Presto! A magician appears

Booking the celebrated magician David Oliver for this year's Hanukkah party is a coup for the small Jewish congregation that meets at the United Methodist Church in Marshfield.

Oliver performs regularly on Broadway, and Matt Lauer, the host of NBC's "Today" show, described Oliver's TV appearance as "the most amazing magic I've ever seen." Michael Chaut, the producer of Broadway's "Monday Night Magic," raves that every time Oliver steps on stage "he provides magicians everywhere a supreme service. He's just that good."

But this Sunday Oliver will perform in a more modest venue: as entertainment for the Congregation Shirat Hayam Hanukkah party, which is open to residents of the Marshfield area.

"We're very lucky he agreed to do this," said Laura Neprud, director of the Congregation Shirat Hayam religious school.

Neprud was already on the lookout for a magician for this year's Hanukkah party. When she heard that Oliver, who lives in Rockland, taught magic to one of the congregant's children -- presto! -- the perfect entertainer appeared. She asked Oliver to perform, and he agreed.

Oliver's sleight-of-hand makes white doves appear and disappear in the blink of an eye in his fast-pasted show, according to his fans. Audience members who participate in the show leave the experience with new respect for the art of magic.

In the Boston area, Oliver regularly headlines the comedy and magic show called "The Mystery Lounge " at the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square. "Monday Night Magic," Broadway's longest-running magic show, has invited him back repeatedly as a guest performer.

Oliver's appearance is made possible by a grant Neprud obtained this year from the Combined Jewish Philanthropies Synagogue Program Fund for a five -program series. It was a welcome development for the tiny Jewish Reconstructionist congregation, which has 32 children in its religious education program and a membership of 45 households.

"It's important to bring Jewish art and family participation into the temple," Neprud said.

So far the grant has supported a shofar -making workshop in September, and a Purim event is scheduled for this winter.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the miraculous burning of ritual lamps on insufficient oil after Jewish rebels recaptured the temple at Jerusalem, which had been despoiled by Hellenized overlords following the breakup of Alexander the Great 's empire. Oil was needed for the menorah in the temple, which was supposed to burn every night. Only enough oil to burn for a single day remained, yet the menorah remained burning for eight days, the time needed to obtain a fresh supply of oil. Jewish scholars point out that the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not a military victory over enemies.

The eight-day celebration, which this year begins tomorrow, is less about worship than family fun and cultural bonding. Sunday's party will offer Hanukkah pastries called "sufganiyot," which translates roughly to jelly doughnuts, Neprud said.

The community is invited to the Hanukkah party as part of the religious school's commitment to Tikkun Olam -- "making the world a better and kinder place." The price of admission is a holiday gift for a child.

The Duxbury Interfaith Council will distribute the gifts to families in need. The interfaith council supports 150 families by providing food baskets at Thanksgiving, gifts for the December holidays, and food items in the spring, according to Harry Katz, the congregation's council representative.

The party will take place at 185 Plain St. (Route 139 ) in Marshfield beginning at 11:30 a.m. To reserve seats and find out what type of gift to bring to the party, e-mail the congregation website at info@shirathayam.net.

For more information call the congregation at 781-582-2700.

The community is also invited to a first night of Hanukkah celebration tomorrow at 6 p.m. with a potluck dinner. Latkes, the potato pancakes traditionally served at Hanukkah, will be provided by the congregation. Families may bring their own menorahs to light the first candle of the holiday.

Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.