KlezCalendar

KFAR presents... KNISHMAS! It's not a 'silent night' for us... 12/24 @ Cubby Bear
Wrigleyville

On a night when Jews traditionally eat Chinese food or watch movies, KFAR presents
its 6th Annual KNISHMAS event. Billed as the alternative to xmas eve alternatives,
KNISHMAS always features talented acts with a contemporary take on Jewish culture.

This year highlights folk-rockers Even Sh'Siyah with their blend of extended-play,
Allman Brothers style southern rock jams, spiritual themes and lyrics in Hebrew and
English. The Chicago band has released three albums over its ten year history,
"Through Your Gates O Jerusalem," "The Way Jews Rock" and last year's "Wake Up" (all
via Sameach). In addition to its innovative approach to Jewish music, the band
prides itself on being Chicago's most professional Jewish music act; only one of its
members is a full-time time musician, the rest pursuing careers in law, dentistry,
education, the rabbinate- things a Jewish mother can be proud of.

Also performing is singer/songwriter RavShmuel, (aka Shmuel Skaist) a Brooklyn
denizen and frequent regular at Greenwich Village's Sidewalk Cafe. An ordained
Rabbi who heads up a Yeshiva by day, RavShmuel once followed jam band Phish around
the country performing in the pre-show haze with his first band, Gefilte Fish. He
now spends his free time drinking beer, recording and performing his solo material,
which landed him a deal with the Sony JMG imprint last year. His satiric single
"Protocols of the Elders of Zion" became something of a hit on Myspace and YouTube.

This KNISHMAS also hearkens back to a previous tradition when the event, then held
at Hideout and curated by local rocker Ellen Rosner, featured local songwriters'
original Hanukah and Jewy songs. This year, that element returns with fresh
material from Alan Sufrin, Miriam Brosseau, Evan Jacover, Moshe Averick, Rachel Kohl
Finegold and KFAR's own founder Adam Davis, who despite holding a degree from the
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music will be performing at a KFAR event for the first
time ever. By creating a forum for the performance of these new songs by local
artists, KNISHMAS is more than an alternative party event- it fosters the future of
Jewish cultural expression. That's one of the goals of the presenting organization,
KFAR Jewish Arts Center, whose mission is to stimulate, promote and produce the next
generation of Jewish expression.

That sets KNISHMAS apart from other 'Matzo Ball' type events in town that night.
None of them feature live entertainment, nor does any have real content other than
the superficial element of 90% of their attendees being Jewish. "That's fine for
some, but for others, paying $30 for the upclose and personal drunken version of
Jdate is not appealing," says Davis. "We offer a real different vibe. Singles show
up to KNISHMAS too, but its not a singles event- everyone's welcome, even gentiles
not waiting up for Santa. That way the pressure is off and meeting people is
actually easier."

Ticket prices are about half of other events so there's a savings incentive. Of
course, its a Jewish event, so there's one other possible appeal. For although
nobody's counting on a midnight appearance of a fat man in a suit, there's always
anticipation of the possibility of a midnight knish drop.

KFAR Jewish Arts Center is an independent, non-denominational organization serving
Chicago's Jewish community with contemporary Jewish arts presentations and programs
that simultaneously enrich and celebrate our culture. KFAR is dedicated to
stimulating, promoting and producing the next generation of Jewish expression.
Visit our website at www.kfarcenter.org