| | Dear ...,  It
was a terrific day for the 24 people participating in the December 7
Master Class with klezmer (and teacher) extraordinaire Hankus
Netsky. Two bands (The Klezmakers and Davis Klezmer Orchestra), three
singers (Lorraine Helms, Elaine Moise, and Heather Lauren Klein), and
numerous individual klezmorim (including Naomi Zamir, Susan Diamond,
and members of the two bands) performed and got feedback from Hankus
(and occasionally from Stu Brotman). Their playing/singing changed
remarkably after his comments, always for the better. Even the few
people who only watched sat in rapt attention every minute of the day. We
were so pleased to receive a note from one participant: "Thank you for
organizing the splendid events of last weekend. What a wonderful man
Hankus is and what an enriching experience. The class was illuminating
and inspiring." In the November newsletter, we appealed for
donations to keep KlezCalifornia working for you, building a Bay
Area-wide community of those enjoying Yiddish culture. It's been good
to hear from so many of you. We appreciate each and every gift, of
whatever size. If you have not yet contributed this year, please take
the opportunity --- right now --- to help our Yiddish community grow
and thrive. We know you care about what we do, because you've chosen to
receive this newsletter. Now is the time to help us out, with an
on-line donation (click HERE) or send a check to KlezCalifornia, 1728
Allston Way, Berkeley 94703. A sheynem dank (our sincere thanks) and a freylekhn khanike (Happy Chanukah). |
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| | Yiddish Culture Festival in Berkeley --- THIS THURSDAY! |  2nd Annual Community-wide
Yiddish Culture Festival A Great Alternative to Chinese Food and a Movie on December 25, 2008
Program by KlezCalifornia
To be held at Congregation Netivot Shalom
1316 University Avenue, Berkeley
Live
Klezmer Music! Yiddish Singing! Yiddish Dancing with instruction!
Yiddish Kibbitzing (instruction provided, if you need it!) Yidishe
Kinder Programming for the kids! Have a nosh - Kosher Yiddish
delicacies by Lois Cooks including: kugel, kasha varnishkes, latkes with applesauce and sour cream, bagels and cream cheese, babka, mandlebrot. seltzer, coffee, and tea will be available for purchase from 12:30 to 3:30. A fantastic family event: bring Bubie, Zeydie and the eyniklekh (Grandma, Grandpa and the grandkids).
12:15 to 1:15 Workshops Yiddish Singing and Movement For Families (Gerry Tenney & Claire Sherman)
Hassidic Dance, for adults plus youth age 8 and older. (Bruce Bierman)
Yiddish Expressions to Keep In Your Back Pocket, for people who know no
or little Yiddish. (Harvey Varga)
Yiddish Vinkl, a place to go to speak Yiddish with others. (No Leader)
The Jam'n Room, bring your instrument and jam with other musicians. (No leader, but we know some musicians will be there!)
1:30 to 2:30 Workshops
Yiddish Crafts For Families (Claire Sherman)
Yiddish Dance, adults plus youth age 8 and older. (Bruce Bierman)
Heymishe Yiddish Singing, with songsheets in English transliteration. (Judy Kunofsky and Mitchell Shandling)
Vaser oyf Kashe (Water for the Porridge), Yiddish film clips on the hardships of making a living. (Zehavit Stern)
Yiddish Vinkl, a place to speak Yiddish with others. (No Leader)
The Jam'n Room, bring your instrument and jam with other musicians. (No leader, but we know some musicians will be there!)
2:45 to 4:45 Yiddish Dance Party and Show Live Klezmer Dance Music by Kugelplex
Dancing for One and All led by Bruce Bierman
David Rosenfeld, Badkhn (Master of Ceremonies)
Gerry Tenney The East Bay Jewish Folk Chorus
Tickets at the door:
$25 adults (18 and older), $12 kids and seniors over 65 (first two
children only), third child in a family, and children under 5 are free.
Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Avenue, Berkeley
Questions: Robin Braverman: 925-979-1998 or rivkah48@sbcglobal.net
Sponsored
by: Congregation Netivot Shalom, Congregation Beth El, The Jewish
Community Center of the East Bay, The Jewish Music Festival, Aquarian
Minyan, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Chochmat HaLev, and Tehiyah Day
School
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| Yidishe Salons - The Joys of Yiddish Conversation | | KlezCalifornia
has kicked off a program for the community of people who already speak
(at least some) Yiddish, but have found few others in the Bay Area with
whom to share it. Yidishe Salons is providing relatively small groups
with the opportunity to exercise their Yiddish with others at similar
levels of fluency, and to meet socially in a convivial atmosphere. The
salons meet in private homes around the Bay Area, and participants
usually bring a little nosh to share during the break. The objective
is simply to have a good time, but to do so in Yiddish! We provide the
address shortly before the event date to those who have RSVP'd, and
utilize RSVP's to keep the number of participants within the capacity
of the host's home. Sunday, January 11th, 2:00 - 4:00pm, San Francisco
far Flisik Reders (fluent/native speakers)
Yidishe Vitsn
(yiddish jokes) was the topic for the last meeting, which saw 19
people, each telling their favorite ... in Yiddish. We believe several
folks went home with bellyaches. The theme for next time is likely "frages un tshuves" (questions and answers), but other ideas are always welcome. Please RSVP to salon1@klezcalifornia.org, and include your phone number.
Sunday, February 1st, 7:00 - 9:00pm, East Bay
far Pamelakh Reders (command of the language is "nisht azoy ay-ay-ay")
The last salon far pamelakh reders
was a great success! There were 14 people at this inaugural gathering!
Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time and we're looking forward to
the next one. It will once again be facilitated by a native Yiddish
speaker and begin with introducing ourselves and discussing topics of
general interest - suggestions welcome. Please RSVP to salon2@klezcalifornia.org, and include your phone number. |
| Yiddish Classes at the Center for Jewish Studies - Berkeley |  The
Center for Jewish Studies at the GTU is happy to announce two intensive
Yiddish language classes which will be offered at Winter Intersession.
Both classes will be conducted in Yiddish, and require reading,
writing, and speaking in Yiddish. Students are expected to do some
reading in preparation for both of these classes. (Readers should be
picked up at the CJS ASAP.) UC Berkeley students may receive credit
for these classes. Community auditors will be asked to pay a $150 fee
for each of the two classes. If you have further questions (regarding either of these classes) contact Zehavit at zehavit@berkeley.edu. Intermediate Yiddish, 22 hours, 1.5 units. HRHS-3727-01 (11586)
Dates: January 6-12 (Tuesday - Monday).
Time: 9:00-1:00pm (+afternoon screenings)
Location: GTU, Room TBA
Instructor: Zehavit Stern, UC Berkeley and the GTU.
Theme: Yiddish Classics Go to the Movies
Short Description:
This class will introduce students to the Yiddish literary classics
through reading and film. The seminar will include film screenings,
daily readings and writing exercises. Readings include selections from
Sholem Aleichem's Menakhem Mendl, Alt-Nay Kasrilivke and Tevye der Milkhiker and Abramovitsh's Fishke der Krumer. Screenings include Yidishe Glikn (1925), Tevye (1939) and Fishke der Krumer
(1939). In addition to the central theme, we will look at some
children's poems and idioms. Please refer to the Yiddish syllabus (HERE) for further information. Advanced Yiddish, 40 hours, 3 units. HRHS-4369-01 (11545)
Dates: January 13-23 (Tuesday-Friday; Monday-Friday).
Time: 9:00-1:00pm
Location: GTU, Room TBA
Instructor:
Prof. Yitshok Niborski, University of Paris VII, the Medem Library.
Coauthor of a Yiddish-Spanish dictionary (1979), a Yiddish-French
dictionary (2002), and a dictionary of the Hebrew and Aramaic elements
in Yiddish (1997).
Theme: Analysis of the Yiddish Sentence
Short Description: A deep and active analysis of the structure of the Yiddish sentence, including grammatical particles (dos, es), word order, pronouns and conjunctions.
Reading materials prior to course: 4 essays on Yiddish Grammar (in Yiddish). Please refer to the Yiddish syllabus (HERE) for further information.
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| Italya: A Celebration of Italian Jewish Song | | Italya
delivers a spirited presentation of Italian musical treasures in
dialogue with many other European and Mediterranean Jewish traditions.
From Italo-Yiddish texts from Venice to Purim party songs of 17th
century Livorno (the melting-pot of Mediterranean cultures); from Tuscan melodies of Florence and Siena to hilarious lyrics of local versions of Chad Gadya;
from liturgical opera arias and Ladino songs that include bits of
Italian to Neapolitan melodies with heartbreaking Yiddish lyrics, this
music is sure to delight everyone.
Sharon Bernstein
(voice, guitar, percussion) is a singer, pianist, composer, and cantor.
Her work is built on Yiddish songs, Italian Jewish musical traditions,
rhythms, melodies, and harmonies from across the Jewish spectrum,
original compositions and arrangements.
 Francesco Spagnolo
(voice, violin), head of research at the Judah L. Magnes Museum in
Berkeley, is a multidisciplinary scholar focusing on music and Jewish
cultural history. He received a Ph.D in musicology from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem and is the editor of the CD Italian Jewish Musical Traditions.
 Michael Alpert
(voice, accordion, violin, guitar, percussion) has been a pioneering
figure in the current renaissance of East European Jewish klezmer music
for more than 25 years, and is known for his performances and
recordings with Brave Old World, Khevrisa, Kapelye, and others. He was
the Emmy Award-winning musical director of the PBS Great Performances special, "Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler's House."
Co-sponsored by the Museo Italo Americano, Judah L. Magnes Museum, Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, and KlezCalifornia
Thursday, January 15, 7:30 P.M. BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis Street (between Scott and Pierce), San Francisco. Free parking at the Pierce St. entrance between Ellis and Eddy. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.bjesf.org/library.htm or call Rose Katz at 415-567-3327 ext. 703
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| KlezCal Heads Up | | Freylekh - Sunday, January 25, 7:00 - 9:30pm, Berkeley JCC
of the East Bay and KlezCalifornia present the Jewish Dance Theatre's
Freylekh. Dance lesson 7:00-8:00 with Bruce Bierman, followed by dance
party with Kugelplex. Fun for all ages. Feast of Jewish Learning - Saturday, January 31, 7:00-10:00pm, Palo Alto Join
us for Yiddish Dancing at the annual Feast of Jewish Learning to be
held at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. "Lost and Found" is
the theme. Havdoleh, followed by a variety of two one-hour workshops
presented by numerous Jewish organizations. Sponsored by the Oshman
Family (Palo Alto) JCC and the Bureau of Jewish Education. No entry
charge. |
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