Now, After Two Thousand Years, the Holiday of Chanukah Arrives on DVD

Ergo Media has combined tradition with technology, in the release of several new exciting DVDs and videos for Chanukah, which offer something for everyone from babies up through centenarians.

Teaneck, NJ (PRWEB) November 18, 2004 -- In a society where the Jewish holiday of Chanukah is often eclipsed by the glitzy and glamorous Christmas holiday season, Jewish-oriented DVD has now come of age. Ergo Media at www.jewishvideo.com is pioneering DVD for the Jewish Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins this year on the evening of December 7.

Lets start at the beginning, with ABC, the Hebrew ABC that is. ALLO ALLO ALEPH teaches The Hebrew Alphabet (known as the Aleph Bet) to infants and toddlers, using the popular immersion method. Each Hebrew letter is colorfully animated, sounded and followed by popular Hebrew childrens songs and short poems. Older kids, ages 3-11, can learn about the major Jewish holidays on the 4-episode DVD entitled THE ALEF...BET...BLAST-OFF JEWISH HOLIDAY DVD. Puppets David and Rachel and their good friend Mitzvah Mouse blast-off" back into Jewish history to learn about the holidays of Chanukah, Purim, Passover and Rosh Hashana. Each episode also features a Hollywood celebrity (Dom DeLuise, Erin Simms, Don Diamont and Avery Schreiber) who plays the part of an important historical personality featured in the holiday story. This DVD is so much fun, the kids will never realize how much information they are really absorbing about Jewish holidays and customs.

Yiddish, the language of Eastern European Jewry, is making a big comeback. In addition to the four Joseph Green Yiddish Film Classics released on DVD last Chanukah, Ergo has now added a contemporary Yiddish title, PRIPETSHIK SINGS YIDDISH. Whereas the Joseph Green films were produced in pre-war Poland from 1936-1938, the new DVD was filmed this year in New York City by Academy-Award® nominated filmmaker Josh Waletzky. Starring The Pripetshik Singers, a delightful group of kids and teens (whose mother tongue - can you believe it - is Yiddish!), the DVD features the singers in live concert. The music is comprised of old Yiddish favorites as well as new ones, including some American classics, such as Im a Little Teapot" and Take Me Out to the Ballgame", sung in Yiddish of course.

Jewish holiday DVDs, however, would not be complete without one on the actual story of Chanukah. Filmmaker Assaf Golan brings to life the historical background that most people dont know about Judah Maccabee and the Hasmonean Revolt. In this two-part DVD, entitled EMPERORS AND REBELS: THE STORY OF CHANUKAH, we are treated to a well-researched program that features historians Stanley M. Burstein, Doron Mendels, Erich Gruen and Lawrence H. Schiffman whose insights bring the Chanukah story to life. We are certain that Judah Maccabee would be delighted to tell his story on DVD.

Whether its learning the Hebrew Alphabet, discovering the excitement of the Jewish holidays, enjoying a bit of Yiddish nostalgia, or immersing oneself in the Chanukah story, Ergos new Chanukah DVDs have something for everyone this holiday season. And you thought Hanukah was only about miracles!

Ergo Media Inc. is a Jewish Video/DVD publisher located in Teaneck, New Jersey. Now in their nineteenth year, Ergo is synonymous with quality Jewish video and DVD. All titles are available on both DVD and VHS.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jane Zylberman
(201) 692-0404
(800) 695-3746
http://www.jewishvideo.com

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