Opening of the Hanukkah Market at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Press Invitation
Press Release, Wed 17 Nov 2010
The Jewish Museum Berlin will open this year’s Hanukkah Market with a program for all the family on Sunday 28 November. Visitors great and small can learn about traditions surrounding the Jewish festival of lights on tours about Jewish life and the children’s tour "Happy Hanukkah!" The Jewish Museum has created its own puppet show entitled "Hanukkah Quarrel at the Cohen’s." It is about celebrations at the Cohen’s as well as their small and not-so-small catastrophes!
- Kontakt
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Press office
T +49 (0)30 259 93 419
presse@jmberlin.de - Address
Jewish Museum Berlin Foundation
Lindenstraße 9–14
10969 Berlin
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians in 165 B.C.. It is celebrated from 2 to 9 December this year. One of the miracles celebrated at Hanukkah is the kosher oil that kept the temple menorah burning. Although there was only enough oil to keep the menorah alight for one day, it continued to burn for eight days and eight nights. In commemoration of this miracle, the Hanukkah festival is eight days long.
To celebrate the Hanukkah festival, the Glass Courtyard in the Jewish Museum’s Old Building will be festively lit and transformed into a market place for one month. In the 17 huts designed in Libeskind style especially for the market, visitors will find a wide range of Hanukkah wares from Germany, Israel, and the USA. From the traditional to the unusual, from kitsch to handicrafts – such as Disney Hanukkah menorahs, cuddly Torah scrolls, an impressive range of kippot, loads of children’s toys and other great gift ideas. Typical Hanukkah specialties such as latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiot (donuts), and kosher mulled wine make a stroll around the Market even more tempting. At information boards amongst the stalls, visitors can learn about the background and customs surrounding the Hanukkah festival.
The program surrounding the Hanukkah Market will fill each weekend until 26 December featuring a Hanukkah puppet show, live klezmer concerts, an oil-press workshop, children’s tours with dreidel handcrafting, and tours for adults. A highlight of the children’s program are the readings with the author and illustrator Shlomit Baris Tulgan, who will read from her German-Turkish children’s book "Alis wunderbarer Weg" (Ali’s wonderful path) on three Saturdays in December.
Opening Program on 28 November 2010, Midday to 6 pm
| 11 am and 2.30 pm |
HAPPY CHANUKKA!
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| Where | Old Building, "Meeting Point" in the foyer |
|---|---|
| Cost | 3 € including admission fee |
| midday |
Opening of the Market in the Glass Courtyard |
| Where | Glass Courtyard, ground level |
|---|
| 2 pm |
Words of Welcome
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| 2 to 5 pmr |
Catch the Shamash!
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| Where | Hanukkah Market |
|---|---|
| Admission | free |
| 2.30 and 4 pm |
Hanukkah Quarrel at the Cohen’s
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| Where | Old Building, ground level, Auditorium |
|---|---|
| Admission | free (only on 28 November) |
| 2.30 and 4 pm |
Jewish Life and Traditions
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| Where | Old Building, "Meeting Point" in the foyer |
|---|---|
| Cost | 3 € plus admission to the permanent exhibition (5 €, 2.50 € reduced rate) |
The Lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah: 1 to 8 December 2010
Hanukkah falls from 2 to 9 December this year. On the eve of each of these days, the Hanukkah candle is lit at sunset. At the market, we will light the Hanukkah menorah every day from 1 to 8 December at 4 pm. On Saturday 4 December, the vocal ensemble "Erstes Berliner Oktett" will sing at the lighting. A Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi will light the candle on 5 December.
Hanukkah Market Opening Times
| When | 28 November to 26 December 2010 daily from midday to 6 pm, closed on 24 December 2010 |
|---|---|
| Where | Glass Courtyard, ground level |
| Admission | free |
Information and bookings (for non-journalists) for tours and the children’s program on tel. +49 (0)30 259 93 305 or fuehrungen@jmberlin.de
