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Below the Horizon: Kiki Smith at Eldridge
World-renowned artist Kiki Smith brings her distinctive vision to the Museum at Eldridge Street in this site-specific exhibition. Smith has spent decades exploring themes of mortality, spirituality, society, the body, nature and the mind. Her art became a vital element of the Museum’s historic sanctuary when the stained-glass window she designed in collaboration with architect Deborah Gans was installed in 2010. Returning now to Eldridge Street, Kiki Smith fills the building with her work in varying mediums, reacting to and…
Jews and Muslims: The Early Years II
The second semester of this popular class will continue to explore the political, social, religious and cultural interactions of Jews and Muslims through the 13th century. Among the topics discussed are the Arab conquests and growth of the calipahate; the legal status of Jews under Muslim rule; the religious development of Islam and the split between Shi’a and Sunni Muslims; Muslim law in the Quran and its later development; polemics between Muslims and Jews; and the role of jihad in…
Not Just the Weekly Torah Portion
Bring your questions and opinions as we explore a variety of Jewish texts and issues. Discussions will often relate to the weekly Torah portion or its accompanying reading from the Prophets. Other Biblical or Rabbinic texts that raise questions of contemporary interest will also be explored. All interest and knowledge levels are welcome; Previous Hebrew or Torah study is not required. Dr. Regina Stein is the Morris Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence at the Museum at Eldridge Street. She has taught for Temple…
Eyal Vilner Big Band
The incomparable Eyal Vilner Big Band will rock the shul in this exciting musical journey from the streets of New Orleans and the early days of jazz to NYC’s Lower East Side! The innovative band unites traditional Jewish melodies with Middle Eastern sounds, jazz and blues – revisiting and celebrating the historical intersection of the swing era with early twentieth-century Jewish life in New York. This concert is generously sponsored by Helene and Steve Walsey.
The Jewish Family on TV: The Goldbergs
The Goldbergs, a popular radio and television show airing from the 1930s to 50s, revolved around Molly Goldberg, a lovable but meddling matriarch, her family and neighbors. A careful viewing of the episodes reveals insights into an ethnic family assimilating to American culture. This class will discuss the work of Goldbergs actress Gertrude Berg, as well as patterns of ethnic assimilation depicted by the show. Selected show episodes will be viewed weekly followed by class discussion. Barry Feldman is an…
The Making of Jewish New York: Post War
“Jewish New York” is a singular term, but it encompasses hundreds of years and millions of people. The culture of Jewish New York is layered, varied, and an amalgam of international and national influences – each wave of Jewish immigration has brought new customs to the country, mixing with or replacing what came before. In turn, those changes created new practices and perceptions of what it means to be Jewish in America and in New York. On this series of…
The Commandments: The Idolatry of a Modern Age
“Idolatry” sounds like an outdated concept, but perhaps the idols have simply changed. Have we found new false gods in consumer culture? Has our unprecedented access to new technology hindered our interpersonal sensitivity and provided us with new avenues of excess and impropriety? Tiffany Shlain and Nigel Savage talk idolatry in the age of the iPhone. This program is part of a spring program series exploring the Ten Commandments at Eldridge Street. Presented in partnership with Limmud NY. Tiffany Shlain is an…
Midwood’s Out of the Narrows! CD Release Party
Each member of the eclectic supergroup Midwood contributes a mastery of myriad styles, resulting in the band’s unique sound. Midwood traverses rock, avant-garde, free improvisation, classical and Romanian folk music – all finding a place in the expressive language of klezmer. This lively concert celebrates the release of their debut album on Chant Records, Out of the Narrows! Featuring Jake Shulman-Ment, violin; Yoshie Fruchter, electric guitar; Richie Barshay, drums and percussion; and special guest Eleonore Weill, vocals, flutes, hurdy-gurdy.
Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival
Celebrate the diverse ethnic communities of the Museum at Eldridge Street’s Lower East Side/Chinatown neighborhood! With the Museum’s home, the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue, as its centerpiece, this neighborhood festival spills out onto the street with a mash-up of Jewish, Chinese and Puerto Rican tastes, traditions, sights, and sounds. What to expect? Lots of fun! Enjoy outdoor performances of Chinese opera, Chinese folk, klezmer, cantorial, and Puerto Rican folk music. Watch fascinating demonstrations by a Hebrew and a Chinese scribe,…
