India Braver

A Very Awesome Purim in September

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India Braver is Tribe 12’s Engagement Associate, and she’s excited to help plan upcoming events for the Jewish 20s/30s community in Philadelphia. You can catch her at First Thursday Happy Hour next week, as well as many more events to come.  

 

This month has been super busy- ALL OF THE HOLIDAYS! We’ve had Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot… Purim- wait what?!? Purim? In September?

 

Ok, maybe not. BUT thanks to Very Awesome Arts, I was lucky enough to laugh my way through the story of Purim at their Very Awesome Purim awards show, the Awesomest of Purim, last weekend.

 

Every spring, the team behind Very Awesome Arts (lead by the dynamic duo of Josh and Rachael Silverbauer) puts on an interactive, super-fun musical that teaches audiences about Purim via catchy song and dance numbers. There’s a different theme every year, so every show features brand-new musical parodies that you can’t help but bop along to. Past themes include A Very Broadway Purim and A Very Disney Purim feat. iconic songs like Defying Tyranny (a Defying Gravity remake) and Let Him Know (Let It Go).

 

This fall, all your old favorites were brought back as the Davies (you gotta go see it to understand!) were handed out to various characters for their best performances over the years. Everything was tied together nicely by our charming host, who was very Neil Patrick Harris at the 2013 Tony’s, complete with the orchestration of an over-the-top opening number.

 

We got to see Queen Vashti perform I’m Too Vashti from A Very One Hit Purim and Under Pressure from A Very Glam Rock Purim. Between performances, funny videos and insider tidbits were shared. Haman even did a whole bit about all his rejected solo numbers over the years. Haman, more like HAMan, amirite?!? (I’ll see myself out.)

 

BUT if that doesn’t sound awesome enough already, as an audience member, you’re also actively encouraged to participate. You get to boo Haman, gawk over Esther, and Hi Dave. It’s like Rocky Horror, but ya know, Jewish.

 

Hopefully, reading this has inspired you to get your tickets for their big show in March- you can even vote on what the next theme will be here. It’ll definitely be a night to remember, and you’ll get to find out who this mysterious Dave is. I know I’ll be first in line.

 

Until then, if ya need me, I’ll be working on my John Hughes Yom Kippur show, The Break Fast Club. #inspired

 

Jake, Brinna, and I had a blast!

All The Rosh Hashanah Events

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India Braver is Tribe 12’s new Engagement Associate, and she’s excited to help plan upcoming events for the Jewish 20s/30s community in Philadelphia. You can catch her at the High Holiday Wine Tasting as well as many more events to come.

 

As the year 5778 draws to a close, I find myself excited for new beginnings. Hi, my name is India and I’m Tribe 12’s brand-new Engagement Associate. I can’t wait to meet everyone at ALL OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS! I love the High Holidays – I know there’s nothing actually stopping me from eating apples and honey any time of the year, but like everyone else, I only find myself snacking on them during the holiday season. Lucky for me, Rosh Hashanah isn’t sho-far away!

 

Tribe 12 staff member India Braver holding our Rosh Hashanah cocktail, the L'Shana-tini
Ask me about our L’shana-tini! Liquidate your apples and honey consumption!

 

The High Holidays are a special time for us to reflect on this past year and on ourselves. I am the type of person who is constantly on the go, so it’s nice to be reminded to take some time for some serious soul searching and introspection. The culmination of the High Holiday period occurs during the Ten Days of Repentance, which begin on Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur. During this time, Jews all over the world come together in repentance, prayer, and tzedakah.

Although this time of year is specifically about looking back, here’s a look ahead at some High Holiday events you can join us at!

 

High Holiday Wine Tasting

Three hands clink together three wine glasses at a wine tasting event

Want to attend services but not sure where to start? Come out for our annual High Holiday Wine Tasting this Thursday! You can meet representatives from city and suburban synagogues and receive free or discounted High Holiday tickets. Enjoy a wine tasting and light hors d’oeuvres- all kosher. Get more info here.

 

Grad Network’s Rosh Hashanah Dinner

Apples sit on a cutting board with a honey dipper and honey

Start off the Jewish New Year on a high (chai?) note, surrounded by friends from across the city! Last year, over 130 people attended this annual dinner, so make sure to RSVP for this year’s dinner before September 4th. More info here.

 

RH2 – Rosh Hashanah in Rittenhouse Square

A sunny day in the spring with big green trees and lots of shade in RIttenhouse Square

Celebrating the High Holy Days is a walk in the park – literally, in this case. This outdoor event in Rittenhouse Square includes a free concert and family-friendly service. Bring a lawn chair, grab a blanket, and pack a picnic! Get all the info here.

 

Rosh Hashanah Explanatory Service

Pomegranates are sliced in half, in quarters, and in eights and displayed on a marble countertop

The Bensalem Jewish Outreach Center offers a free one-hour explanatory service, led by Rabbi Moshe Selengut. This service is interactive, inspirational, and meaningful- you’ll even get to sing a little! A children’s service and babysitting is also available. Learn more here.

 

Other Ways to Tap into the High Holidays

If you’re looking for a more personal way to self-reflect, check out 10Q. 10Q emails you a question a day for 10 days, and you send your answers to a secure online vault. One year later, your answers are unlocked and returned; the process begins anew.

If you’re more of a movie person like me (fun fact, I host a feminist movie podcast in my free time), check out Alma. Alma provides a movie suggestion every day in the month leading up to the High Holidays- from silly to serious, this list of films offers 29 female protagonists undergoing powerful journeys, perfect to help you reflect back on your own personal journey.

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year, and can’t wait to see you at your next event!

 

 

Still not sure where you want to go? Check out gobejewish.com, which houses our community events calendar that’s always kept up-to-date, for the High Holidays and beyond! Plus it includes a ton of resources, namely a directory of all the Jewish organizations targeting 20s/30s in and around Philly.