Ma’adan in Teaneck will host its seventh annual “Latke Eating Contest” on Sunday, Dec. 25, at 10 a.m. at Cedar Lane Plaza. There will be three categories: 18 and older, 13 to 17, and 12 and under with prizes, including cash. For information, call (201) 692-0192.

Peninnah Schram Courtesy YU

Yeshiva University’s Center for Israel Studies will present “Folktales of Israel: A Festival of Jewish Storytelling” Nov. 6. The festival, co-sponsored by Stern College for Women, the Yeshiva University Museum, and the American Zionist Movement, is free and will be at the YU Museum, Center for Jewish History, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival honors Peninnah Schram, Jewish folklorist and storyteller who is professor of speech and drama at YU. Schram received the Covenant Award for Outstanding Jewish Educator in 1995 and the National Storytelling Network’s 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award “for sustained and exemplary contributions to storytelling in America.”

“Folktales of Israel brings together scholars and performers, students and rabbis to celebrate all that is good about Israel,” said Steven Fine, director of the Center for Israel Studies and professor of Jewish history. “At this moment in Israel’s history, telling Israel’s stories is an act of hope and promise.”

Visit www.yu.edu/cis.

Courtesy Areyvut

Areyvut’s Bergen County Mitzvah Clowning program, a mitzvah of bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) and kavod habriyot (human dignity), is set to begin. The program runs for nine months, beginning with training and site visit. Those in sixth-grade and older are welcome to participate.

Initial training will be on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m to 12:30 p.m., at Young Israel of Teaneck, and a visit at CareOne at Teaneck. The program costs $250 and includes make-up, clown kit, costume, and balloons, and breakfast on training day. Sponsorships are available. Registration is open until Oct. 19. Call (201) 244-6702 or www.areyvut.org.

The wedding of Gittel Chrabolowska and Benjamin Szuszycki in Bielsk Podlaski, Poland, in 1917, from the exhibition. Courtesy Jewish Museum of New Jersey

The Jewish Museum of New Jersey and the Jewish Genealogy Society of North Jersey present, “Finding Your Roots: Explorations in Jewish Genealogy.” The exhibition and workshop begins with a reception on Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 to 5 p.m. The exhibition, curated by NJIT professor Matt Gosser, includes a display describing the basic methods and most common documents associated with Jewish genealogy, documents that deal with the great migration of Jews from Europe, and a section about Jewish cemeteries.

Members of the JGS of North Jersey will conduct introductory workshops for people interested in beginning their own research. Workshops will last 1 1/2 hours and reservations are required. Participants need to bring heir own flash drives. There will be no workshop on Oct. 23.

The exhibition and workshop will run through Dec. 18, by appointment Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. The suggested donation is $10. Free off-street parking is provided. For information, call Max Herman, (973) 698-8489 or Phil Yourish, (973) 303-5294, or www.jewishmuseumnj.org. The museum is located at 145 Broadway, Newark, at Cong. Ahavas Sholom.

Artisans and craftspeople are invited to participate in the 10th annual Holiday Crafts Fair hosted by residents at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Handcrafted items of are sought including woodwork, pottery, ceramics, textile, dried or silk floral arrangements, paper crafts, jewelry, and fine art. There will be live entertainment, a 50/50 raffle, auction table, and craft items created by JHR residents. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Maria Chan at (201) 784-1414.

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Vendors are invited to participate in the annual holiday boutique at the Bergen County YJCC in Washington Township on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Suppliers of clothing, handbags, personalized items, home goods, and various gift items are welcome. No jewelry vendors are needed at this time. Dayle Rosenfeld at (201) 666-6610, ext. 5608, or Jill Brown at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Yummy Memories in Englewood offers a shopper card that will be punched for each purchase of $20. A full card (10 punches) entitles a customer to 20 percent off their next purchase, excluding sale items. Call (201) 567-4274, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or www.yummymemories.net.