Put On Your Yarmulke, Here Comes Hanukkah

Tonight marks the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, that minor holiday puffed up to major holiday deal so goyim have something to say after that awkward pause that invariably arises when they ask a member of the Tribe how their Christmas shopping is going. So there’s only two Hanukkah songs of note, there’s no kitschy Rankin-Bass holiday special featuring little Moishe and Rebecca as they and Judas Maccabee try and save Hanukkah from those mean-ole Miser brothers, and there’s no traditional viewing of Irving the Angel showing George Goldstein what a vunderlekh life he has? So what? How can you not love a holiday that lasts eight days and features setting things on fire and gambling?

The big event happening is the annual lighting of the Bill Graham Menorah at Union Square. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and lasts 'til 6 p.m., so for those who aren't stuck at work, say the prayers for us. For all you Peninsula denizens, the big fun will be the lighting of a giant lego menorah, as highlighted in the Chron's Bay Area Sketchbook. The menorah, sponsored by the North Peninsula Chabad is made up entirely of lego's and is over 10 feet high. That's pretty darn cool.

For those looking to party-hard through those eight days, there are several mesiba's happening throught the city. Wednesday night, the Red Devil Lounge is having a "Rock the Dreidel" rock n' roll party. Saturday night features Boogie Night, "Craziest Hannukah Party Ever" at the Cellar, featuring DJ Boaz spinning the best disco in town." Our favorite beer, He'Brew ("The Chosen Beer") is sponsoring a Hanukkah party, Jewbelation, on Sunday at the Hotel Utah in honor of its eighth year in business.

And for those not looking to disco, rock n'roll, or drink "Messiah Bold" stout, there are also several concerts of note. The biggest one being a concert celebrating several Hanukkah and other Jewish related songs written by famous folkster Woody Guthrie, whose second wife was Jewish and who raised his son, Arlo, Jewish. "Holy Ground: The Jewish and Spiritual Songs of Woody Guthrie" will be performed Tuesday by his son Arlo, his grandson Abe, and the six-piece Klezmatics band at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. And finally, local klezmer band, Davka, performs at the Noe Valley Ministry on Saturday as part of their Hanukkah celebration.