Honika Electronica

Adam Sandler's Hannukah Song will always be THE Hannukah song, but check this one out.
I dare you to try to refrain from doing the robot while listening to this.

So Much Funnakah

It just happens to be that time of year again when the roster is run through of Hollywood celebrities who spin dreidels, light candles and celebrate the eight crazy nights of Hanakkah. Only one man puts it so beautifully into song and if you have yet to see part three, treat yourself to Adam Sandler's rock out tune of the season.

''The Hannukah Song, No. 3,'' by Adam Sandler

A Hannukah twist - Drunk on Donuts

That's right blog readers, do not bother spiking the punch bowl at the upcoming holiday parties. Forget about raising your glasses of manishewitz and other ceremonial wines for a toast. Instead, have your friends and/or family bring back from Israel a bakers dozen of the latest holiday trend...you can then...wait for it...yes, raise your vodka-infused sufganiyot for a Hannukah l'chayim.

Recently reported on by Ynetnews.com, alcohol importers of "Hortiza" in Israel, have decided to market their vodka, by hiring a pastry chef /bartender to create vodka-soaked donuts ahead of Hannukah. Do not worry you jam loving holiday treat lovers, what do you think is used to dilute the 90 millilitres of vodka in the 100 gram donut. By comparison the percentage of vodka being used is equal to one bottle of beer.

If you attempt to put away more than one of these devilish goodies, just remember, eat first then drive responsibly.

Montreal vs. NYC: Bagel Wars start anew

Earlier this week in the New York Times, an article entitled "Montreal’s Bagels Square Off Against New York’s" (you can read the full piece here) appeared, basically slagging La Belle Ville's roundies and extolling the virtues of New York's finest whole-in-the-middles.

Now, I'm going to admit to being incredibly biased here. 1- Because I'm an ex-pat Montrealer who grew up on St. Viateur and Fairmount bagels and they're awesome. And 2- See reason #1.

Look, to be fair, the article gives a fair and balanced take on the situation. But in the end, it finds NYC's bagels to be the winner. Sure, that'll happen when the judges are all NY Times staff.

So here's a message from me to the good folks in New York City: Hey, NY Times staffers, you're delusional. Montreal bagels have it all over New York baygs. Don't believe me? Well, then believe this:



Also, allow me to take the liberty to pull Toronto into this debate for a sec. Torontonians will tout their bagel mastery via such producers as Gryfe's and What a Bagel. I live in T.O. and have tried all these fascimiles. They're "ok" for what they are... bread-type round things with very little heft, flavour or character. So it's no wonder Toronto now has "Montreal style" bagel places popping up left, right and centre. Shops like St. Urbain Bagel and The Bagel House are quickly wicking away consumers of Toronto's outmoded bagies for the rich, bountiful goodness of the Montreal flavourlicious bagels being produced in the true, Quebec-Jewish style. Meaning - Handmade, baked in a wood oven. And with love.

Hey, it's just the facts.

Marni's Indian adventure... so far.

McGill University graduate Marni Wolf is one of 10 Jewish youths – the only Canadian – who traveled to western India to work with an NGO as part of American Jewish World Service’s (AJWS) World Partners Fellowship. The 10-month fellowship is awarded to recent Jewish college graduates and young professionals who are committed to volunteering and it requires fellows to engage in educational seminars, workshops, orientation and retreats.

Wolf spoke to The CJN in September – check out the story here – just days before she was set to leave Toronto for India, and has kept in touch to update us on her experiences. Below is a letter she wrote to her friends and family about what the last couple months have been like for her.

I spent a month traveling around the North West region of the country, which was an incredible place to explore. Although unplanned, it turned out to be a whirlwind tour of religious and spiritual experiences. I suppose this is no surprise considering we're talking about India.

Landing in New Delhi at midnight was nothing short of exhilarating. My travel companion David, from NYC, happened to somehow be loosely connected to the Netherlands Ambassador to India. We spent our first day in his beautiful old colonial mansion, sipping tea and talking about his experiences when he was the ambassador to Israel! Even funnier, he brought his dog all the way from its original home – a kibbutz.

Moments later, he mentioned that we were sitting in THE room where Nehru and Jinnah sat signing the partition of Pakistan from India. From there, we took our first Indian train ride to visit the Taj Mahal; one of the only monuments I've seen that fully lived up to all the hype. Afterward, we spent three nights in Varanasi, the holiest and oldest Hindu city. Our next stop, Rishikesh – the yoga capital of the world – is situated in the mountains along the holy Ganges river. It's also known for the famous yoga ashram where The Beatles learned to meditate for two months before releasing The White Album.

After all of the yoga and meditation, we set off for Punjab to visit the Golden Temple, the most sacred spot for Sikhs. We enjoyed a free bed and three meals a day. "Service to humanity is service to God," read the statue in the middle of the city.

Next, we were in the Himalayas; specifically, the home of the Dalai Lama in exile. We arrived just in time to attend a four-day teaching given by none other than his holiness. I sat cross-legged, surrounded by Tibetan monks and refugees enjoying the mountains and fresh air.

After all of that traveling I was excited to settle down for awhile, and spent the next three weeks in Gandhi's old ashram in the city of Ahmadabad, Gujarat. On Shabbat, I visited the only existing shul in Gujarat. Its population is rapidly diminishing.

Some AJWS staff and the eight other fellows joined me and David in Ahmadabad. Orientation was jam-packed with sessions about international development, Judaism, globalization, as well as Indian history, politics, and culture. I got to know the other fellows really well and we bonded quite nicely.

Now I'm finally in Baroda, settling into my own two-bedroom flat. I'll be working at Vikalp, an organization that works to empower women, specifically in marginalized communities. In one week, I've seen only a glimpse of all of the wonderful things they do, and I am very excited to get involved and start my own projects. Today I visited the slums outside of the city and sat in on a meeting involving adolescent girls who make ends meet as domestic workers. Vikalp meets with them daily, sharing information on how to ensure proper wages, providing emotional support, as well as reproductive health classes.

I've attached a poem that was written by the director of the congregation in Gujarat, which just celebrated their 75th year.

Autobiography of Magen Abraham Synagogue
Composed by Edward D. Reubens

I, Magen Abraham Synagogue, am today 75 years old;
Residing in gentile surroundings, I've always been brave and bold.
The Fire Temple in front, a Mosque nearby, the CNI Church behind,
Have all by no means changed or influenced my mind.

I've weathered all seasons; heavy rains, bitter cold and intense heat,
And even seen my members come to me in magical feat;
Violent storms, torrential rains, the devastating 2001 earthquake,
All I have survived and stood erect for His peoples' sake.

In the early days, I saw the young and the old,
The rich and the poor, the meet and the bold,
Steeped in serious service in praise of the living God,
With fear in the hearts yearning for the blessings of the Lord.

My house would be packed on every festival day,
Elders with long beards and prayer books in their hands;
From the bimah, the Hazan would melodiously chant away,
While tiny tots frolicked fearlessly in lovely little bands.

Time passed by and the numbers drastically reduced,
As the call of the Holy Land magically beckoned and induced
The many brethren who finally decided to emigrate,
For some it was too early, for others too late.

Now, the attendance in my house has turned so thin;
It looks deserted, without many of the kith and kin.
At times, even getting a minyan becomes difficult;
Therefore, reading the kaddish is not done as a result

But lo, I have weathered all and everything,
By growing in strength and spreading my protective wings,
With a spacious room for visitors, a pavilion alongside,
And a treasure of books to enable my members' Faithful ride.

My house is now the centre for studying Torah and Hebrew,
Where the young and the old assemble, not just a few,
In a remarkable development little heard of before,
May Hashem bless their fresh efforts and lead them to the fore.

Very few in fact, a 'remnant' are my members, you see,
But the spirit, the intensity, the passion is their key;
May they continue to receive the blessings of Hashem,
The Holy One, blessed be forever His Glorious Name.

Today, I mourn the dead and weep for those who have left;
Today, I'm worried and frightened of the uncertain future.
Tomorrow, if the Messiah comes and takes away one and all;
I'll sure feel sorrow and suffer at the Might One's Call,

Then all will be gone from here, yet I'm sure Ill stand
In the ears ahead rapt in their sweet memories,
With the strength of my love, but without a helping hand
Even if I weep and shed tears in boundless quantities.

Idan Raichel Live at JUMP

It was just about a full house last week at JUMP (Jewish Urban Meeting Place) as they opened the doors to the new midtown location on Yonge, just south of Eglington. To kick off the launch of the new centre, following his performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at Exhibition place, Motek productions had one of Israel's top artists Idan Raichel, roll in for an Intimate and Interactive sit down interview, surrounded by an audience of some seventy or so young professionals.

The evening's host was Notable TV journalist Julian Brass who in his monologue opening, spoke about how he first came to know of Idan and his project.


During the actual interview and accompanied by vocalist Maya Avraham, the personal side of the artist was shown with questions ranging from how he got his start, to who his favorite collaborator to date has been and what types of music and which artists have inspired him, plus those he travels with the most.


Each of the four melodious performances was rendered with pitch perfect sound. For anyone who could not make it last Monday here is just a small taste of Idan and Maya's music.

Reznik Dances to the Top

Profiled in Heebonics exactly one year ago, just prior to competing for the finals of So You Think You Can Dance Canada's first season, Israeli-born, Toronto-raised Natalli Reznik is dancing her dream. For those who missed it, the Toronto dancer joined pop music legend Janet Jackson on stage at the 2009 American Music Awards to kick off the show in a five-song musical medley broadcast live from Los Angeles. (She's the one to the right of Janet)



Reznik, now a SYTYCDC and Cirque du Soleil alum, recently said she was so inspired after seeing Jackson's "All Night, Don't Stop" video it motivated her to take her dance career to the next level.

Also dancing alongside Jackson in the video for her new single, "Make Me," (one of the hooded ones to the left with a quick solo) she told a reporter, "we work hard, but it's so much fun."



What comes next for Resnik? She's planning on getting herself an apartment in LA so she'll be able to work in both there and in Toronto.

Good on ya, Natalli! Way to go!