Introducing...

The cover of my new book! Debuting October 2012. Stay tuned for news about tour dates, blog tour, giveaways, excerpts and more! Hot Mamalah: The Ultimate Guide for Every Woman of the Tribe (Andrews McMeel Publishing) is a start-to-finish celebration of the strengths, challenges and triumphs of Jewish women: the good, the great, the PMSy and the menopausal! This "ABCs of She" dishes up a delicious smorgasbord of everything whole-y and holy feminine for having fun and having chutzpah, with humorous essays, adorable illustrations, how-to's and more. From cocktails to cupcakes, Purim costumes to bar aliases, Hot Mamalah whets an appetite for getting the most out of life, love, and your closet. Hot Mamalah is the much anticipated companion to the hilarious 21st century Jewish catalog, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe. Like us here!

Purim Recap!

Hey Friends, Heebsters and Honoraries,

What an amazing year it has been already!!!

In the past few months, Cool Jew has been on the go... on stage and on tour, with a lot of super fun return visits to some of my favorite events across the country!













The book tour that keeps on giving has included these wonderful events:

Schmooze Conference - my fourth on the Schmooze Conference Team and my first as assistant director!
Moderator: "NextGen Magnets: Programming for 20s and 30s"
City Winery, NYC, January 11 - 12, 2011

Limmud NY -- my third in a row as a presenter!
"Cool Jew: A Cultural Ride for Every Member of the Tribe," sell-out crowd, standing room only!
January 14 - 17, 2011

Midrasha of the East Bay Annual Fundraiser
Moderator of "The Business of Bagels and Blessings," a panel discussion with authors, Noah Alper, Business Mensch, and Sue Fishkoff, Kosher Nation
Temple Isaiah, February 13, 2011

Limmud LA -- my third in a row as a presenter!
"Jewseum: The World's First Virtual Interactive Jewish Museum"
February 18 - 21, 2011

Jewlicious Festival 7.0 -- my fifth consecutive as a presenter!
February 25 - 27, 2011

"Author at large," moderating and presenting at three sessions

* Moderator and presenter at "Shmooze Talk:" short, sweet inspirational talks with four presenters:
Tal Brody, Israel's Goodwill Ambassador and Basketball Superstar
Dan Sieradski, Director of Digital Strategy, Repair the World
Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, Co-Founder, Jewlicious Festivals

* StorySlam: Creative Storytelling Workshop

* Moderator: Why We Give a Damn - Roundtable
Activists speak the "why" of "what" they do

Limmud Shabbat/Limmud Winnipeg -- the inaugural event!
March 11 -13, 2011
Another three sessions:
* "Jewseum: The World's First Virtual Interactive Jewish Museum" and
* A "Cool Jew: A Cultural Ride for Every Member of the Tribe Double Header" with a big Saturday night show in Winnipeg's massive Rady Center Theatre and a repeat performance, standing room only, on Sunday!

All those awesome Limmud experiences came into this fantastic JTA article, "Limmud becoming new favored networking tool for Jewish authors, artists, groups" by Sue Fishkoff.

And now... it's Purim! It's also time for this Cool Jew to get back to the business of writing. My new book, also with my fantastic publisher, Andrews McMeel, is in progress and so much fun!

In the meantime, wishing you a l'chaim in your punim and a fun-filled, meaningful Purim Sameach!

Catch Cool Jew

at several upcoming gigs!

I'll be emceeing the Saturday night show at the upcoming Hazon Food Conference - West!

I'll be on hand, helping run the program and moderating as assistant director of Schmooze 2011.

And I'll be in the mix at Limmud NY. Have you always wanted to check it out? Well, if you sign up by Friday, December 24, you’ll get $50 off your registration fee by entering a special “Friends & Family” discount code. Okay, it’s really just my name, Lisa Alcalay Klug. All you have to do is enter it in the “Other Source” box when asked: “How did you hear about Limmud NY?” on page 4 of registration and you’ll automatically save $50. Register now and you might qualify for an additional scholarship.

This annual festival of Jewish diversity, culture, and ideas takes place January 14-17 at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY and it’s packed with Heebsters: Joshua Nelson & the Kosher Gospel Choir, Chana Rothman, Eden “Epryhme” Pearlstein, Naomi Less, Sarah Aroeste, Shir Yaakov Feinstein-Feit, Bodi, Rachel & Matti and more than 300 sessions with leading Jewish thinkers, artists, public figures, educators and activists like writer/moderator Abigail Pogrebin, Jay Michaelson, mystical scholar Avraham Sutton from Jerusalem, Kabbalist DovBer Pinson, Rabbis Simcha Weinstein, David Ingber and a few dozen others, Yaffa Epstein of the Pardes Institute in the Holy City and many others, including me. I’ll be there doing my ‘Cool Jew’ book thang Saturday night. And if you’re coming with some little people, there’s a terrific kid’s program featuring Karina & Coco of 92Y Shababa.

For more info, call 212-908-2525 or email info(at)limmudny.org. Remember, drop my name and register by Friday, December 24, 2010 for your discount to Limmud NY at www.limmudny.org. See you there!

The Latest

Heebsters, Friends and Honoraries,

We've got lots of great news to share! My recent trip to Israel and Limmud Hungary was a wonderful success and so many of you were a part of it. Because of the generous donations to the Friends of Lisa's "Latte Campaign," we quickly met our goal to underwrite the costs of the trip. It was an awesome, heartwarming experience to watch the numbers climb so quickly over a short period of time. Abundant thanks to you all and to the crowd sourcing whiz team at IndieGoGo.com for making this dream a reality. We ♥ you! Not only was Limmud Hungary a fabulous experience--where we shared, celebrated and explored what it means to be Jewish today. But so was the "after-party." We've been invited by a number of Hungarian organizations to join the fabulous festivities that fill the historic Jewish Quarter in Budapest every Chanukah. We’ll keep you posted with more great news ahead. In the meantime, let us know if you’ll be in those parts and/or want to join the street team as the story of the Cool Jew Project continues. We'd love to have you on board!

Limmudarama

It’s hard to believe but since last December, the Cool Jew story--and several other sessions about innovations on the Jewish cultural landscape, tikkun olam and more--have appeared at a whopping seven Limmud conferences: UK, NY, LA, Atlanta, Berlin, Holland and, as you just heard, Budapest. These festivals are filled with learning, sharing, presenting, schmoozing, exploring... and so much more. With that in mind, I couldn’t suddenly go cold turkey in 2011, so next calendar year will bring at least three three Limmuds in a row: Limmud NY in January, Limmud LA in February and this just in, Limmud Winnipeg in March. I’m honored to be part of a first: the maiden voyage of Limmud in Winnipeg. Join us!

The Word Was Spoken

My trip to Israel had so many highlights: presenting at the Conservative Yeshiva, performing at Off The Wall Comedy Basement, appearing on a few radio shows and much more. This week, I broadcast via Facebook my longing for Jerusalem. And then, suddenly, I’m part of a pre-recorded broadcast from Jerusalem. "An Evening of Spoken Word at Avram Cafe" airs in just a couple of hours, starting at 10 pm Israel time, on http://live.106fmj.co.il/ Most of this totally awesome program is in Hebrew, but my autobiographical piece about visiting Poland with my dad, “Shoah Camp 2000,” is the English-language finale. Tune in soon and check it out!

Schmooze By Day/Oyhoo By Night!

Where can you find Achinoam Nini "Noa", The Klezmatics, and Joshua Nelson jamming by night and Ari Roth and other Jewish luminaries schmoozing by day? There's only one place and it's name is Schmooze! January marks my fourth year as part of the team creating the annual Schmooze Conference on Jewish arts and culture in NYC. Join us for this fab gathering of Jewish cultural leaders, artists, curators, critics, agents and more. We're upping the schmooze factor to make this year's gathering more valuable than ever with: SpeedSchmoozing * Artist Showcases * Panels * Cocktail Parties * Discussions * Art Bursts * Presentation of the new IJPA site JewishPresenters.org for Bookings, Tour Info, Networking and More * Gourmet Cultural Pairing Lunch and a host of valuable sessions! Oyhoo launches January 10th at 8 pm and Schmooze at 9 am on January 11th at City Winery, New York City. For additional information and registration, contact info@oyhoo.com.

As always, the eight days of Chanukah are eight great days to share Cool Jew! Pick up copies for your friends, fam and yourself on Amazon here. And check out more our logo gear at the Cool Jew store on Cafe Press. Discounts apply all week--no coupons required.

Wishing you Happy Chanukah blessings of light, love and miracles!

And, of course, a l’chaim in your latke!

Lisa

Twitter: @lisaklug
Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7305188571
http://www.facebook.com/lisaklug

Cool Jew in Jerusalem

Two special events on tap this week in Jerusalem!

1. An Evening of Spoken Word
אירוע "ספוקן וורד " בירושלים

Come here the debut of my newest piece at a bilingual "Evening of Spoken Word" on Tuesday, October 12th, 2010. אירוע "ספוקן וורד" בירושלים at the Avram Coffee Bar, 97 Jaffa Road, Jerusalem. בר-קפה אברם ,רח יפו 97.

Big thanks to meshoreret Michaela Lamdan for putting together an amazing program!

משוררים, מוסיקאים ושחקנים
בערב יוצגו טקסטים מלווים במוסיקה במגוון סגנונות ה"ספוקן"
משתתפים:
Harold Rubin &JC Jones
ורדה בן חור, חגית גרוסמן ואופיר לוקיי, ללי ציפי מיכאלי בלווי סקסופן ,יחזקאל נפשי וא.ב. דן , אמיר מנשהוף, נעם פרתום , שירה ז' כרמל , מיכאלה למדן,אפרת קוזין,מרפי ,גילי א' דנון
אורחת מיוחדת - הסופרת ליסה קלג מקליפורניה
If you don't read Hebrew, that last line reads "Special guest: author Lisa Alcalay Klug from California!"
כניסה- 20 ש"ח
מומלץ להזמין מקום
טל' להזמנת מקום:
0774450701

2. Catch the Cool Jew show at the Conservative Yeshiva

Wednesday, Oct. 13th, 2010, 12:30 pm

Cool Jew: A Cultural Ride for Every Member of the Tribe
A fun-filled romp across the contemporary Jewish cultural landscape. Includes musical samplings, slides, poignant personal anecdotes and humorous escapades fresh from the United States and the massive tour across North America, Europe and Israel that launched the best-selling book, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, the first humor book honored in the 50-year history of the National Jewish Book Awards.

Lisa Alcalay Klug is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe. She has published hundreds of articles in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Report, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Moment, Hadassah, Forward and many other mainstream and Jewish media outlets. Over the past two years, she has co-curated, performed and presented at more than 100 events in the U.S., Canada, Israel and Europe at a wide variety of venues. These include universities, synagogues, book fairs, Jewish Federation events and festivals including Jewlicious and Limmud conferences in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, London, Berlin and Amsterdam. She holds a Masters of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies (Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors) from the University of California at Berkeley. She also completed post-graduate work at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a focus on Contemporary Jewry. Lisa is the founding director of Tolerant Nation, which provides innovative arts and cultural events for young Jews to interact with one another, connect to their Jewish legacy and explore cross-cultural experiences.

Bring Cool Jewie-ness From the West to Budapest

Dear Friends,

At this point, you've probably heard about our campaign to bring Cool Jew to Limmud Hungary. It's the first time a survey of Jewish pop culture in the west will hit Budapest -- and any former communist country!

We've raised $387 in just a few days toward our $1,000 goal. Now, we only have four days left to earn a 5% bonus from IndieGoGo if we "fill the mug" all the way up! Donations will cover one coach ticket to Budapest to bring Cool Jew's poignant, fun and inspiring message of Jewish affiliation to Limmud Hungary.

Limmud is strictly volunteer. I'm very happy to donate my presentation. With slides, music, personal anecdotes, and stories of my father's survival of Buchenwald and his impact on my Jewish identity, there's nothing else quite like it! I'll also lead other sessions, including a panel discussion on how to use public programs like these to make a difference. After presenting all across the U.S., Europe and Canada, I have been told again and again that this work leaves audiences with a lasting impression of strength and pride in being Jewish -- and that has the power to open the door to so much more along the path of learning and living and loving to be a part of our Tribe.

It's a modest ask: if just 125 people would give just $5, or of course, a larger donation or a slew of mileage points, we'd meet the goal in a jiffy. So if you can "spare a latte" and know of anyone else who might be interested in supporting the cause, please click below and share the love by help to spread the word even further.

http://www.tinyurl.com/lattecampaign

This just in: we are now featured on the IndieGoGo home page under "Final Countdown"

Please take a minute to help make a difference.

Thank you so so much for your assistance in making this a reality.

Wishing you a Shana Tova U'metukah -- a good, sweet and blessed New Year!

Lisa and the FOLs

The Latte Campaign!

click to vote!

Save A Latte & Give Hungarian Jews A Laugh!

FOL! "Friends of Lisa" have launched this fabulous campaign!

Have you heard of Indie GoGo or the concept of collective fundraising? With a few clicks, folks can contribute a very small amount of money, say the cost of a latte, to accomplish a much larger goal, say sending a Cool Jew to Hungary. Wanna take part? We've got 10 days to make it happen!

Here's the story... Limmud Hungary has invited me to present at their annual conference in October. It’s an exciting opportunity: my presentations will mark the first survey of Jewish pop culture from the West not only in Budapest, but in a former communist country! Typically, at Limmud's non-profit festivals all around the world, invited presenters volunteer their time but are provided with travel expenses. In this case, the budget isn’t quite there. Enter... The Latte Campaign!

FOL! "Friends of Lisa" have joined together to support my presenting not only in Hungary, where my message can really make a difference in the way Jews experience and express their identity, but also in Israel, where I've been invited again to share the love. I'm applying for grants for my new non-profit, TolerantNation.org, to continue with all kinds of awesome programming and we’re still hopeful. But for now, even a small contribution of a few dollars will help send Cool Jew to Budapest!

This important work around Jewish identity matters. It matters in Hungary. It matters in Israel. It matters in a world where so many people don’t yet know the beauty, joy and fun of being informed, proud and celebratory about Jew you are. In other words, it matters everywhere that bright light called Cool Jew shines.

So come check out the perks! Depending on the amount of your donation, your contribution might land your name in my new book, currently under contract and slated for 2012, or score a personalized autographed copy of Cool Jew shipped to anyone on your gift list, or a thank you on my website, or a Facebook friendship…well, heck, that’s free, but a perk’s a perk!

Yes, times are tough but please spread this message far and wide and give whatever you can: a few dollars -- the price of a latte -- or as much as you like. Of course, those Jewish favorites, multiples of $18, "chai/life," are joyfully accepted and abundantly appreciated. Visit the site by clicking here and you'll see we're already well on our way!

If you have any questions, have a plethora of frequent flier miles to toss toward the cause, know another magic trick or just want to cheer us on, please emailcampaignklug@gmail.com.

Please visit THE LATTE CAMPAIGN to donate now!

With smiles, many thanks and, as always, a l'chaim in your punim!

Lisa & the Fabulous FOLS

Anja Waleson, Jewish Salons Amsterdam
Rachel Bookstein, JConnect LA & Jewlicious Festivals
Marcus Freed, Bibliyoga.com
Naomi Less, Jewish Chicks Rock
Jennie Rivlin Roberts, PopJudaica.com & ModernTribe.com
Susan Silverman, G.A.R.D.E.N., Inc.
Doni Zasloff Thomas, The Mama Doni Band

Start your own your IndieGoGo campaign by clicking here!

Cafe Komen

The Cool World Tour Returns

If you've been following my posts on Twitter & Facebook, then you know Cool Jew has been showing up lately all around the world. It's been one amazing race!

This long list of fantastic events, aka the The Cool Jew World Tour, began with the Annual Carlebach Retreat over Thanksgiving weekend. From there, it was off to Chanukah in the Holy Land and books talks at the Technion in Haifa and the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. In late December, it was off to Limmud UK, with a whopping eight sessions on Cool Jew, Tikkun Olam, the Heebster Jewke Box and more. January took me to beautiful Paris, then back to the states for Schmooze: The IJPA Jewish Culture Conference and Limmud New York. February ushered in Limmud LA and Jewlicious Festival 6.0 and March served up Toledo for a few private talks, New York City and Limmud Atlanta.

And now, the Cool Jew World Tour 2.0 is back in full force, with stops in Budapest * Jerusalem * Tel Aviv * Berlin * Amsterdam, as well as an artist's residency in Jerusalem while I work on my next book. Stay tuned for updates!

I'm writing this note from Israel, and I'll be here through May 11, when I depart for Limmud Berlin and Limmud Netherlands. I'm grateful for every opportunity and really enjoying bringing my message about celebrating Jewish culture with love, pride and a reverent irreverence to enthusiastic communities around the world. Be sure to say hello if you're in these parts and check out Twitter & Facebook for the latest posts as I continue this adventure around the world... The only thing missing is a hot air balloon!

With Passover approaching, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday, filled with joyous liberation

as Mama Doni, PopJudaica, Modern Tribe and I join together to announce

Do you have unique traditions for your seder?

Are you doing something different this year?

Share your thoughts to enter to win!

One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:

Mama Doni's t-shirt and music CD for kids and parents: I Love Herring (www.MamaDoni.com)

Matzah Madness gifts from PopJudaica.com: Matzah Sweeper & Giant Inflatable Matzah Ball

ModernTribe's "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game -- Dreidel isn't just for Hanukkah anymore!

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe (www.cooljewbook.com)

TWITTER BONUS ROUND:

Receive an extra entry for every Tweet! Use http://tinyurl.com/fourcups + @ModernTribe_Jew. Your entry also earns you a 10% discount at PopJudaica and ModernTribe.

Winner will be notified Thursday, April 1st!

Remember, Cool Jew makes a great Afikomen and Passover host gift. Chag kasher v'sameach!

Now booking!

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/66uljk
Twitter.com/lisaklug
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/6hltzb
QTV: http://tinyurl.com/6zu73r
Red Room: http://tinyurl.com/6cj3wu
JewTube: http://tinyurl.com/6xny9v

The Ten Days of Awesomeness

If you've been following us on Twitter or Facebook, then you know Cool Jew has been showing up lately all around the world. From the Technion in Haifa to the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, to a whopping eight sessions at Limmud UK, and then back to the states for Schmooze: The IJPA Jewish Culture Conference, Limmud New York and more...

What more you ask? You may have heard of the Ten Days of Awe -- the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Well, l'havdil, with a profound departure from that time of spiritual introspection, we're now in the Ten Days of Awesomeness. You know those sunny, yummy, playful days between one awesome festival and another: Limmud LA, which we rocked last weekend, and Jewlicious 6.0, which we'll rock starting tomorrow in Long Beach. If you're nearby, come join the fun! Read all about it and grab last-minute tickets to the fest or the Saturday night concert, jam-packed with awesomeness, at www.jewliciousfestival.com.

Naturally, the miracles and wonders don't stop there! The Ten Days of Awesomeness fall in Adar, the Hebrew month of merrymaking, making this the perfect time to announce the Mamalah's Purim Giveaway. We know this little shindig may come as a surprise, so we're spelling it all out here!

The Mamalah's Purim Giveaway

In the Purim Megillah, Esther hides her Jewishness from the King. Even the name Esther means hidden. G-d is hidden in the Purim story. Sometimes your truest self is hidden, too.

But on Purim, “hiding” in costume gives you the freedom to let-it-all-hang-out and celebrate sometimes hidden aspects of who you are! What part of you do you want to party-up on Purim?

Visit PopJudaica.com and tell us your Jewish doppleganger to enter to win the Mamalah’s Purim Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:

• Author Lisa Alcalay Klug’s book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe
• ModernTribe’s “No Limit Texas Dreidel” game.
• Mama Doni’s music CD for kids and parents: I Love Purim. (www.MamaDoni.com

Who is your Jewish doppelganger? Which Jewish celebrity, historic figure, or bible character is your inspiration, your alter ego, your evil twin? Share your thoughts to enter to win! Click here to enter the Mamalah’s Purim Giveaway

TWITTER BONUS ROUND: Receive an extra entry for every Tweet! Use hashtag #mamalah

The lucky winner will be notified Friday, February 26th.

The fun never stops... Next up: Cool Jew Spring Travels. We'll be in Toledo, Ohio March 4, New York City March 5 - 13, Limmud Atlanta + SE March 14 and Limmud Berlin May 13 - 16.

Now booking!

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist
CoolJewBook.com
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/66uljk
Twitter.com/lisaklug
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/6hltzb
QTV: http://tinyurl.com/6zu73r
Red Room: http://tinyurl.com/6cj3wu
JewTube: http://tinyurl.com/6xny9v

Cool Jew Goes Global!

ANNOUNCING THE COOL JEW WORLD TOUR:

NEW YORK * JERUSALEM * LONDON * PARIS * NEW YORK

It's the tour that keeps on ticking! The 2009-2010 Cool Jew World Tour officially begins this weekend, when I set off for New York City! With books in tow, I'll be joining the sixth annual Carlebach retreat at the beautiful eco-friendly Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. Next stop?

First, The Motherland. Then, The Mothership

Tick, tick, tick! The overseas leg launches December 1st, as we blast off for Tel Aviv! Among other events we'll be announcing online, we'll be celebrating Chanukah Cool Jew-style with a come-one, come-all Cool Jew-licious Tweet Up! It's a joint event with one of my favorite blog-spots, Jewlicious and stand-up comedian Benji Lovitt. Catch us at sunset at the public menorah lighting in Zion Square in downtown Jerusalem the third night of lights. Or join us after work at a downtown libation-location TBA. For late-breaking deets, follow me on Twitter @lisaklug, friend me on Facebook or visit CoolJewBook.com!

December 23^rd, it's off to London for the celebrated festival known as Limmud UK: 2,000 Yidden * 800 sessions * 5 days plus a pre-festival Shabbat! It's all held at the University of Warwick. This Californian will be bracing the cold to present five times and enjoy all the festivities at this mothership of all Limmud festivals worldwide!

Then it's off to Paris! January 4th - 10th, the city across the Channel brings on private events in the historic city of lights. Catch these updates on Twitter. Then it's back across the pond just in time for...

More Schmooze, Less Snooze!

Schmooze: The IJPA Jewish Culture Conference for international Jewish arts and culture presenters and artists takes place January 11^th - 12^th at City Winery in Manhattan. I've loved being part of planning Schmooze the past few years and am thrilled by the awesome line-up we'll be presenting one more time. In addition to Schmooze, I'll be catching the spectacular shows that always run concurrent with each night of Schmooze at the Oy!hoo Music Festival. Imagine 20 rockin' innovative and emerging Jewish performers across two NYC venues. Tickets to Schmooze, which includes an all-access pass to the music festival, and festival tix ala carte are available at Oyhoo.com.

There's one more big event on this ground-breaking tour and that's Limmud NY, January 15^th - January 18^th. It's four days of eye-opening sessions, book signings, concerts, Shabbat, and more at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York. Registration is now open.

In Other Headlines

You asked for it, you've got it! New this holiday season, pair up a book with awesome Heebster gear from the Cool Jew Book Store. Now you can score an entire grocery store worth of rockin' goods featuring the iconic book jacket or the ridonkulously cool Cool Jew necklace designed by yours truly. It's all currently on sale at reduced "Black Friday" rates, so swagger on over and pick up some swag!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving with blessings of gratitude and abundance,

A Chanukah Sameach -- may the light of Chanukah illuminate your world with joy, meaning and fun,

And as always,

A l'chaim in your punim!

Lisa

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a 2008 National Jewish Book Award Finalist, makes a great gift!

Now booking: lisa (at) cooljewbook.com

Hello, Rochester!

Catch the THE MAIN EVENT

This year, Women's Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation presents its 19th annual opportunity to celebrate the power of a woman's gift! Join us on Tuesday, October 27th with keynote speaker, Lisa Alcalay Klug, author of

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe.

THE MAIN EVENT will take place at Temple Beth El, 139 South Winton Road in Rochester, New York

beginning with a 6:15 PM reception followed by 7:00 PM dinner and program.

Cost for the evening is $40 per person. During the evening each woman will have the opportunity to make a personal pledge to the 2010 UJA Federation Campaign; a minimum gift of $200 is suggested. The MAIN EVENT is sponsored by Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester.

More info on registering is available here.

Limmud UK

A week long chag - a festival of the mind and the spirit.

http://www.limmud.org/conference/

Start Time:
Friday, December 25, 2009 at 8:00am
End Time:
Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 2:00pm
Location:
The University of Warwick
City/Town:
Coventry, United Kingdom
Phone:
4402084587965
Email:
office@limmud.org

* Choose from over 800 sessions
* A wide range of options every hour
* Hundreds of speakers from all over the world
* Torah, Spirituality, Israel, History, Politics, Social Action, Community, Society, Arts, Culture, Music, Performance and more
* Over 2,000 fellow participants to meet and keep the discussions going

Featuring:
* Efraim Zuroff, Nazi hunter and candidate for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize
* Bernard Kops, the East End poet and playwright
* Michelle Citrin, singer and YouTube phenomenon
* Hephzibah Anderson, author of Chastened: No More Sex in the City
* Lisa Klug, author of Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe

NEW PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED
* Darshan, New York Hip Hop artists
* Kobi Oz, Israeli singer / songwriter who has represented his country at Eurovision
* Hagai El-Ad, Chief Exec of Association for Civil Rights in Israel
* Jonathan Fine, authority on terrorism and geopolitics from the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Herzliya
* Shalva Weil, historian of Ethiopian and Indian Jewry
* Jay Michaelson, editor of Zeek, the Manhattan based Jewish youth culture magazine
* Robert Rabinowitz, climate change expert

http://www.limmud.org/conference/conference09/Presenters/

Plus:
*spotlight sessions on sustainability and the Jewish world
*new tracks including Jewish Communal Professional covering the core skills of fundraising, strategy, education and more
*in Mind, Body, Spirit you’ll be engaging your whole Jewish being to explore texts in new and interesting ways.
*recreational activities like the pub quiz, the ‘Unfire’, a late night bar and top film, theatre and musical performances

The very best value:
We’ve kept a low price of only £370 for five days - only £74 per day including all your food, accommodation, sessions and entertainment. A new low price on ensuite single rooms, reduced to only £430.

If you’re under 30 a great way to experience Conference for as little as £115 is by spending a few hours a day volunteering in our Young Adult Development programme.

Book by November 23, before our prices rise.

Apply online at www.limmud.org

Where will Limmud Conference 2009 take you?

THE MAIN EVENT

The Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester

announces "THE MAIN EVENT" for the Women of Rochester, New York!

This year, Women's Philanthropy presents its 19th annual opportunity to celebrate the power of a woman's gift! Join us on Tuesday, October 27th at THE MAIN EVENT, this year presenting Lisa Klug, author of "Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe."

THE MAIN EVENT will take place at Temple Beth El, 139 South Winton Road beginning with a

6:15 PM reception followed by 7:00 PM dinner and program. Cost for the evening is $40 per

person. During the evening each woman will have the opportunity to make a personal pledge

to the 2010 UJA Federation Campaign; a minimum gift of $200 is suggested.

More info on registering is available here.

Shanah Tova and Mazal Tov

Wishing you a good and sweet new year!

Winner of the Cool Jew New You Giveaway is Michele P., Philadelphia

Michele is casting off and starting new in 5770:

"The mainstream New Year is often about resolutions and I no longer 'just resolve' to do anything. It sounds passive and gives me a feeling of a last ditch attempt, like I've let something go horridly wrong in the past. The shofar, and the Jewish New Year, is empowering, it is about opening one's eyes.

So, my wake up call is to be more aware every day. Be aware of my temple needs, as membership chair, be aware of the Jewish community and, the mainstream, to help all not just a group. To be aware of my role as a mother and wife. To be aware of my own needs and desires, to be the best person I can be. To network more to help raise others up to their aspirations. So, the shofar call is my awareness call, and it isn't even sounding yet, and I can see more clearly and hear it echo through me - I am honestly blessed."

Congratulations to Michele. Thank you to all who shared your reflections with us. Read them all at www.tinyurl.com/coolyou.

Please remember to vote! http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/lisa-alcalay-klug/

Abundant thanks to you all for making this such a memorable year ~

Shana tova -- ketiva v'chatima tova!

Jewish Diversity Rocks

What do a rapper, a dancer, a comedian and a handful of Sefardic, Ashkenazi and Hasidic performers have in common? They're all sharing the stage this Sunday in a show that celebrates Jewish diversity.

After an amazing year of events across North America, we're celebrating the first anniversary of the publication of my book with a blow-out show in New York City this Sunday. The Cool Jews Every Member of the Tribe Artist Showcase features an amazing cast of multicultural Jews. And, in an online giveaway we're running in conjunction with this event, one lucky winner will receive a prize package valued at almost $300 packed with their innovative creations.



The Cool Jews Every Member of the Tribe Artists Showcase is slated for 5 pm, Sept. 13th at the JCC of Manhattan. Our diverse group of multicultural Jewish artists will hit the stage with their greatest hits. Performers include:
Sarah Aroeste, Ladino chanteuse
Yisrael Campbell, comedian/Jew by choice
Eprhyme, Ashkenazi rapper Eden Pearlstein (on the Shemspeed label)
Elie Massias, Gibraltar-born Sephardic guitarist/solo artist
Adam McKinney, classically trained African-American Jewish dancer who has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and other acclaimed companies, filmmaker and arts educator
Rachel Ravitz & Matti Brown, married singer/songwriter folk duo; Rachel is a storyteller in the tradition of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Matti is a cantor and Jew by choice
Rav Shmuel, hasidic rabbi and rock n' roller

In conjunction with the Cool Jews Every Member of the Tribe Artists Showcase, we've created the Cool Jew New You Giveaway in partnership with http://ModernTribe.com. This innovative website shares Cool Jew's approach to celebrating Jewish culture. Together, we have invited the Showcase Artists and several other Jewish mensches -- friends and colleagues, artists, writers, performers and entrepreneurs -- to donate prizes to the Cool Jew New You Giveaway in honor of the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, which falls on September 18th.

To enter to win the Cool Jew New You Giveaway, visit http://tinyurl.com/coolyou and submit your answer to this question: "In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?'" You can also click through to purchase elements of the Giveaway. (No purchase is required to win. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.)

The Cool Jew New You Giveaway winner will be chosen from all submissions and announced on Sept. 17th at the ModernTribe.com blog.

The Cool Jew New You Giveaway contains prizes valued at approximately $300. One lucky mensch will receive:

* Ladino chanteuse Sarah Aroeste's Puertas CD ($15)
* Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's Circumcise Me DVD ($20)
* Eprhyme’s debut CD WAYWORDWONDERWILL ($15) and 7-inch vinyl single, Punklezmerap, on K Records as part of its International Pop Underground Series ($5)
* Jewcy.com’s “Table Topics: Spirit Box” discussion cards ($25)
* Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe ($13)
* Living Tree Community Foods’ organic Snugglespoon honey, raw almond butter and raw tahini ($47 total)
* Rachel and Matti’s CD sampler Your Kindness ($5)
* Jennie Rivlin Roberts' "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game from ModernTribe.com ($20)
* Jean Roth’s Rotem Gear What Would Maimonides Do? t-shirt ($24)
* Author Matthue Roth’s books, Never Mind the Goldbergs ($8) and Yom Kippur A Go-Go ($15)
* Musician/composer Elie Massias’ Brooklyn Days CD ($10)
* Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's "Protocols" and "B'yameinu" music CDs ($18 each) and two t-shirts ($15 each)

Meet the folks behind the giveaway:

Inspired by her Sephardic roots from Spain and Greece, Ladino chanteuse Sarah Aroeste fuses Judeo-Spanish folk songs from her unique background with rock, funk, jazz and blues. Her exotic blend of flamenco melodies, Middle Eastern rhythms and modern soul presents a fresh take on Sephardic sounds. saraharoeste.com

American-born Yisrael Campbell performs stand-up comedy throughout the English-speaking world and Israel, his adopted home. Yisrael is currently creating a production of his one-man show, "Circumcise Me," to open off-Broadway in November, 2009. He trained for the stage at Circle in the Square. yisraelcampbell.com

Incorporating Kabbalah, psychology and politics, Eprhyme (aka Eden Pearlstein) spits rhymes intertwined with elements of jazz, funk, klezmer and Middle Eastern music. A kaleidoscopic counter-cultural exchange for mystics, punks and b-boys, his raps are a powerful, poetic plea for peace, justice, joy and unity. Ephryme.com, http://tinyurl.com/eprhymevid

Jewcy.com is an entertainment and media company devoted to helping Jews (and anyone else) find, use, share, and expand meaning and community. Jewcy operates an online site, theatrical productions, and a steady diet of exciting events for progressive free-thinkers. jewcy.com

Award-winning journalist Lisa Alcalay Klug is the author of Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a 2008 National Jewish Book Awards Finalist. A contributor to the New York Times, Forward and many other publications, Lisa also edits the multicultural blog, Tolerant Nation. cooljewbook.com tolerantnation.wordpress.com

Living Tree Community Foods is a pioneering natural foods company distributing kosher creations from its base in Berkeley, California throughout the world. Living Tree products are alive, organic and certified kosher. livingtreecommunity.com

Gibraltar native Elie Massias sings and plays acoustic and electric guitar, soprano saxophone and cajon and, using a boomerang sampler, creates loops in real-time, integrating the beautiful intricacies of Flamenco Guitar, Jazz, Middle Eastern and Sephardic music. Billboard Magazine named Elie among the top 10 acts of the U.S. North East at the Independent Music World Series 2007. eliemassias.com

Rachel Ravitz & Matthew Brown met while exploring the world's various religions and married soon after their first musical collaboration. Fifteen years later, they continue to harmonize, compose and perform new Jewish melodies. Rachel is a singer and storyteller in the Chasidic tradition of Reb Shlomo Carlebach. Matthew, a Jew by choice, is a composer and cantor for several congregations in New York City. Rachel and Matti are currently recording their first CD of original Jewish music. rachelandmatti.com

Jennie Rivlin Roberts is the founder of ModernTribe.com (this website!), an online Judaica and Jewish gifts store for progressive minds, spirits, and style, and the co-inventor of No Limit Texas Dreidel (NLTD), which crosses dreidel with Texas Hold'em poker. NLTD has received national recognition in media outlets such as NPR and Newsweek. TexasDreidel.com

Designer R. Jean Roth embraces diversity daily at her graphic design studio and through her apparel designs at Rotem Gear. Having lived in the US, Israel and Japan, she brings her multi-hued background into her designs, along with a dose of American pop culture and quirky humor. Rotem Gear has been featured in fashion magazines, Jewish publications and the Cool Jew book! RotemGear.com

Matthue Roth is the author of three novels, Losers, Never Mind the Goldbergs, and Candy in Action, as well as a memoir, Yom Kippur a Go-Go. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter, and he keeps a secret diary at matthue.com

Rav Shmuel is a hasidic rabbi who hangs out in Greenwich Village and plays original compositions on his guitar. Billboard described his acclaimed debut CD as "immediately likeable... good humored anti-folk." Views of his animated video, "Protocols," have surpassed 125,000 on YouTube. ravshmuel.com

Take a moment for fun and enter to win the Cool Jew New You Giveaway!

Cool Jews Artists Showcase & New You Giveaway

This Sunday, come celebrate Jewish diversity at the Cool Jews Artist Showcase at 5 pm at the JCC of Manhattan. And join 13 Jewish innovators & entrepreneurs who have teamed up to celebrate Rosh Hashanah by celebrating online. We've all contributed close to $300 worth of gifts to give away to one lucky person.

A diverse group of multicultural Jewish artists will hit the stage with their greatest hits. Performers at the Cool Jew Artist Showcase are

Sarah Aroeste, Ladino chanteuse
Yisrael Campbell, comedian/Jew by choice
Eprhyme, Ashkenazi rapper Eden Pearlstein (on the Shemspeed label)
Elie Massias, Gibraltar-born Sephardic guitarist/solo artist
Adam McKinney, classically trained African-American Jewish dancer who has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and other acclaimed companies, filmmaker and arts educator
Rachel Ravitz & Matti Brown, married singer/songwriter folk duo; Rachel is a storyteller in the tradition of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Matti is a cantor and Jew by choice
Rav Shmuel, hasidic rabbi and rock n'roller

You can win their creations and other holiday shwag in the Cool Jew New You Gift Box. The gift box contains

Ladino chanteuse Sarah Aroeste's Puertas CD ($15)
Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's Circumcise Me DVD ($20)
Eprhyme’s debut CD WAYWORDWONDERWILL ($15) and 7-inch vinyl single, Punklezmerap, on K Records as part of its International Pop Underground Series ($5)
Jewcy.com’s “Table Topics: Spirit Box” discussion cards ($25)
Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe ($13)
Living Tree Community Foods’ organic Snugglespoon honey, raw almond butter and raw tahini ($47 total)
Rachel and Matti’s CD sampler Your Kindness ($5)
Jennie Rivlin Roberts' "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game from ModernTribe.com ($20)
Jean Roth’s Rotem Gear What Would Maimonides Do? t-shirt ($24)
Author Matthue Roth’s books, Never Mind the Goldbergs ($8) and Yom Kippur A Go-Go ($15)
Musician/composer Elie Massias’ Brooklyn Days CD ($10)
Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's Protocols and B'yameinu CDs ($18 each) and two t-shirts ($15 each)

To enter to win the Cool Jew New You Giveaway, go to http://tinyurl.com/coolyou and submit your answer to this question:

"In what ways are you 'casting off' and starting new this year?"

A winner will be chosen from the answers and announced on Thursday, September 17. (No purchase is required to enter. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Void where prohibited.)

Take a moment for fun and enter here.

Holy Brothas and Sistahs

There is nothing like a visit to the Carlebach Shul!

On Saturday, Sept. 12th, join a festive third meal at the incomparable Carlebach shul.

Award-winning journalist and author Lisa Alcalay Klug will dish about her book, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe. A National Book Jewish Award finalist, Cool Jew celebrates Jewish identity with love, good humor and a reverent irreverence.


A light meal, songs, stories and shmooze begins at 7:15 pm.