Introducing the Westchester Rivertowns Jewish Cultural Festival
From Saturday, April 6 through Sunday, April 14, JCC on the Hudson in cooperation with a consortium of five synagogues is presenting a series of musical and literary events as part of a Jewish Cultural Festival highlighting the Jewish community’s past and celebrating its dynamic present.
Beginning at the JCC on the Hudson with a wine and cheese reception and a concert commemorating Yom HaShoah, and ending at Woodlands Community Temple with Books for Kids, the festival offers people of all ages and interests something to do. All events are open to the public; no synagogue or JCC membership is required. All of the events are free with the exception of the concert on Saturday, April 6 for which there is a $10 entrance fee.
Lois Green, Program Director, JCC on the Hudson, recommends people rsvp for the specific events they would like to attend. Responses can be made to Lois Green by e-mail at lois.green@jcconthehudson.org or by calling 914-366-7898.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 6: Music and Memories. A Chamber Music Concert including Russian born violist Lev Zhurbin (Ljova). In addition to playing his compositions for string quartet there will be a solo piano performance of “Sirota”, which incorporates a 1908 recording by Cantor Gershon Sirota (the Jewish Caruso), who was killed during the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Faculty members of the JCC School of Music and Performing Arts will accompany Ljova. This concert is being given in remembrance of Yom HaShoah. Pre-performance wine and cheese reception; 8 p.m. at JCC on the Hudson, Tarrytown; $10 admission.
Sunday, April 7: Finding Lost Synagogues. Andrea Strongwater offers a visual history of the European synagogues that didn’t survive the Holocaust. She covers the topic in an exquisite assemblage of paintings and words in her book, “Where We Once Gathered, Lost Synagogues of Europe.” 10:00 a.m. at the Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Dobbs Ferry; free admission.
Klezmer Violinist Jake Shulman-Ment, who grew up in Hastings, will speak about his love of klezmer music since his teens and his research in Romania with surviving players. He’ll also play some music appropriate to the occasion. 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. at Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Dobbs Ferry; free admission.
Tuesday, April 9: Pinstripe Empire. Marty Appel, author and former Yankee public relations director, brings to the Yankees’ story insights not found elsewhere. Mr. Appel will autograph copies of his book, which will be on sale after the event. 8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Abraham, Tarrytown; free admission.
Thursday, April 11: Kugel, Knishes, and Kibbeh – Jewish Culture through Cuisine. Rabbi Lisa Izes discusses the integral role of food in Jewish culture and offers a glimpse into the influences on Jewish cuisine across the globe. Bring your favorite cookbook and share recipes; 8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, Hastings: free admission.
Sunday, April 14: Books for Kids. Rivertowns-resident Marisabina Russo delights the audience with her stories and shows them how ideas become books. She will also share stories from her children’s books, which range from picture books to YA novels, including “I Will Come Back For You,” the story of her own family’s daring WW II escape; 1:30 p.m. at Woodlands Community Temple, White Plains: free admission.
The Jewish Cultural Festival has been made possible by grants from: The Petschek Fund and Westchester Program Services Cabinet of UJA-Federation of New York, and The Rivertowns Jewish Consortium, a partnership among the JCC on the Hudson, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Rosh Pinah Chavurah, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Shalom, and Woodlands Community Temple.
Some of the books discussed during the festival will be available for sale after the respective event due to collaboration with Barnes & Noble.
