Shuk to the Core, which supports Israeli artists and vendors during challenging times of war, will be coming to two local venues. On Thursday Dec.19, from 3:30-7:30 p.m., the celebration of Israeli culture, resilience and creativity will be at the Deal Sephardic Network Community Center in Deal and on Saturday Dec. 21, from 7-11 p.m., at Congregation Ohr Torah in Edison.
Available will be jewelry, clothing, Judaica, hand-crafted goods, artisanal woodwork, sculptures, toys and games, artwork, kippot, designer clothing, and fragrances. The venue, first held in 2002, is now again operating during the current Swords of Iron War with events throughout the Unites States and Canada. Cost is $5 and attendees may pre-register at shuktothecore.com, although the Edison event is suggesting a $10 donation, all of which will be going to the Israeli vendors. The events are sponsored by Areyvut, Mental Health First Aid and Tal Tours.
Learn cooking skills from a master chef when Congregation Brothers of Israel in Long Branch presents a virtual program, Cooking Under Fire, featuring IDF chef Josh Steele on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. Steele was born in the United Kingdom and raised in London. He made aliyah after reaching the finals of MasterChef Israel, where he was the only Orthodox contestant and a rabbi, whipping up chocolate ravioli filled with walnuts. He had worked in the high-tech industry for 10 years until the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel when he volunteered for the IDF, serving on Shura Base guarding the Jordanian border. He has worked as a chef in some of the most dangerous kitchens in the world, one of which was blown up and had to be rebuilt four times. The program is being sponsored by Michelle Betesh in memory of her mother, Lois Betesh.
RSVP to receive the Zoom link and list of ingredients needed for the class at brothersisrael.org/form/cookingclass.
New York City composer, lyricist, arranger, accompanist, music educator and director Josh Erhlich will be guest cantor at Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 as part of the Hamelsky Music Program at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick.
A musical director and orchestrator at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and for musical theater productions, bands and choirs, his off-Broadway musical, “The Imbible: Day Drinking!” is now in its third year. Erhlich has written several hundred musical theater orchestrations and a cappella arrangements for ensembles all over the New York area including, Voices of Gotham, as well as the entire Imbible series– A Spirited History of Drinking, Christmas Carol Cocktails, and Rum and Pirates. Among his other accomplishments, he composed The Choral Torah: 5 Books in 4 Parts, a collection of 54 eclectic a cappella compositions — one for each week of the Jewish year—reanimating ancient and venerated text through fresh four-part harmony. Erhlich has since founded The Choral Torah Collective, an ensemble of gifted Judaeo-musical educators eager to share this music and the lessons built into it on biblical and musical literacy. He has studied for the cantorate at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
The program will also be livestreamed and available via YouTube. Go to aemt.net for links.
Come laugh with Chabad of the Shore in Long Branch on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. with comedian and mind reader Eric Dittelman at an adult Hanukah party, Drinks & Dreidels. The event will feature sushi, drinks and a latke bar. Dittelman has performed his combination of mind reading, stand-up and improv comedy on television, live on stage at comedy clubs, colleges, theaters and corporate events. Often known by just his last name, Dittelman, he was a top seven finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and his appeared on Ellen, Live with Kelly and Ryan and Penn & Teller. He has been featured in articles in Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone and made his Broadway debut in 2018 in The Illusionists.
Cost is $90 per person. RSVP to adultchanukah.rsvpify.com or call (732) 229-2424.
