Release Date: November 16, 2016

Fun-Filled Hanukkah Family Day at The Jewish Museum Sunday, December 18

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NEW YORK, NY – The Jewish Museum presents its annual Hanukkah Family Day, a fun-filled day of activities, on Sunday, December 18 from noon to 4pm.  Kids can construct sculptural Hanukkah menorahs with funky found objects in a huge drop-in art workshop, dance to the music of ShirLaLa, see the Hanukkah story brought to life through a drawing performance by Jeff Hopkins, and explore the Museum’s world-famous collection of Hanukkah lamps.

This event is free with Museum admission, and for children age 3 and up.   Adults are asked to accompany their children.  For further information regarding family programs at the Jewish Museum, the public may call 212.423.3337. Tickets can be purchased online at thejewishmuseum.org/families.  The Jewish Museum is located at 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City.

HANUKKAH FAMILY DAY EVENTS  - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Noon – 4pm
HUGE DROP-IN ART WORKSHOP
Families can choose from four projects:
Found Object Menorahs – Attendees can design whimsical Hanukkah menorah sculptures with found objects such as wood shapes, spools, and metallic forms inspired by Hanukkah lamps in the exhibition, Masterpieces & Curiosities: Memphis Does Hanukkah, as well as in the Museum’s permanent exhibition, Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey.
Hand-printed Cards – Kids will create handmade wood block stamps with Hanukkah related imagery to print on cards and share with family and friends during the holiday. In the spirit of the exhibition, Take Me I’m Yours, families can trade stamps and cards with each other.
Dreidel Designs - Using patterned papers, metallic boards, and colored wire, families can design innovative spinning tops or imaginative dreidels, inspired by the bold and whimsical designs of objects in Masterpieces & Curiosities: Memphis Does Hanukkah.
Collaborative Work of Art – Drawing inspiration from theme of Hanukkah lights, families will be able to collaborate on a large scale work of art.

12:30pm and 2:30pm
PERFORMANCE: SHIRLALA
Kid rocker Shira Kline will perform a musical re-enactment of the Hanukkah story full of heroes, drama, excitement, and miracles inspired by the power of light. Hear tunes from her holiday album such as “Chanukah Bamba,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and more.

Shira Kline, aka ShirLaLa, is an award-winning New York based performer and Jewish music educator. The Jewish Week selected Shira as one of 2011’s “36 Under 36, The New Re‐Engineers” of Jewish life. ShirLaLa and her kiddie‐rock band have performed in hundreds of venues throughout the United States as well as stages in England, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Her three Jewish kiddie‐rock albums are a favorite with libraries, families, classrooms and synagogues. Shira serves on the faculty of the Hava NaShira Music Institute and is also a founding company member of Storahtelling: Ritual Theatre Revived where she performs as a maven, ritual leader, actor, writer, director and musician.

1:30pm
DRAWING PERFORMANCE: HANUKKAH STORIES COMING TO LIFE
Kids will see a playful tale unfold in this eye-catching performance using live drawing, animation, and narration with sound and movement. On wall-sized paper Jeff Hopkins brings characters and action to life in this one-of-a-kind happening created for Hanukkah Family Day.

Jeff Hopkins is a storyteller, illustrator, and educator. He performs his drawing/storytelling shows for students and families at schools and museums all over the country. For the past 15 years, Jeff has worked as a teaching artist for arts organizations such as the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Guggenheim Museum and the American Ballet Theater. In addition he has received honors for his illustrated children’s books.

1:00pm and 3:00pm
SPOTLIGHT TOURS
An educator will conduct a brief gallery tour with a sketching opportunity that will spotlight Hanukkah lamps from around the world from The Jewish Museum’s renowned collection.

11am – 5:45pm
SELF-GUIDED FAMILY EXHIBITION TOURS
Specialized printed family gallery guides for the temporary exhibitions and for Hanukkah lamps on view in the Museum’s permanent exhibition, Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey, will be available.

The Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Education’s school and family programs are supported by endowed funds established by the Bronfman Family, the Muriel and William Rand Fund, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Rosalie Klein Adolf, the Kekst Family, and Mrs. Ida C. Schwartz in memory of Mr. Bernard S. Schwartz. Family programming is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Councilmember Daniel R. Garodnick and the City Council.

About the Jewish Museum

Located on Museum Mile at Fifth Avenue and 92nd Street, the Jewish Museum is one of the world's preeminent institutions devoted to exploring art and Jewish culture from ancient to contemporary, offering intellectually engaging, educational, and provocative exhibitions and programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Museum was established in 1904, when Judge Mayer Sulzberger donated 26 ceremonial objects to The Jewish Theological Seminary as the core of a museum collection. Today, the Museum maintains a collection of over 30,000 works of art, artifacts, and broadcast media reflecting global Jewish identity, and presents a diverse schedule of internationally acclaimed temporary exhibitions. Visitors can now also enjoy Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum, a kosher sit-down restaurant and take-out appetizing counter on the Museum’s lower level. 

The Jewish Museum is located at 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City. Museum hours are Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, 11am to 5:45pm; Thursday, 11am to 8pm; and Friday, 11am to 4pm.  Museum admission is $15.00 for adults, $12.00 for senior citizens, $7.50 for students, free for visitors 18 and under and Jewish Museum members.  Admission is Pay What You Wish on Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm and free on Saturdays.  For information on the Jewish Museum, the public may call 212.423.3200 or visit the website at TheJewishMuseum.org.

Press contacts

Anne Scher and Alex Wittenberg
The Jewish Museum
212.423.3271
ascher@thejm.org
awittenberg@thejm.org
pressoffice@thejm.org (general inquiries)