Hanukkah Festival
92nd Street Y; 12/6; $20 adults, $15 children
Bring the kids to build a menorah or decorate a dreidel at the 92nd Street Y’s yearly celebration. There are also sing-alongs, games of leapfrog, and a performance by the 92Y School of Music’s jazz klezmer ensemble.
A Chanukah Concert
Town Hall; 12/9; $40–$80
The celebrated Moscow Male Jewish Choir, a twenty-voice choral ensemble that’s played Carnegie Hall, teams up with tenor Joseph Malovany (of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue’s choir) for a night of folk songs in Yiddish, Hebrew, and Russian, as well as liturgical works and classic holiday melodies.
Cocktails and Cupcakes
Dylan’s Candy Bar; 12/10; $25
Celebrate the spirit at a singles holiday mixer hosted by popular Jewish dating website JDate, when they give the candy shop a decidedly adult makeover including a Belvedere- and Hennessy-sponsored open bar.
Festival of Light
Webster Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg; 12/10–12/20; $35
Popular Hasidic dub king Matisyahu returns for his fourth-annual residency, an eight-show run split between Webster Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg (with nights off for the Sabbath). This year includes a special guest performance by experimental-crunk D.J.’s the Glitch Mob.
Lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah
Grand Army Plaza, 59th St. at Fifth Ave.; 12/11–12/19; free
The world’s largest menorah—a 32-foot high, 4,000-pound steel structure—is an honored tradition, with a lighting ceremony near Central Park held every evening at 5:15 p.m. during the holiday (with the exception of the Sabbath lightings). Don’t miss Sunday’s after-party, where singing, dancing, and free potato pancakes are on the bill. A second giant menorah is stationed at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza.
Third-Annual Menorah Horah
Southpaw; 12/12; $12 in advance, $16 at the door
An off-color take on the holiday that features burlesque act the Schlep Sisters aided by klezmer punk band Golem and drag sensation Kenny Mellman, a.k.a Herb of Kiki & Herb.
Rachael Sage: “Tchatchkes & Latkes!”
Joe’s Pub; 12/23; $12
Comedienne and songstress Rachael Sage brings her signature “What’s a Jewish girl to do?” shtick to a special holiday-themed performance that includes diatribes about her family’s extensive collection of fine menorahs, sultry piano songs, and special guests like cellist Dave Eggar (Coldplay, the Who) and the “Rosh Hashanah Girl” from YouTube.
The Matzo Ball
Capitale; 12/24; $25–$95
The Society of Young Jewish Professionals’ annual Christmas Eve alternative is held in multiple cities across the country. This year, Chosen People will descend on the 10,000-square-foot Beaux Arts ballroom downtown for the swank affair — VIP tickets include a three-course pre-dance dinner at Sushi Samba 7.