MFA Boston Partners with the Jewish Arts Collaborative and Combined Jewish Philanthropies to Celebrate Hanukkah
BOSTON (November 19, 2018)—The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), celebrates Hanukkah with a free evening of activities on Wednesday, December 5. The event kicks off at 4 pm and includes an array of musical performances, tours, art making, Hanukkah treats and a community candle lighting—all in the spirit of the Jewish festival of lights. The MFA again partners with the Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts) and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) to host the largest community Hanukkah gathering in Boston. The celebration, now in its fifth year, includes welcome remarks from Matthew Teitelbaum, the MFA’s Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Laura Mandel, Executive Director of JArts. Community blessings will be offered by Rabbi Marc Baker, President and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, who will illuminate a one-of-a-kind menorah made by two local artists to mark the fourth night of Hanukkah. Hanukkah at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is presented in partnership with the Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts) and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP). Supported by an anonymous donor.
The special menorah installation, titled Nes (meaning “miracle” in Hebrew), was created for this year’s celebration by local artists Silvina Mizrahi and Sean Clarke. Mizrahi, an art educator and Spanish-language guide at the MFA, and Clarke, owner of Diablo Glass School, have collaborated to create a piece that evokes the surviving stones of the Second Temple and the miracle of light. Other highlights from the event include three 15-minute talks with jeweler and silversmith Boris Bally, whose work Man’orah (1999) was recently acquired by the MFA, and “Brighter Together,” a participatory project created by artist Tova Speter, who has worked with eight area schools to create a glow-in-the-dark installation. MFA attendees can go on a scavenger hunt that will help complete the installation of this vibrant community artwork.
Music will entertain visitors in the galleries throughout the evening with performances by the duo Tsvey Brider (Two Brothers), consisting of musicians Anthony Mordechai Zvi Russell and Dmitri Gaskin, who create contemporary interpretations of new and traditional Yiddish music. Acoustic pair Voice of the Turtle Duo will perform beautiful renditions of traditional Sephardic folk music from across the Mediterranean, and bassist Jim Guttmann from the Klezmer Conservatory Band will create a unique fusion of big band jazz and klezmer as his Bessarabian Breakdown plays in the Shapiro Family Courtyard with the Conservatory’s klezmer dance leader.
A new display of Judaica conceived especially for Hanukkah will go on view in the Sharf Visitor Center, including works on paper by Jack Levine and Zeev Raban. Throughout the evening, Spotlight Talks will explore the Museum’s holdings of Judaica, including works from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Collection, which represents one of the largest and most varied Judaica collections in a major American museum. Visitors are invited to explore objects of Judaica located across the Museum in European, American, Contemporary and Musical Instrument galleries on their own or attend 15-minute Spotlight Talks that examine a selection of these decorative and ritual objects. At 7 pm, Stephen Weiner will lead an American Sign Language Tour exploring works of Judaica.
Families can drop in on art-making activities, create clay dreidels, assemble collages inspired by symbols in Judaism found around the Museum and join the Vilna Shul for face painting. Additionally, beginning at 4:30 pm, PJ Library will present Hanukkah performances led by song leader, educator and producer Stephen Brickman, founder of the Sing-Together Project. Rabbi Dan Judson, champion of MOTH—a local open-mic storytelling competition—will also share Hanukkah-inspired tales in the galleries.
During the Hanukkah celebration, visitors are invited to enjoy latkes in the New American Café—last seating offered at 8:30 pm—or treat themselves to rugelach (pastries), kichlach (Star of David cookies) and sufganiyot (a top-your-own-donut bar) in Taste Café. Exhibitions on view during Hanukkah—and throughout the Museum’s festive “MFA for the Holidays” season of art, music and dining—include Winnie-The-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, French Pastels: Treasures from the Vault and Boston Made: Arts and Crafts Jewelry and Metalwork. Also during the holiday season, The New England Conservatory’s Millennium Gospel Choir will perform its 12th annual Christmas concert at the Museum; due to high demand, an additional performance has been added on December 15.
Hanukkah is one of a series of cultural celebrations held at the MFA annually, along with Lunar New Year (the start of a new calendar year in parts of Asia), Nowruz (Persian New Year), Juneteenth (commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.), Diwali (the South Asian “Festival of Lights”) and ASL Night (a celebration of Deaf culture).
A full schedule of events is available at mfa.org/programs/special-event/hanukkah-the-festival-of-lights.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is recognized for the quality and scope of its collection, representing all cultures and time periods. The Museum has more than 140 galleries displaying its encyclopedic collection, which includes Art of the Americas; Art of Europe; Contemporary Art; Art of Asia; Art of Africa and Oceania; Art of Ancient Greece and Rome; Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East; Prints and Drawings; Photography; Textile and Fashion Arts; and Musical Instruments. Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 am–5 pm; and Wednesday through Friday, 10 am–10 pm. Admission (which includes one repeat visit within 10 days) is $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Admission is free for University Members and youths age 17 and younger. Wednesday nights after 4 pm admission is by voluntary contribution (suggested donation $25), while five Open Houses offer the opportunity to visit the Museum for free. The Museum’s mobile MFA Guide is available at ticket desks and the Sharf Visitor Center for $5, members; $6, non-members; and $4, youths. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For more information, call 617.267.9300, visit mfa.org or follow the MFA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jewish Arts Collaborative
The Jewish Arts Collaborative explores and presents the rich, diverse, and creative world of Jewish arts and culture—past, present, and future—to the widest possible audience, in venues large and small across Greater Boston. Through a broad range of programming spanning the traditional to the innovative, we present the finest local, national, and international talent creating artistic work with a distinctive Jewish voice. Visit JArtsboston.org for more information or visit JArts on Facebook and Instagram.
CJP
CJP, Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation, brings together the people, partners and resources to fulfill the most important needs and aspirations of our community. Rooted in compassion and justice and driven by innovation, we care for the vulnerable, forge strong connections with Israel and above all, inspire the next generation to embrace Jewish life and learning. For more information please visit www.cjp.org.
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