Taglit-birthright israel and JDub Records Launch 'The Eight,' A New Way To Celebrate Hanukah
First of its kind; worldwide Hanukah parties to take place on December 8
New York NY – October 15, 2007 – Taglit-birthright israel and JDub Records announced today the launch of the first-ever multi-city Hanukkah concert event series. All taking place on December 8, 2007, The Eight (goeight.com) celebrates the Festival of Lights with parties in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington DC (as well as Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Moscow, and Sydney!) that will feature music from up-and-coming artists handpicked by JDub, multimedia performances, and a unique menorah lighting ceremony at each event.
Confirmed musical guests include Israeli hip-hop superstars Hadag Nachash at Webster Hall in New York; the indie-vaudeville-art-rock-act Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players at Crocodile Café in Seattle; hip-hop-inflected Middle Eastern-Gypsy collective Balkan Beat Box and Cambodian Rockers Dengue Fever at the Echo Plex in Los Angeles. Full lineup follows below.
The Eight was conceptualized based on Jewltide, JDub’s successful annual Hanukah concerts, which evolved over the last five years into mini-tours the week during the holiday. By partnering with Taglit-birthright israel, the two organizations will create a worldwide, interactive Hanukah event on a massive scale, offering participants a unique shared opportunity to engage with Judaism outside of an institutional or religious Jewish setting.
“The Eight event will bring the next generation of young Jews together to celebrate the festival of Hanukah on a worldwide level,” said Rabbi Daniel Brenner of Taglit-birthright israel. “Having sent over 145,000 young people from 52 countries on 10-day educational journeys to Israel, we are committed to significantly investing in further opportunities for our alumni to engage with their peers and deepen their connection to Jewish life.”
“This is the first worldwide event of its kind, with young Jews reclaiming old rituals like the menorah lighting and celebrating a Jewish holiday in their own way, in the places that they find community,” said Aaron Bisman, founder of JDub Records. “We are thrilled to partner with Taglit-birthright israel to take the Hanukkah events we’ve produced over the past 4 years to elevate it to a worldwide audience.”
Tickets for The Eight will go on sale on October 19th to alumni of birthright israel via goeight.com and October 26th to the general public via goeight.com.
About Taglit-birthright israel
Taglit-birthright israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, 10-day educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Taglit-birthright israel operates on a belief that it is every Jewish person's birthright to visit Israel. To date, nearly 145,000 young adults from 52 countries have traveled to Israel for the first time on Taglit-birthright israel trips. The gift of the 10-day trip is being provided by our partners: the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, Jewish communities around the world and private philanthropists through the birthright israel Foundation. (Website: www.birthrightisrael.com)
About JDub Records
Founded in December 2002 by two New York University students, JDub, the non-profit record label and event production company, has grown into an internationally recognized brand and has introduced proud Jewish voices squarely into mainstream culture. In its start-up phase, JDub focused on developing a small cadre of artists, including Matisyahu, SoCalled, and Balkan Beat Box, and introducing its unique programming to its target audience, primarily through events in New York City, festivals such as Bonnaroo, national CD releases, and via national media outlets such as MTV and The New York Times. JDub will celebrate its fifth anniversary in December 2007. (Website: www.jdubrecords.org)