Alef List: Events 4 Hip Jews

This is a guest post by Matt Levitt.

Alef List

Hanukkah is just about upon us, beginning at sundown on Friday, December 11th and running until sundown on Saturday, December 19th.  This installment of the Alef List will focus on the cool things to do for Hanukkah.   Read on to see the best Hanukkah events in the Twin Cities, beginning tonight with Hillel’s party at the Downtime, and a preview of JCA’s Jewbilee, the biggest event of December on Christmas Eve at the 501 Club.

Here are my picks for hot Hanukkah events 4 hip Jews in the Twin Cities from December 3rd to December 18th:

12/03/2009
Come “Rock the Dreidel” with Hillel and Absolute Grüv at Downtime Bar & Grill (1501 University Ave. SE. Minneapolis) on from 7-10pm. Anyone who is over 18 is welcome to come, learn about the holiday of Hanukkah, and dance to some awesome music by Absolute Grüv! Enjoy FREE latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly donuts), fountain drinks and other food from Downtime Bar & Grill!  Cash bar for those who are 21+. Bring a couple of dollars or canned goods to enter raffle and win an iPod and other great prizes! If you have any questions call 612.379.4026 or email [email protected].

12/12/2009.
It’s Not Your Bubbe’s Chanukah Cocktail Party with Temple Israel Young Jews. Temple Israel Young Jews are hosting a Chanukah party for Jewish 20 somethings. Join them for free drinks and appetizers at the Red Dragon on Lyndale. RSVPs are preferred; please contact Jackie at 612-374-0324 or[email protected].

12/18/2009.  It’s too hard to choose the best, but there are Hanukkah Shabbat parties just about everywhere!
Temple Israel Chanukah Nefesh Shabbat Family Service and Dinner. Children of all ages are welcome. The Chanukah dinner will follow a festive Nefesh Shabbat service. The dinner features a traditional Shabbat meal accompanied by latkes, cookie decorating, dreidel, friends and family. Dinner reservations are required – $10 per adult, $5 per child. Children 3 and under are free. Please mail your check to Temple Israel by December 8.

Beth Jacob Shabbat Hannukah Dinner. 5:30pm. Click here to RSVP and for more info.

Beth El Young Families Shabbat Dinner & Family Fun Time. We will celebrate Shabbat and the last night of Hanukkah together! Brief Shabbat service will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a family-friendly latke dinner to follow. We will also have children’s activities for the kids to enjoy. Cost is $7 per person. For more information, contact Jenny Ajsenberg at 763-208-0944 or Liz Rappaport at 612-816-0378 or see “Beth El Young Families” on Facebook.

Chanukah Shabbat Dinner co-sponsored by J-Pride and The St. Paul JCC. 6:00 PM Dinner, 8:00 PM Service Hosted by Shir Tikvah (5000 Girard Avenue S., Minneapolis). $15.00 per person, $9.00 kids 12 and under. For questions or information call Betsy Sitkoff at 952-542-4833. Reservations needed by Dec. 11.

Notable Mention:

12/12/2009. David Grisman and John Sebastian at the Cedar. HERE.

Save The Date:

12/24/2009. Mark your calendars for Jewish Community Action’s 5th Annual Jewbilee on Thursday, December 24th at 9:00pm at the 501 Club (501 Washington Avenue S., Minneapolis). There will be DJs, live music, raffle prizes, and a free Chinese buffet! It’s completely free to attend, and open to everyone 21 and over. A portion of the bar profits will be donated to benefit Jewish Community Action. Sponsored by Indie Jews, Jewish Community Action, Stand Up! Records, 501 Club, United Jewish Fund and Council, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, and TC Jewfolk.com.  The Jewbilee is THE COOLEST event of the year so don’t miss out.  We’ll see you there!

Search for other events in the Jewish Community HERE on TC Jewfolk.