Any secular Jewish mums--Hanukkah question

[Arabica]

I'm from a Jewish background, my DH isn't. I was given a hideous, brainwash-style orthodox religious education which I hated every moment of from age 5. However, I know it doesn't have to be that way. I'd love to take DS to a Hannukah party or something similar where he can hear songs, see the candles, and maybe I can meet some like-minded parents, who see their cultural heritage as something to celebrate, even if they aren't believers and/or have married 'out'. I'm in N London.

\link{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanukah\Here's some info about Chanukah hollybet}

so is Gwyneth Paltrow

In fact \link{http://www.yahoodi.com/famous/actors1.html\here you go .. famous Jewish Actors and Actresses} you may be surprised at a few of the names

though I find it difficult to believe that Elvis was Jewish

wow - thank you!

I shall go away and read

Now I know why Elvis had food, rather than alcohol issues!
Anyway getting v excited re sat night and am CATing people with my contact details.

"attractive, blue eyed blonde with long hair" not quite hollybet LOL. I don't think I'm obviously Jewish looking as occasionally people are suprised I am. Luckily for me my brother got the big nose

I will let the girls describe me after sat night. Nigella Lawson - I wish

My brother's a blue-eyed blond - true !

See you all soon .

You're allmakingme feel homesick!

oh Tanzie. Don't want you to feel bad honey.

I think I have CAT-ed everyone that said they were coming, with my mobile number. PHC, I couldn't CAT you, if you want my mobile number to help stay in touch on the night, maybe you could CAT me??

Not long now. Have got first date nerves
Arabica, have got your number and Coris so we should be ok.
I had a bit of a brainwave this morning. Instead of driving up to the station after we have eaten we might be better off jumping on a bus. That way we don't have to worry about parking.

See you soon. X

Hag Sameach (I think )

Have a good one

Nu? How did it go?

Really good. I've never been to any kind of a Mumsnet meet-up before, nor have I taken DS to anything Jewish (except for a klezmer music festival in Regents Park) but I felt it went very well. The cafe was perfect, good food and v informal. We even managed to get to the candle-lighting venue in time to hear the cantor on a crane! They even gave out free doughnuts. DS went into sugar-frenzy after that so we thought best to give Chanukah Wonderland a miss this time around but now we know what's there we'll be back next year for sure. People were talking about meeting up again for future Jewish-themed events, like Pesach or Purim. Thanks to everyone who came and a big shout out to LisaLisa whose idea it originally was to come to Golders Green. Let's keep in touch!

It was so lovely meeting you all. My boys really enjoyed it (especially ds1 and the doughnuts!) and thanks to Cori for the chocolate money. It felt like I knew you all already and I'm sure anyone seeing us in the restaurant wouldn't have believed we had never met before last night.

Would love to do it again - especially in better weather ! Maybe a Pesach picnic in the park

It was lovely to meet everyone. We will definitely be up for more similar events.
My DH, who was suspicious of the whole idea, really enjoyed himself, and so did DS. Till next time

Purim's on 25 March, I would quite like to know what that's all about--vague memories of cakes shaped like ears and getting dressed up in a towel to be Queen Esther...?

And there's a baddie that everyone boos. Hamen ??? Is that Purim ???

Yes, Hamantaschen (or ears!) are the cakes for Purim. I have a recipe somewhere if you want it. When I was in Romania we used to go tothe Yiddish theatre there for their Purim performance and it was fantastic - it felt like something out of "Cabaret" - v old theatre in middle of new horrible apartment block estate. The performance was mostly musical but there was a comedian who did all his jokes in Yiddish, Romanian and English. I also went to the old synagogue there for Yom HaShoah - it was closed but only open on that day.

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Thanks again for suggesting restaurant, really enjoyed it. I thought everyone looked different too. But then, hey, in my imagination 'Arabica' is a dead-ringer for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys.