorman. “This event will have something for everyone.”

She’s not kidding either. Slamson of Sacramento Kings fame and Dinger from the Sacramento River Cats also will make appearances, as will juggler and storyteller Izzy Tooinsky. Additional festivities include a fashion show featuring local designers and models; a food court with everything from schwarmas to falafel to hot dogs; and a variety of vendors who will showcase jewelry, Judaica, custom quilts, glass art, and more. Children’s activities include a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, and carnival games. A special tikkum olam section offers an opportunity for visitors to donate blood and to register for bone marrow transplants.

On April 20, 2006, Pres. George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month following the successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004.

With an anticipated attendance of 3,000 people, Zorman, who has been a project manager for Intel, Hewlett Packard, and former Gov. Pete Wilson, said, “People who are Jewish should celebrate being Jewish and learn about their culture. This event is for people who want to reconnect with Judaism in a non-threatening way.”

The ultimate goal, she added, is that “the Jewish community as a whole can feel good about themselves. This is about how we, as Jews, celebrate our heritage.”

The Jewish Heritage Festival is Sunday, May 2, 2010, 1:00-4:30 p.m. at the West Steps of the Capitol. For sponsorship opportunities or general information, contact Zorman at 916.486.0906, x. 303. To volunteer, contact Michelle Masoner at 916.486.0906. To sign up in advance to donate blood, visit www.jewishsac.org.

From Sacramento to Haiti, the Jewish Federation, your location for community donation

2010-01-20T22:19:35Z

According to Jewish tradition, the highest form of tzedakah, or charity, is to donate to a community fund, or kupah. Whether your donation is in the form of community service hours, survival materials or a monetary donation, it all helps to strengthen and build our community at large.

The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, and their overseas beneficiaries, work with a broad set of national and international institutes that span the world to provide relief, rescue, and reconstruction. The federation system is dedicated to inspiring community members to secure the financial and human resources necessary to achieve the mission of caring for those in need, without discrimination. That includes supporting victims of natural disasters and assisting refugees from war-torn countries.

Most recently, the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region has been at the forefront of relief and aide sent to the victims of the Haiti earthquake in the form of monetary donations. The Jewish Federation has partnered with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide urgently needed aide and relief to victims of the devastating earthquake.

A reputable source of community giving that benefits the world locally and globally, the Sacramento Federation has been a driving force in providing aid overseas. Take a look at the many projects and forms of aide that Federation has taken part of in the past:

* Federation donors provide assistance to victims of natural disasters through UJC rescue and relief mailboxes. That includes assistance to victims of the earthquakes in Turkey, Armenia and Columbia, and hurricanes Georges and Mitch in the Caribbean.

* The federation supported UJC Kosovo Relief Fund, which raised $3.5 million provided humanitarian relief for Kosovar refugees, helped repair and reopen 15 elementary schools, and distributed posters warning children about the dangers of land mines. Through the Jewish Agency for Israel, UJC provided resettlement and relief, including 11 planeloads of goods: 100 tons of medicine, blankets, tents, clothing and other basics.

* In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee., with support from federations, rescued more than 2,100 Jews, Muslims and Christians from war-torn Sarajevo. Thousands of food packages and 60% of the available medications were distributed free of charge on a non-sectarian basis by the federation-supported Sarajevo Jewish community.

* In Albania, federation support enabled one of the few winterized refugee camps to house the conflict's most vulnerable refugees, and provided bedding and mattresses to 23,000 refugees, recreational kits for over 10,000 children, and arranged for the services of physicians and nurses.

* In Ethiopia, the JDC, with funds provided by the federation system, provided full-scale medical, social and educational services to 15,000 Jews in Addis Ababa, maintaining their health and morale until they were airlifted to Israel by JAFI's 1999 Operation Solomon. In 1999, JAFI brought 2,300 more Ethiopian Jews, 1,400 from Quara, to Israel, all supported by Jewish federations.

* In the former Soviet Union, over 205,000 needy elderly are receiving some kind of assistance from the federations of North America through JDC. In 1999, JDC delivered more than 960,000 food packages, provided four million hot meals, supplied 44,000 clients with fuel, clothing and blankets, loaned more than 26,000 pieces of medical equipment, and mobilized nearly 10,500 welfare volunteers.

* In Morocco, through JDC, the UJA Federation Annual Campaign of United Jewish Communities provides food, clothing, shelter, health care, and Jewish cultural and recreational activities to the most vulnerable of Morocco's Jews.

* In 1999, 411 young Jews from war-ravaged Yugoslavia participated in a two-week pilot trip to Israel developed by JAFI, with funds from federations. Participants were invited to remain in Israel while exploring study opportunities and immigration options. 135 chose to stay.

To donate to the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region's Haiti Relief Fund or community campaign, please visit www.jewishsac.org

Omri's Impact- New Website Casspi18.com is International Attraction

2009-12-23T23:17:53Z

The stretch of an NBA player’s reach goes far beyond their measurable wing span. From the internet to television, player’s lives are dissected and analyzed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Savvy players create charitable foundations, Facebook fan pages and blogs to market themselves and keep the fans “close”.
While the Sacramento Kings Omri Casspi is not your “average” American-born basketball player, it is clear that Omri’s impact goes far and beyond what any might have originally expected.
This past December marked the launch of www.casspi18.com, an interactive website that connects fans directly to Number 18, giving them the chance to write him questions, follow in-depth Omri’s success on the court and even brush up on some Omri Casspi history. The site features both a Hebrew and English option to cater to both American and Israeli fans, and even boasts an official Omri Casspi newsletter that sends fans updates on Omri’s game statistics and future meet and greets with the new found Israeli “King”.
Omri takes great pride in the website, personally answering each e-mail that he receives and dictating the look and feel of the site.
“I am very proud of the site” Omri said, “It really gives the fans an opportunity to ask me questions and learn more about the Kings. “
One of the most interesting tidbits about the new Omri Casspi site is the attention that it has received across the nation. From China to Sacramento and everywhere in-between, fans have logged on and sent their support to Omri by way of Casspi18.com.
It is no surprise that the country of Israel has supplied the site with the most amount of site hits; yet what is surprising is the site has also made its mark in other countries around the world. Neighboring Middle-Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Iraq, India, and Australia all have made the trip to Casspi18.com to learn more about Omri, demonstrating, once again, the international impact that Omri Casspi has made in a relatively small amount of time.
While site hits from neighboring Middle-Eastern countries does not equal peace in a troubled war zone, Casspi18.com is only one display of the impact that Omri has been able to create across the globe.
Recently, the Israel Ministry of Tourisim began to offer Israeli’s the “Omri Casspi Flight Package”. This one-of-a-kind package includes a round trip flight from Israel to Sacramento (with connections in Los Angeles) and provides travelers a ticket to see the Sacramento Kings and Omri play at Arco Arena. Omri’s presence is Sacramento alone has helped international tourisim rise in the Capitol City of California.
On Monday, November 23, 2009 the Sacramento Kings squared off against the Memphis Grizzles in Memphis, Tennessee. Thousands of miles and at least a sixteen-hour plane ride away from the Middle Eastern conflict, history was once again made as the first and only Iranian NBA player, Hamed Haddadi, and Omri took center court, before the game, to shake hands and take historical pictures. Casspi and Haddadi exchanged pleasantries and wished each other luck, snapped a few pictures and then continued on to their normal pre-game rituals. While their meeting only lasted a few moments, its impact proved to be far more significant.
The NBA posted the historic pictures on NBA. com and on its Facebook account for the world to see and comment on. With-in hours, hundreds of comments were posted and the pictures were viewed across the globe. While there were posts of both encouragement and ridicule, the amazing thing was to see how many people and from how many far-away places the pictures had reached. Again, a center court picture between two professional athletes will never solve the eternal struggles in the Middle-East, but to see how many people the picture affected, near and far, was truly profound.
So as we continue to cheer Omri on throughout his successful and amazing first year as a professional athlete, remember the buzz that Omri has created, remember that eyes from across the globe are fixated on his every move, and remember the impact that Omri Casspi has managed to create stretches far beyond the walls of Sacramento and Arco Arena.

Casspi celebrates Hanukkah with community

2009-12-12T04:55:19Z

Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi scored a career-high 20 points Wednesday, grabbed eight rebounds and notched two assists. Thursday, he noshed and schmoozed with about 200 people at a Hanukkah party at Memorial Auditorium put on by the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region.

Casspi sat in the lobby for nearly an hour signing autographs, talking to fans and posing for photos. He also spoke of how he celebrates the Jewish holiday in Israel.

"I usually (celebrate it with) a small group of family, we get everybody to come together, light the candles, sing songs and pray together," he said. "Usually we do that all week (and) on the last night, we go to my grandparents' house, invite all the family and go out together."

Casspi said he misses his father, but is happy his mother, brother and sister could come to Sacramento to celebrate Hanukkah with him. "I'm not a religious person, but I love to pray to God and celebrate all the holidays," he said.

Casspi ranked sixth on www.NBA.com's rookie rankings this week and teammate Tyreke Evans ranked first. He sounded happy about his first season with the Kings.

"It's great we have a young team," he said. "It's (a) very talented (team) and throughout the season, we're only going to get better."

Thursday's celebration included another guest from Israel, Lior Suchard, who provided what he called "supernatural entertainment." His one-hour performance blended magic, comedy and reading the minds of audience members.

Aside from honoring In addition to Casspi, the Jewish Federation honored three generations of Jewish activists -- Lou Weintraub, Dr. E. Scott Rosenbloom and Brian Fischer -- for community service. A man dressed as Judah Maccabee, founder of Hanukkah, passed a ceremonial torch to each of the three men, who then spoke.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees triumphed over the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BC. The first of eight nights of celebration began Friday at sundown with the lighting of the first candle on the Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiyah.

"It was great fun. We came because we wanted to support the community," said Anne Eisenberg, 69, of Congregation B'nai Israel. "They honored good people (who) work for the community and deserve it. The community only works because of volunteers."

Eisenberg's husband, Hal, 70, said their Hanukkah celebration will be different this year because their children are in France. They mailed Hanukkah presents and potato latke (pancake) recipes to them and will chat online via Skype during the gift opening.

Mike Singer, 64, a member of Congregation Mosaic Law, said he enjoyed the celebration, adding that Suchard was an astonishing entertainer. The board president of the California State University, Sacramento/UC Davis Hillel House for Jewish students described his ideal Hanukkah present.

"We've already raised $3 million for a new UC Davis/Sac State Hillel House," he said. "What we need is $1 million more."

The fun continued late into the night with plenty of gelt (Hanukkah chocolates) to be eaten, dreidels (Hanukkah tops) to be spun and Hanukkah children's book to be read.

Photos by Anthony Bento of Anthonybento.com

Community-wide Chanukah Celebration: Featuring world renowned supernatural entertainer, Lior Suchard and Sac. King Omri Casspi

2009-12-10T19:59:48Z

Join the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region for the 2009 Community-wide Chanukah Celebration! All are invited to see the one-of-a-kind performance by acclaimed supernatural entertainer Lior Suchard (click here to see exclusive video). The entire community is invited to see the show and stay for autographs and pictures with Israeli NBA superstar Omri Casspi (click here for an exclusive video invite from Omri). In addition, three generations of community leadership will be honored as we "pass the torch" from leader to leader, and hear words from Sacramento Vice Mayor Hammond.

This event will be one you will want to be sure not to miss! For event details visit www.jewishsac.org and for tickets call 916-486-0906. Tickets:$40 or Special Family Pricing: $110

Omri Casspi gives us a reason to stand-up and cheer

2009-11-25T20:03:06Z

Judaism has always left its constituency with an interesting morale dilemma. While we grow up proud of our heritage, appreciative of
our traditions, there is always some sort of inhibition when it comes to public displays of our culture and religion.

Growing up in a Hebrew speaking home, I remember vividly how I would be “embarrassed” when my mother would yell across the grocery store in Hebrew, not because I was being yelled at, growing up with an Israeli mother I became used to this type of public “affection,” but everybody would turn and look with a perplexed look on their face thinking “What language is she speaking in?”

I grew up having to explain over and over to my friends why I had a mezuzah on my front door, why I didn’t celebrate Christmas and why when I was thirteen years old I would be having a big party in honor of my transformation to manhood.

While these feelings are across the board, and I am sure that many of you had the same type of mixed emotions while growing up, loving your culture and traditions, yet at times, uneasy with the public display of your religion, it seems as if times and perception’s have begun to change…at least in Sacramento.

When the Sacramento Kings drafted Omri Casspi with the 23rd overall pick in this past summer’s NBA draft, many of us did not know
what to expect. Will he come to Sacramento? Will he play at all? Will people here even care?

Just over one month into the NBA season it seems as if we have many answers to the many questions we first had. Yes, he will come to Sacramento. Yes, he will play and yes, people definitely care.

Although the Sacramento Kings did once boast a healthy fan base, with the recent string of losing seasons, Arco Arena has been left empty. The Kings are without any marquee players and there are rumors swirling about the team relocating to a new city in the near future,
yet there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

With a promising start, which includes the first winning record since the 2006 season, Omri Casspi’s arrival in Sacramento seems to have come at just the right time. Fans are standing up, cheering for their ONLY professional sports team of the three major sports (Football, Baseball, and Basketball) and there seems to be some enthusiasm that has been re-injected into this city concerning its basketball
team. This phenomenon seems to be particularly true when it comes to the Jewish community.

While it is great to see the Kings be competitive and change their image from perennial doormat to a team capable of winning games both at home and on the road, there is a long way to go and many changes are still needed. However, the reach that Casspi’s arrival
has afforded us stretches well beyond the bounce of an orange ball or the height of a ten foot backboard.

Casspi has made us feel proud to be Jewish, in a public setting. I find myself, with reservations still lurking in the back of my mind, standing up, in the company of over ten thousand people, waving Israeli flags, hoisting signs that read “King Omri” in Hebrew and even tolerating a loud, disturbing, yelp for my attention in Hebrew across the hallways.

It is not that Omri has changed the meaning of what it is to be Jewish and the constant struggle to become comfortable with ones Jewish identity. But, for the first few months of the NBA season, the arrival of Omri Casspi has made it more mainstream.

While before we might be “hesitant” to raise a sign in a crowded area with Hebrew draped across it, suddenly, we are proud. People, from all walks of life, are suddenly asking about life in Israel, details about our eating practices, what Mazel Tov means; and this is only in the context of the arena. I have heard stories of young community children, as young as five years old, watching Omri, screaming in joy
at the television, “Go Omri!!! I am Jewish too!!!!” The children are writing him letters, buying his jersey, and coming back to Shalom School after watching the previous night’s game to find out that all of their classmates watched too; Omri’s performance being “the” topic of discussion at schoolthat day, for both boys and girls.

I have met fully grown men, who as birthday gifts to each other, made the trip to Sacramento from as far away
as San Diego, solely to come see Omri play in person.

When Omri made his first home appearance on November 2nd, I found myself in awe as I heard, above the roar of the crowd; his father yell in Hebrew “that’s my boy!” While flashbacks to my childhood inevitably crept in, I was comforted as I looked around and was greeted by smiles and even pictures as the crowd realized it was Omri’s father.

The same evening, before the game even started, I was reminded again of the history of the event as over 250 community members packed into a private lounge on the top level of Arco Arena to hear Omri address the crowd and to participate with a
Q and A session with the fans in attendance.

While many fans, when in presence of their favorite player, ask for autographs and pictures, it was noteworthy that Omri’s fans had a different agenda. When given a moment to address him, they offered support, words of advice, and from one very little girl, even a hug.

This reminded me that to us, the Sacramento Jewish Community, Omri is more than a basketball player, more than athlete that
we pay to see perform on the court, we care what happens off the court too. He is one of us, part of our cultural background, part of our religion and now, part of our community.

So, as the season progresses, and your chance arises to come see this unique and truly talented young man perform at sport’s highest level, remember to support him, for he, unlike anyone else before him, is part of us and part of our community. And when he does well, remember to get on your feet, wave your Israeli flags, and yell-as loud as you possibly can, in Hebrew, and don’t worry, no one will be embarrassed.

2009 Community-wide Chanukah Party Honors Three Generations of Community Leadership

2009-11-23T21:23:10Z

From the distinct smell of cooking Latkas (potato pancakes), the sound of the spinning dreidal against the hard wood floor, to the timeless visual of the burning of the Menorah candles, Chanukah provides us sensual imaginary that is forever emblazoned in our minds and memory.

Derived from the Hebrew verb "חנך", the literal translation of “Hanukkah” means “to dedicate,” celebrating the Jews regained control of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Temple.

This year, as we commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE, we must also remember our local commitment, our dedication to our local community.

Honoring three generations of community leadership, the 2009 Community-wide Chanukah party will highlight the “passing of the torch” as we honor Lou Weintraub, Skip Rosenbloom and Brian Fischer for their commitment and dedication to our Sacramento community. Through quiet leadership and unwavering vision, our three honorees have contributed to the Medical, Land Development and Business landscapes which have helped shape not only the Jewish Community, but the Sacramento Region as a whole.

Lou Weintraub was Brooklyn born and went to CCNY where he majored in Chemistry. This was depression time and jobs were hard to find in New York, so off he went 2,000 miles away to El Paso, Texas, for a job in synagogue administration which he held for four years.
Eventually he went back to school, to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Master’s, just in time to enter the Army. There he spent the next four years honing his skill as a Clinical Psychologist.

Utica, New York was his first post-war job where he spent two years working as a Jewish Federation Executive and went to San Francisco where he spent eight years as a community organization consultant to Jewish Community organizations in the ten Western states and Western Canada.

Next, he moved to the San Francisco Jewish Federation where he worked for the next 23 years and was its Chief Executive Officer upon retirement. He later started his own consulting firm Weintraub Associates, Inc., specializing in fund-raising, community organization and non-profit management.

He served as consultant to the United Way of the Bay Area and managed a campaign for their new building. He was also consultant to the American Red Cross in San Francisco and served as its interim Chief Executive until a permanent CEO could be found.

His move to Sacramento came in small steps. Roslyn, his later to be wife, lived here and the commuting between San Francisco and Sacramento began. And it was during the commuting period that Lou found the time to earn a Certificate in Financial Planning from UC Davis.

Lou has been very active in the non-profit field since moving to Sacramento some eighteen years ago. He has delivered food to the home-bound for Meals-A-La Car and has been on the Boards of both the Community Services Planning Council and the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Emergency Food and Shelter Board, and is a congregant of Mosaic Law Congregation.

Dr. E. Scott Rosenbloom, better known as “Skip”, is a B’nai Israel congregant, a physician, a former health plan Medical Director, and a businessman, with a broad-based perspective on the health care system and expertise in the issues of quality and medical necessity for care. His experience encompasses a seven-year practice in occupational medicine and emergency medicine. He founded a managed care company, and he provides managing and consulting services for a wide range of regional businesses. Dr. Rosenbloom received his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and his Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Rosenbloom currently sits as the President of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region.

Brian Fischer is co-founder, brand creator, and past Dir. of Business Development, Sales, and Marketing for downtowngrid.com.

After five years of building that well-known online-and-on-the-ground experience in hyper local marketing and community building, he has set new challenges behind the scenes as the current CEO & Chief Inspiration Officer of Playpen Incubator, where work is play, one of Sacramento's most dynamic media, marketing, and technology incubators that will launch new entities for years to come across the region and well beyond.

During its inaugural year, Brian devotes himself to the start-up and evolution of NextDor as a gateway Jewish social network online and through monthly events to develop the next generation of Jewish leadership across the 6-county region. He hopes that NextDor will prove replicable to other regions struggling to be relevant to Jewish young adults and professionals. He acts as co-organizer and brand creator of the Big Nosh for a Better Sacramento.

In addition, he facilitates monthly industry and community discussions for the Urban Design Alliance & American Institute of Architecture's 4th Wednesday Dialogues that fuel Sacramento's vision of its 25-year future.

He is known as an emerging entrepreneur in business innovation and social activist as founder of 100minds, a grassroots economic developer in Oak Park, predicated on his interpretation of Tikkun Olam.

His favorite title is Dad and he considers no challenge greater, sweeter, more human or more humbling than being a father to Violet and step-father to Ahrianna.

Join us as we honor three generations of Sacramento leaders at the Memorial Auditorium on December 10th, 2009 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. We will celebrate the MAGIC of the festival of lights with an exclusive performance by Lior Suchard, an internationally acclaimed “supernatural entertainer” who uses the power of the mind to dazzle and humor the crowd. In addition, new Sacramento King and the first Israeli player in the NBA, Omri Casspi, will join us to comment on his first month in the NBA and to sign autographs and take pictures with the fans in attendance.

For more information, to buy tickets and to see an exclusive community invite by Omri Casspi log on to www.jewishsac.org. Tickets: $36 (early bird price by December 6th) $40 (purchase after December 6th)

Calling all Crawl Captains!

2009-10-14T22:43:01Z

The Jewish Federation is celebrating their move to Midtown Sacramento by throwing a big party for a cause! The Big Nosh is a gourmet food and pub crawl benefiting 5 local charities where participants will get a chance to eat and drink their way across the grid sampling appetizers and cocktails at 30 restaurants and coffee shops. Tickets are $36/person and Crawl Captains may register at www.thebignosh.com and earn their ticket for free by recruiting 10 or more people to their team. Teams will start at different locations at the same time in a "round robin" format and experience Midtown as it's meant to be experienced: walking!

Calling all Crawl Captains...register now at www.thebignosh.com, recruit 10 people to join your team and get your event ticket for free...tickets are $36/person and include an appetizer and drink sample at more than a dozen locations in Midtown Sacramento!

Bringing in the New Year

2009-08-29T03:47:18Z

Congregation B'nai Israel - High Holy Days

Julie Steinberg, cantorial soloist, shares a laugh with Bernard Marks and Michael Hersher as they warm up for the service held during the Shabbat open house at Congregation B'nai Israel Friday evening. As Sacramento's oldest Jewish congregation and its largest Reform synagogue, B'nai israel honors the traditions of its heritage while creating a Jewish experience that is relevant to today's society. Friday's open house began the bringing in of the new year, Selichot, which will be observed on Saturday, Sept. 12. The evening's service of prayer and song helps prepare worshippers for the Yomim Noraim - the Days of Awe. It will begin at 7:15pn with wine and appetizers followed by dessert and Havdallah. According to Rabbi Mona Alfi, Senior Rabbi, the High Holy Days are a time for reflection and also a time for new beginnings. Congregation B'nai Israel welcomes all families and singles, young and old, gay and straight. B'nai Israel is located at 3600 Riverside Blvd in the Land Park area.

Photo | Kati Garner

This week's slew of music, festivals, classes & comedy

2009-04-29T00:51:55Z

Spring is almost over and so begins the onslaught of fun, fabulous things to do during the summer months in Sacramento! It's not quite time to break out the bikinis and flip-flops, but I have spotted some sleeveless tops and open-toed shoes lately...my all-time favorite season in Sacramento is almost here! This week, and particularly this week-end, is already jam-packed with music, festivals and outdoor events with the promise of the heat soon to come. I hope you haven't made plans already...

Tuesday 4.28

Music: Rev Theory-- $12 at the door
Where: Marilyn’s on K
When: Doors- 6:30pm, Show- 7:15pm
Why: You may get an idea for their music-style by the bands they’ve opened for: the likes of Evanescence, Papa Roach, Buck Cherry and Saliva to name a few. Supporting bands for the night include: Divide The Day, Trackfighter, Man Automatic. Four bands for $12 bucks- that's $3 a band!
Info: (916) 273-3269

Wednesday 4.29

Comedy: Norm MacDonald-- $$?
Where: Punchline Comedy Club (Howe & Arden)
When: Doors- 6:30pm; Show- 7:30pm
Why: He continues to regularly tour the country performing his popular stand-up comedy, however, he is perhaps best known for his offbeat delivery of "the fake news" on "Saturday Night Live" for five seasons. Norm MacDonald continues to be a major comedic presence. His totally hilarious impersonations of Bob Dole and Burt Reynolds on “SNL,” were my favorites. However, MacDonald proved that his wit and writing were not to just for small screen. Among others, MacDonald played roles in Billy Madison with Adam Sandler, The People Vs. Larry Flint and the 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon.
Info: Tickets

Music: Mary Mary-- $40/30 in advance, $45/35 day of show
Where: Crest Theatre (10th & K)
When: Doors- 7pm, Show- 8pm
Why: Urban gospel superstars Mary Mary like to do everything on a big scale. All of their pursuits- musical, spiritual, or otherwise-are larger-than-life: not a single thing is left to chance. Their latest disc melds the twosome's love of truth-grounded gospel music beautifully woven with a colorful patchwork of R&B, pop, soul, jazz, electronic music, and then some.
Info: The Crest Calendar

Thursday 4.30

Music: Tony! Toni! Tone!-- $20
Where: Avalon Nightclub (805 15th Street)
When: 9pm-2am
Why: Attention all children of the late 80’s-early 90’s! If you didn’t listen to Tony! Toni! Tone! when you were growing up, you probably didn’t listen to music. With hits like "It Never Rains in Southern California", these guys had us all saying ”It Feels Good.”
Info: (916) 670-5944

Sports & Recreation: Fight Night Boxing-- $20-$100
Where: Arco Arena (1 Sports Parkway)
When: Parking- 5:30pm, Doors- 6:30pm, Show- 7:30pm
Why: If you are the type that considers boxing a sport, then check this out. This guy is from Woodland! Talk about support local, this guy may need some encouragement from the crowd. Vicente Escobedo (19-1-0, 12 KOs) is going up against Kevin Kelley (60-9-2, 39 KOs). Vicente Escobedo has won his last 10 fights including an impressive 6th round Total Knock Out of previously undefeated Dominic Salcido. Kevin Kelley is a former WBC featherweight champion.
Info: Arco Arena Events

Literature: Meet “Pucci Lewis” Author Margit Leische-- Free w/ Museum admission: $6-$8.50 (Kids 5 & under Free)
Where: California Museum for Women History & the Arts
When: 6pm-8pm
Why: I find it interesting to hear how authors come up with the stories the write, particularly fiction. What inspires them and how much do they really know? Liesche is the author of Hollywood Buzz, the second edition of the World War II era Pucci Lewis series. “The book is rich with drama, historical fact, female sleuths and old Hollywood mystery.” Liesche extensively researched the film industry during World War II and female organizations like Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), which is the setting for this novel. She will give a lecture on the background of the book incorporating documentary footage of the WASP and film clips from the First Motion Picture Unit, featuring Hollywood stars. This should be a very interesting event. Bring your books if you got ‘em! If not, I’m sure there will be some to pick up at the signing.
Info: (916) 653-7524

Friday 5.1

Music: First Friday Night Concert in the Park!--FREE
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: Every Friday Night, 5:00-9:00pm
Why: This 15-week concert series will rock Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday night from 5 pm to 9 pm with the sounds of live, local music. It’s sort of the “unofficial start” to summer for many Sacramentans.
Even in its 18th season, the Concerts in the Park series remains true to its roots by continuing to showcase Sacramento’s local music scene with this free, family friendly event. This season’s line up features a total of 51 local bands including 27 new acts to the park series. The bands reflect a broad spectrum of musical acts including blues, punk, country, rock, indie, soul, pop, reggae and hip hop. And for after the show, keep your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants for that night.
Info: (916) 442-8575

Comedy: Chelsea Handler
Where: Community Center Theatre (13th & L St)
When: Doors, 7:00pm; Show, 8:00pm
Why: Handler has performed nationwide as a stand-up comedian and appeared on many TV shows. Most recently, she is known for hosting her own late night talk show on E! titled “Chelsea Lately”. With her style of ridicule and sarcasm, she draws more than a half million viewers with the show despite the fact that her guests often are not A-list celebrities. To give you a little perspective, in a 2008 interview Handler said, "The worse the guests are, the more pathetic they are, the funnier the show is”.
Info: (916) 808-5181

Film: Found Footage Festival--$10
Where: Movies on a Big Screen (600 4th St W. Sac)
When: 7pm & 9:30pm
Why: I am going. This is what sold me: “The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that showcases footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Curators Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher (whose credits include "The Colbert Report," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Onion") will host the screenings in-person and provide their unique and hilarious observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. So yes - that means plenty of live comedy along with the found footage! From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.”~ Movies on a Big Screen
Info: http://www.shiny-object.com/screenings/

Fundraiser: An Affair to Remember--$45 adv/$60 at door
Where: Radisson Sacramento (500 Leisure Lane)
When: 7pm
Why: You may know someone who was a foster child or may have been one yourself. I hear it’s not always the easiest way to grow up. This event is a benefit in honor of foster care youth in transition. Guests will enjoy an exciting night of fine food, live music, and spring fashions while showcasing former foster care youth and their stories. Lots of “celebs” will be there too! A portion of the contributions from this event will be donated to foster care youth that "age out” of the system. The goal is to support 50 foster care youth throughout the Sacramento region.
Info: (916) 440-9703

Saturay 5.2

Festival: California Celebration!!-- $7-$9.50 (Kids under 2- Free)
Where: Sacramento Zoo (Land Park Drive & 16th)
When: 9am-4pm
Why: California Celebration is a fun-filled day all about the rich cultural diversity in our state. Animal talks, cultural groups, live performances and activity stations will fill the Zoo! Bring the kids and get some sun!
Info: (916) 808-3713

Music: The Skinny Singers- Jackie Greene & Tim Bluhm
Where: Marilyn’s on K (908 K Street)
When: 9pm
Why: They’re skinny but man do they have big voices!! These shows always sell out! If you haven’t seen them yet, make sure you make it to this one.
Info: (916) 446-4361

Festival: Indie Sacramento May Market-- FREE
Where: Fremont Park (15th & P St)
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The purpose behind IndieSacramento is to help spread the word about locally owned businesses and to help Sacramento gain the reputation it deserves as a city with cutting-edge art, crafts, and fashion — plus great local shopping and eats. Some highlights:
* FREE swag bags to the first 150 patrons!
* Shop for hip, handmade goods, clothing, and accessories!
* Enjoy live entertainment!
* Appreciate local food & drink or plan a picnic lunch with the family!
* Attend IndieSacramento's Craft University for craft classes & demos!
Info: IndieSacramento.com

Festival: Dragon Boat Festival-- $50/person, $450/ Table of ten
Where: Radisson Hotel(500 Leisure Lane)
When: 3:30-5:30pm, outdoor reception; 5:30-8:00pm, formal dinner & program
Why: The Dragon Boat is a symbol of unity, civil rights and the future of our Asian Pacific Islander Community. About 2300 years ago, Qu Yuan, a Patriotic Poet and an exemplary for integrity and loyalty, advocated for justice and the rights of the common people. This year, OCA will honor Assemblymember Dave Jones for his commitment to the Asian Pacific Islander Community. OCA will be honoring Dr. Sonney Chong for his many years of community service. This year we are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival as "A Timeless Tradition, A Culture We Treasure."
Info: (916) 627-5165

Class: Model A Tune Up Class-- $170 (includes instructional materials and lunch)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 9pm-3pm, May 2nd & May 9th
Why: If you are lucky enough to own one of these bad boys, you probably know a thing or two already about fixing them up. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you want to take on a new hobby. If you’re an antique car junkie, this is a two-part class that teaches how to tune up Model A Fords. The first day focuses on demonstration of tests and measurements. The second day will consist of performing each of the demonstrated tests and measurements on Model As. Students who have a Model A are encouraged to bring their car with them and all checks will be performed on the owner’s vehicle. Students who do not have a Model A will still have the opportunity to assist with tests and measurements.
Info: (916) 442-6802

Festival: Unity & Diversity Music Festival-- $13 Adv/$20 at Gate (Kids 10 & Under FREE!!!)
Where: Southside Park
When: 10am-6pm
Why: The event will have fun & entertainment including a host of vendors, cultural foods, arts & crafts, raffles and prizes. The headliners are Butterscotch, a Sacramento/Davis native and former final contestant on NBC's America's Got Talent; and Mystic Roots, a talented reggae band from Chico. Other performers include: Ras D, Mr. Majestic, The Soulcialites, Ralph Gordon, Orquesta Bakan, Mystic Man & Lakay amongst others. Guaranteed to be a day of family fun and entertainment!! The website requests: NO ALCOHOL, COOLERS or PETS.
Info: (916) 993-3691

Fundraiser: Prelude d’ Elegance-- FREE
Where: Town & Country Village (Fulton & Marconi Avenue)
When: 10am-4pm
Why: A Concours d'Elegance is a show of vehicles that are judged on their elegance and pristine condition. Shriners' Prelude d'Elegance is a sneak preview of extraordinary classic and vintage automobiles, wooden boats, motorcycles and bicycles. Have some fun with their Keystone Cops and the Shriners Paddy Wagon – enjoy informal fashion shows and special discounts at participating stores throughout Town & Country Village.
Info: http://www.shrinersconcours.com/

Sunday 5.3

Festival: Jewish Heritage Festival--FREE
Where: California State Capitol- West Steps (10th and L St.)
When: 1pm-4pm
Why: In conjunction with national Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region* brings a new tradition to Sacramento - the first annual Jewish Heritage Festival. Celebrate all that unites us with traditional food, live music and entertainment, dancing troupes, cultural exhibits and displays, family and children’s activities, a special teen zone and much more.
Info: Jewish Heritage of Sacramento Website

Class: Yoga for Teachers--FREE
Where: It’s All Yoga (2405 21st St.- Between Broadway & X)
When: 2:00pm
Why: As a teacher, you work really hard. And you probably don't get the pampering you deserve. That's why It’s All Yoga is offering a FREE class just for you. In honor of Teachers Week, their very own Linda Wagner will stretch, open and pamper you with yoga! No yoga experience necessary. They have everything you will need - just wear comfy clothes.
Info: (916) 501-4692

All of these events can be found at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. For more information and details about the venues and organizations involved, click on the title of the events or visit www.Sacramento365.com.

Jewish Film Festival

2009-02-09T06:57:52Z

Sacramento's premier venue for film festivals did it again, as more than a thousand people showed up at The Crest Theatre to attend the two-day Jewish Film Festival. The 12th annual Spring festival held unique, humorous and powerful films from around the world that focus on the Jewish experience.

This year's festival, Saturday Feb. 7 and Sunday Feb. 8, was once again run by festival cofounders Margi Park-Landau, volunteer coordinator and Sid Heberger, Crest Theater manager.

The Sacramento Friends of the Jewish Film Festival, a 60-member group, supported the festival, helped to "bring things that we might not be able to have just on ticket sales alone," Heberger said.

Saturday night at 7 p.m. attendees watched the film The Secrets, a story of two young women who encounter a mysterious woman who forces them to question their lifelong-held beliefs. It was followed by a 7-minute short film entitled A Trip To Prague.

At 10 p.m. a handful of "Not So Kosher" comedy shorts were screened to a younger audience, which stayed until the festival's late end. The shorts included Circumcise Me, the story of American-born Yisrael Campbell, who converted to Judaism three times before becoming one of Israel's premier comedians, Let My People Grow, Getting There is Half the Fun and Jewno.

Sunday's program was longer, featuring the three full-length films Praying With Lior, Love and Dance and Blessed is the Match, followed by the Academy Award-nominated short film Toyland.

Festival co-founder Park-Landau said that she and Heberger collaborated to choose the films, which are meant to target a diverse variety of people. "We try to have a little romance, history, shmaltz. We have exit surveys to help us with feedback."

"The festival," she added, "is a partnership between a faith-based nonprofit coordinating with a non-faith-based for-profit business. People who attend care about film and art in general. The festival attendees attend while "disregarding race, religious fervor, income and gender."

Park-Landau estimated that 1,500 people come to the festival every year. Next year the festival will be held at the Crest on Feb. 6 and 7, 2010.

The 12th Annual Sacramento Jewish Film Festival

2009-02-05T22:16:06Z

As a film festival director myself, I’m always intrigued to talk to other directors about their festivals and their process. For every film that makes the cut, there are a mountain of discarded others that may never see the light of day (or the light of projection) and hundreds of unseen administrative tasks associated with presenting the program. I recently asked Sid Heberger, General Manager of the Crest Theatre and Co-Director of the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival about their upcoming event:

Q: This is the 12th Annual Festival: How did the Festival get its start?
A: Margi Park, the co-founder of the Festival, contacted me about starting a festival because she was tired of schlepping to San Francisco for her Jewish Film Festival fix. So, in 1997 we partnered on a screening at the Festival of Cinema to “test the waters” and had a tremendous turn out. The next year we branched out on our own and have been at it ever since.

Q: How do you find films for the Festival?
A: In the beginning, we sought films from other festivals and combed the internet for films we thought would be of interest in Sacramento. Now that the festival has matured we are receiving submissions from film makers and film companies from around the globe.

Q: This year’s festival includes the Oscar Nominated short film “Toyland”. Is that a concidence?
A: Yes, As I was looking for short films for the comedy program I came across this dramatic short film. I actually booked it long before it was nominated. It’s satisfying to know that my taste in films is validated by the Academy!

Q: You’d added a late night slot on Saturday, is this new direction for the Festival?
A: Yes, we’ve been looking for ways to engage a younger audience and then we found this hilarious film “Circumcise Me” and decided to build a lineup of comedy shorts. It’s an experiment for us but so far the response has been positive so we’re thinking this might become a regular program. We recognize that if the festival is going to grow and continue that we need to engage younger people now before our older audience is no longer able to come out to the shows.

Q: What makes a film “Jewish”?
A: Some film festivals accept anything that is made by a Jewish director whether the film is about the Jewish experience or not, but we feel that that just about includes every film out of Hollywood since 1920! A film has to have a substantial part of the plot dedicated to showing the Jewish experience.

Q: So, is the Jewish Film Festival just for Jews?
A: (Laughs) No, and it’s not just for breakfast anymore! Actually, as we look at the film submissions we give weight to films that we think will have cross-over appeal to other festival demographics. We have strong partnerships with the Sacramento French Film Festival, The Sacramento Film and Music Festival, and the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. You don’t have to be Jewish to connect with the dramatic, funny and touching human stories that we feature.

The 12th Annual Sacramento Jewish Film Festival takes place at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento on Saturday, February 7th and Sunday, February 8th. Full details, schedules, and ticket information can be found online at www.thecrest.com. Note: “Toyland” and all of this year’s other Oscar Nominated short films open at the Crest on Friday, February 6th.

Mazal Tov!

Tony Sheppard is a Co-Director of the 10th Annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival, July 24th-Aug 2nd, 2009, also at the historic Crest Theatre (Full disclosure!).