Holy Daze

If you're following the annual Jewish New Year spiritual blitz, you know we're nearing the end of the month of fall holy daze. It's been amazing, meaningful, transformative, fun and indeed a whirlwind. And with Simchat Torah approaching on Wednesday, it's almost over... which means a whirlwind of a different kind is about to begin.

The Cool Jew Book Tour began a few weeks before Rosh Hashana and kicks back in gear next Sunday, when I head to the Bay Area for the Contra Costa Jewish Book Festival.

Check out recent media coverage about that event in the J Weekly and a new feature story here.

A few days later, it's north for the Canada Tour and a blitz of events in Montreal and Toronto. The fun begins on October 30th, the Ghetto Shul and Hillel at McGill University in Montreal will be hosting the Canada launch party, with a Shabbat program to follow. On Nov. 2, I'll be moving on to Toronto and Indigo Books in Yorkdale Mall, with a reading and signing, 6 - 8 pm, co-presented by The Jewish Magazine and JUMP. On Nov. 3, the Koffler Centre of the Arts and I are hosting a Cool Jew Cabaret & Reception showcasing local Cool Jew talent as part of the largest Jewish book fair in North America. The evening begins with a 6 pm reception at the Koffler Gallery together with the 7th annual Bookmark Project--featuring artist-designed bookmarks selected from an open call, on display and inserted clandestinely into books at the 32nd annual Jewish Book Fair of the Koffler Centre of the Arts. Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst Street, Toronto, 6 - 8 pm, $10. Co-presented by Hillel of Greater Toronto, The Jewish Magazine and Pages Books and Magazine.

With November being Jewish Book Month, the entire month is packed with events back in the U.S. of A. I'll cross the border to swoop down into Arizona, then loop back to LA for the Nov. 6th event at UCLA Hillel and the Nov. 9th Celebration of Jewish Books at American Jewish University. I'm up at 10 a.m. and will also be signing in the Borders Oasis of Books tent as the day continues... TO REGISTER: Call (310) 440-1246 or register online.

At CJ Inc., we're already planning for Chanukah and more events are being added all the time so please ch, ch, check out the CJ events guide for the most updated info and join us to celebrate you, Jew! And you, too, Honorary Heebs and Friends of the Tribe!

FYI: Today's conference up in SF was canceled so I'm sticking around LA for all the fun and tonight's all-night learning with David Sacks at Happy Minyan. Come by for blow-your-mind mystical teachings about the Hebrew letters, the holiday cycle and cap it off with a musical davening at B'nai David Monday morn'.

Meanwhile, props to the Jewlicious Festival for the shout out and mazal tov on the site's new doo. If you're a filmmaker, check out the contest. And don't forget to submit your ideas online for student led sessions at the Festival. See ya there!

Until then... Shana tova u'metukah and a gutten kvittel... may you be blessed with a wonderful new year!