Numbers Game

In the ongoing numbers game of book sales, Cool Jew's ranking has risen among Top Sellers at Virgin Mega Stores.

Cool Jew now ranks No. 24 among all books at VirginMega.com.

How awesome is that?

And a happy 2009 to you!

The Ninth Day of Chanukah

Today is the Ninth Day of Chanukah. Well, only if you're on drugs or your oil pulled another miracle. And if it did, try selling that story to the National Enquirer!

Wouldn't it be cool if there were a ninth day, an Isru Chanukah if you will? There's an Isru Chag, an extra day, for Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot to connect, Rabbi Isaac Luria taught, to the ongoing light of the holiday. Well then, why not an Isru for the holiday of lights?

Are you going through Chanukah withdrawals? Are you celebrating your Erev 2009 in some awesome way? Are you up for creating a new sort of Isru Chanukah? We want to hear about. We especially want to hear about it if means making 2009 more meaningful and more tolerant. Yep, it's true... we're dreaming of a more tolerant America. And we're looking for partners to reach across your/our culture and promote cross-cultural dialogue around the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th. Is that you? Your blog? Your website? Your radio show? Newspaper? Oprah? Ellen? Colbert? The Daily Show? Okay, so we're dreaming big here.

And there's no reason not to. We've already got a growing coalition of groups promoting tolerance and cross-cultural dialogue around the inauguration and leading this discussion online at various sites. And that includes Jewlicious.com, ModernTribe.com, Bookopolis and more... We're also doing more giveaways of that hilarious book I keep shamelessly plugging, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, to celebrate the inauguration as part of this effort. We're looking for additional partners and street teams to further the discussion online and elsewhere. I'll also be in DC inauguration week and am looking to see what we can create that week to help spread the message online, to the media, and...

Got ideas? Click on CONTACT or e-me: lisa (at) cooljewbook (dot) com.

Today is the Eighth Day of Chanukah

The Eighth Night, Photo (c) Lisa Alcalay Klug

It's the last day of Chanukah. Mazal tov to the winners of EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

Day 1: Yoni Reinharz

Day 2: MRose24

Day 3: Daisy Lov

Day 4: Shirani87

Day 5: JewInaCanoe

Day 6: Meyer Fremder

Day 7: Audrey Bloomberg

AND, drum roll please, TODAY'S WINNERS ARE

Day 8: Atira4Art

AND THE WINNER OF THE

Shamash Bonus Round: Russell Smith

We also congratulate our winners at Jewlicious.com: Avishai Weiss and Irena Shakhnovich.

Guests to Lisa's Chanukah book reading at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Dec. 23rd also received a free Chanukah gift with purchase.

All winners receive an autographed copy of Cool Jew. They also snagged a Chanukah goodie bag filled with treats (dreidel, temporary tattoos and discount cards) from ModernTribe.com, CDs with tunes by musicians Saul Kaye and Hip Hop Shabbat, a kosher snack and more.

A big giant thank you shout out to our sponsors: Jennie Rivlin at ModernTribe.com, Saul Kaye, Yonatan Gutstadt and Hip Hop Shabbat, Motti Kalifa at Certified Kosher of Oakland, and my publisher, Andrews McMeel. Thanks also to David Abitbol and Jewlicious.com for participating in EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

Stay tuned for more winners during the inauguration in Washington, D.C. next month, when Barack Obama becomes president on January 20th. We'll be marking the inauguration with a celebration of multiculturalism in America together with a coalition of Jewish organizations launched by CoolJewBook.com. And Lisa will be in DC and environs for radio interview on InterfaithRadio.org, a reading at Breathe Books and more. So sign up to win on the home page and we'll keep the giveaways coming atcha!

Meanwhile, mazal tov all around and happy holidays everyone!

The Seventh Day

On the seventh day, the Ultimate Heebster in Heaven rested. L'havdil, on this seventh day, Hanukah 2009/5769, this mortal Sheebster is still plugging her book!

That you already knew! But what you didn't know is that today's winner of an autographed copy of Cool Jew and a "No Limit Texas Dreidel" bag filled with Heebster goodies is the one and only Audrey Bloomberg. Well, okay, there very well be more than one Audrey Bloomberg out there but we know for certain that there is only one who is receiving an email from us announcing she's won.

Nu, Audrey, you out there? Open up that email, girlfrieeeeeeend and let us know where we can send your prize!

Meanwhile, don't forget to sign up for one more day of Eight Days of Giveaways plus the Shamash bonus round... coming to you live, tomorrow from cooljewbook.com. Register on the home page, homies, and mazal tov all around!

Erev Shabbat Chanukah Winners

Today is the fifth day of Chanukah. And tonight is a triple header: the Sixth Night of Chanukah, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, the new month. So today brings a double portion of winners as we announce the Day Five winner and tomorrow's Day Six winner.

Day Five's winner is "jewinacanoe"

and

Day Six's winner is Meyer Fremder.

There are two more Days to win plus the "Shamash" bonus round, in honor of the ninth helper candle. (How could we leave out Candle No. 9?) Register to win now!

Mazal tov to our winners!

Be sure to respond to your winning email and send us your snail address so we can ship out your prize.

KING & QUEEN OF SWAG

Congrats to the Jewlicious.com winners of EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! In a virtual “Christmas Day Matzoh Ball,” on December 25th, we crowned a King and Queen O’ Heebster Swag from the Jewlicious Facebook Group.

The loot? Every winner in EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS receives an autographed copy of Cool Jew. Each prize also comes with a “No Limit Texas Dreidel” goodie bag filled with a dreidel and temporary tattoos from ModernTribe.com, CDs from the rappers at Hip Hop Shabbat and singer/songwriter Saul Kaye, kosher nosh from Oakland’s Certified Kosher and samplers of organic EcoTeas. Tonight's Jewlicious winners also receive Jewlicious swag! Abundant props to our generous sponsors for these awesome gifts.

The envelope please. Our Jewlicious winners–either divinely inspired or randomly chosen, depending on your spiritual beliefs–are Irena Shakhnovich (Boston, MA, Tufts Alum ‘05) and Avishai Weiss (New York, NY, UChicago Alum ‘05, Microsoft). Ain’t no Burger King paper crowns for our royalty. Instead, they’re getting insta “snap n’ glow” specs to hip hop their Chanukah. (Or just look like a dork.) Mazal tov!

But that’s not all… Everyone’s a winner at the next Jewlicious Festival. Or almost. A select number of early arrivals to the festival will receive a free copy of Cool Jew. So get yourself to Long Beach and celebrate you, Jew. Until then, check out the rest of CoolJewBook.com for videos, press, tour sked, four more sets of prizes in EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS plus a new "Shamash" bonus round winner on the last day of Chanukah and then some… And throw some more happy in your Chanukah.

The Fourth Day of Chanukah

On the Fourth Day of Chanukah, which coincides this year with Christmas, we're enjoying, in the words (and video) of Saturday Night Live, "Christmas Time for the Jews."

Lest we forget: today's winner of EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS of an autographed copy of Cool Jew is Shirani87.

Shirani, whether you're 87, 21, or somewhere in, between please respond to the announcement we emailed you and send us your address so we can send you your prize.

Chanukah is not over yet so there are still chances to win. Not only will you get an autographed copy of Cool Jew. You'll also snag a Chanukah goodie bag filled with treats (dreidl, temporary tattoos and discount cards) from ModernTribe.com, CDs with tunes by musicians Saul Kaye and Hip Hop Shabbat, a kosher snack and more. Sign up to win here.

Meanwhile, mazal tov all around and happy holidays everyone!

Christmas Time for the Jews

Tonight, when you're wondering what to do, watch this video and give thanks to Saturday Night Live.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

On the Third Day of Chanukah

my true love said to me,

Daisy Lov is the Winner of Day Three.

Mazal tov!

Daisy Lov, we love your name and we'd love to hear from you. Please check your email for that good news and send us your address so we can ship out your free autographed copy of Cool Jew.

Congrats on being Winner No. 3 in EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

We still have five days to go...

Put some happy in your Chanukah and enter to win!

The Numbers

...today sure are sweet. On Amazon, Cool Jew is

#4 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Religion and
#14 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism and
#77 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Satire.

Today's Winner

It's is the second day of Chanukah and today's winner of an autographed copy of Cool Jew is
known only by his or her email as "mrose24."

Well, Mr. or Mrs. MRose24 please step right up and send us an email response to the notice we just sent you, so we can get your prize to you.

Even if you're not mrose24, check your email to see if you've won and put some more happy in your Chanukah!

And friends, if you're in Northern California, drop by Book Passage in Corte Madera at 7 pm TONIGHT for a festive book reading, goodie bags, free kosher treats and, of course, a Chanukah candle lighting.

Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
(415) 927-0960
(800) 999-7909

Celebrate You and Get Cool Jew!

It's the first day of Chanukah and we're proud to announce the first winner of EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS of an autographed copy of Cool Jew is Yoni Reinharz of the Twin Cities. Turns out, Yoni is a musician who rapped on the song "Beat Box" on Matisyahu's debut album "Live at Stubbs." The New York Times called him a "politically conscious, culturally Jewish rapper." We didn't know any of that when he won. Naturally, we love it... Mazal tov, Yoni!

More News:

Cool Jew remains in the Top Ten on Amazon's bestseller list for humor/religion titles. Today it's No. 6. It's also No. 13 on the Judaism bestseller's list.

Cool Jew is No. 45 at Virgin Mega Stores among all their books!

And Cool Jew is a bestseller at Borders Bookstore in the Century City Mall in LA.

The Clips Keep Coming

We've been getting lots of media coverage!

December 21st
Jewlicious.com

December 19th
The Lori & Julia Show

December 13th
The Los Angeles Times

December 10th
Sam & Suzy in the Morning, LATalkRadio.com

December 9th
The World of TJ McCormack, LATalkRadio.com describes this interview as "all-time great show of T.J.'s." Streaming audio available here.

I've also taped interviews with Jewish Life TV and the Bill Handel that are yet to air. Meanwhile, Cool Jew is now on the shelves of Montreal's Jewish Public Library and is available at the Jewish Museum of New York, Spertus Museum in Chicago and Kitson in LA.

Cool Jew will also be part of the media discussion on multiculturalism in America during the presidential inauguration week at Interfaith Voices. Details to follow soon!

Appearance on the Red Room!

Mazal tov!

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe is once again featured on the home page of Red Room: Where the Writers Are. Visit the home page for a taste of Lisa on her recent tour and an interview featured on "Q," the Canadian national public radio program for arts, culture and entertainment hosted by Jian Ghomeshi.

In other headlines, you feeling just a wee bit Christmas Carol Intolerant? Have we got a mini-muzak vacation for you!

This Friday, join a Shabbat dinner at Young Israel Century City and hear what the book, Cool Jew, is all about. We promise, there won't be nary a Christmas Carol within earshot.

Join us for "Good Friends, Good Times, Good Food, Good Shabbos," a community Shabbat Dinner at Young Israel Century City on Pico Blvd. in West LA.

Davening: 4:30 pm.
Dinner with all the fixins': 6 pm.
Guest speaker (that would be Lisa Alcalay Klug) dishes up soon after the main dish.

Dinner is $29 per person, reservations required by Thursday, Dec. 18th. RSVP to LAShabbos (at) yahoo dot com for more info.

And if you haven't yet signed up for Eight Days of Giveaways, make sure to join the fun. Register on the home page to win an autographed copy of Cool Jew where ever you are and put some Happy in your Chanukah!

ANNOUNCING EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

Celebrate Chanukah with EIGHT DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS at CoolJewBook.com.

Register to win an autographed copy of the Amazon and Virgin Megastore bestselling book, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe.

We'll be announcing a winner every day of Chanukah, starting Dec. 22. Sign up to win this 250-page celebration of being a Member of the Tribe and put some happy in your Chanukah!

The Tour Continues on the West Coast

I'm back in LA for more!

12/11: Borders, Century City Mall, Los Angeles, in-store reading and signing, 7 pm, 310.552.1411.

12/13: Taste of LimmudLA, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, West LA

December 13 is a great opportunity to answer that perplexing question: "Just what is LimmudLA all about?" The next event in our continuing Taste of LimmudLA series will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 PM in West LA. On the agenda:

Lisa Alcalay Klug - "Jewish Cultural Revival"
Edward Goldman - "The Arts"
Rebecca Rosen - Jewish Yoga "NefeshBliss"
Rabbi Jason Weiner - Text Study

RSVP to taste (at) limmudla.org for all the deets.

Another Great Week Comes to a Close

This Shabbat, 12/5 -6: Shabbaton at Congregation B'nai Avraham, 117 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, 11201. Dinner reservations, $25, Levana, (718) 596-4840, x. 18.

This Sunday, 12/7: Toledo, Northwest Ohio Jewish Book Fair Hannukah Palooza & Latke Fest. 10 - 11 am. A community-wide celebration and concert with activities revolving around Hanukkah traditions, including latkes, dreidel, and sufganiyot. Admission is free. Donations of children's clothing, particularly new socks, underwear, and coats, will be accepted at the door and distributed to needy families. Temple Shomer Emunim 6453 Sylvania Ave. Sylvania.

CHUGA CHUGA

Today: I'm heading by train up to Westport CT now to chat about Cool Jew with a few hundred Hebrew High-ers tonight at the Synagogue of Westport & Co. 

Tomorrow: Pickles @ Tenement.  

"COOL JEWS," Tenement Talk on Jewish Humor. 7 pm 106 Orchard Street, rsvp to events@tenement.org. Free. He'Brew Beer and Gus's Picks.  

Friday: Brooklyn Heights Shabbaton. 

Sunday: Toledo Book Fair 

Come on out and join the shindig! 

TONIGHT

@ 7:00 p.m.

Jew got questions? Jew got answers! Imagine an updated combination of the beloved Jewish Catalog meets the The Joys of Yiddish with a hip-hop spin that captures the spirit of the times. A hallmark of the current Pan-Jewish cultural revival, Cool Jew does for matzah balls and gefilte fish what The Official Preppy Handbook did for plaid and polo, only with much more chutzpah! Award-winning author/journalist Lisa Alcalay Klug will come to Sixth & I to discuss her new book and “decode” contemporary Judaism and its hippest forms of cultural and creative expression. Co-sponsored with Birthright Israel NEXT, Moment and Zeek. This is a free event.

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-408-3100.