You're invited to a Hannukah celebration like no other, with MOSTLY KOSHER—LIVE!

Please make sure to arrive a little early today. The security booth has a guest list, and you may be asked to show your ID at the gate.

Hanukkah celebrates the survival of our people and the enduring power of light in times of darkness. We are deeply grateful that you choose to be part of our resilient community. We will shine our light tonight!

Doors open at 4:30PM   |   Showtime is at 5:00 PM

Kick off Hanukkah with a bang at the most epic First Night celebration around—most enjoyed by ages 10 and up! We've got candle-lighting, stacks of gooey, sugary sufganiyot and a live show by the one-and-only Mostly Kosher—they'll have you clapping, singing and smiling all night long. 🎶🍩 Don’t sleep on this—it’s the Hanukkah party you don’t want to miss!

Led by the magnetic Leeav Sofer, this acclaimed ensemble reimagines Jewish tradition with a modern twist you have to hear to believe. Get ready for a musical mashup of klezmer, rock, jazz, Latin and folk with the unstoppable Mostly Kosher—L.A.'s genre-smashing band lighting up the stage with heart, humor and high-octane energy.

With ravenous klezmer beats, fierce Yiddish refrains and a powerful message of social justice and unity, Mostly Kosher takes centuries-old traditions and spins them into something totally fresh, fierce and fun.

This is more than a concert—it's bold, it's boundary-pushing, it's dance-worthy, it's a musical fusion feast that honors tradition while exploding with contemporary energy. An unforgettable musical experience!

ABOUT THE BAND - MOSTLY KOSHER

Led by the charismatic Leeav Sofer—named one of the Jewish Journal’s "30 under 30"—the band features a powerhouse lineup of L.A.'s finest:

Janice Mautner Markham on violin
Eric Hagstrom on drums
Nadav Peled on guitar
Ben Tevik on clarinet and sax
Adam Levy on bass

Mostly Kosher is a fixture at renowned California stages such as the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Skirball Cultural Center, Torrance Center for the Arts and Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center. They have also graced the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a live television broadcast to over half a million viewers in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The ensemble has headlined multiple summer festivals including the Silicon Valley Jewish Music Festival, Claremont Folk Festival and The Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto. Mostly Kosher had the honor of being the first Jewish music ensemble at the Disney parks with 2024/2025 marking their eighth season performing during the two-month long Festival of Holidays; the band was credited for "stealing the Festival of Holidays Show" by the acclaimed Fresh Baked Disney podcast. For the 2017 holiday season, Mostly Kosher added Epcot Center in Florida to their list of venues, becoming Disney's first Jewish cultural ensemble with a holiday season performance schedule on both coasts.

Staying true to giving back to the community, Mostly Kosher is proud to be teaching artists for Urban Voices Project, performing and educating in underserved areas throughout Southern California. Venues include prisons, community clinics and shelters serving men and women suffering from homelessness. MK is also a mentor ensemble to the Jewish Youth Orchestra, a project of the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel Valley, offering performance opportunities and ongoing workshops for middle and high school musicians.

The band's self-titled debut album has won international acclaim by World Music Network, Songlines Magazine and BBC radio. The first track, "Ikh Hob Dikh Tsufil Lib" ("I Love You Much Too Much"), was recognized as one of World Music Network's Top 6 Songs of 2014. Mostly Kosher's music videos have been garnering accolades on the film festival circuit, receiving two nominations at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema and Best Music Video at the Glendale International Film Festival. 2021 marked the indie film debut of Mostly Kosher, as they are featured in the wedding scene of the feature film, The Accursed, starring Izabela Vidovic and Melora Walters. Mostly Kosher's music video for "Vitebsk" has won numerous awards and has been screened at festivals (2024/2025) throughout the USA, including the Los Angeles Music Video Festival, the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival and the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival.

In 2022 Mostly Kosher was honored to be included in the flagship series, "Secret Chord", a live concert taping sponsored by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. 2024 wrapped up with a double bill with the Grammy-winning klez-Icons, The Klezmatics, at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, California. This performance coincided with the release of their version of Woody Guthrie's "Hanuka Dance", featured on a new Hanukkah album from the Klezmatics. Mostly Kosher's 2025/2026 season is already looking bright with a return to Palo Alto, CA, their debut at the Soka Performing Arts Center and upcoming performances in Texas and the East Coast. The band is currently working on their much-anticipated Hanukkah album.

* This event is family friendly, and most enjoyable for those aged 10–120 yrs!

** Free parking is available at the venue, through the entrance on Fabian Way.

*** Questions? Please email Michelle Shabtai | mshabtai@paloaltojcc.org