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October 2018
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. By reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. With teacher Regina Stein, you will do that in ten sessions. You will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story by rabbis, as well as by Christians and Muslims. Dr. Regina Stein is the Morris Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence at the Museum at Eldridge Street. She…
Jews on the Supreme Court
Louis Brandeis’ 1918 appointment to the Supreme Court began a consistent Jewish presence in this esteemed arena. The four-session class will explore the biographies and tenures of the eight Jews who have been appointed to the high court. Popular teacher Barry Feldman will lead discussions of the presidential and political considerations in nominations and confirmations. Over four sessions, you will explore the Justices’ innovation, advocacy, and interpretation of the law, from the New Deal to same-sex marriage. Barry Feldman is…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years
The vast majority of the world Jewry lived under Muslim rule from the 8th to 12th centuries. In this ten session class, you will explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new elements of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. Attend the full course or drop in on individual dates. Dr. Regina Stein is…
Walking the Bowery
Home of Yiddish theatres, grand bank buildings, education centers, and flophouses, the historic Bowery had it all. One of the first major thoroughfares of New York City, the Bowery quickly earned a reputation as a place for for wild fun and anything-goes attitude. But it also attracted altruists, including those at the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Join urban historian Barry Feldman on this roving exploration of the famous Bowery. Visit one of the early sites of the Eldridge Street Synagogue and…
November 2018
Kol Isha concert
Cantors Hayley Kobilinsky and Galit Dadoun Cohen are at the forefront of the changing face of the American cantorate. Emerging from traditional Ashkenazic and Sephardic backgrounds respectively, they each infuse their heritage into their cantorial work, incorporating Yiddish and Ladino with the common prayer languages of Hebrew and English. This concert will include an eclectic mix of Jewish music, from traditional chazzanut to recent compositions by leading Jewish composers. Renowned accompanist Joyce Rosenzweig, who has appeared as a soloist with the New…
Lower East Side walk and find
School’s out, so let’s hit the streets! This special neighborhood walking tour & scavenger hunt designed for families will take us to some of the spots that Lower East Side kids in the early 1900s knew and loved. From the country’s very first playground to the pickle shop, each place on this tour will bring a distant world into focus. Recommended for children ages five and up and their adult companions. Tour begins at 12 Eldridge Street. Use the…
Releasing Words: The Cut Paper Art of Deborah Ugoretz Opening Reception
Celebrate the opening of the Museum’s newest exhibition, featuring intricate cut-paper art by Deborah Ugoretz. Ugoretz was already a working artist when she saw traditional Jewish paper cutting work for the first time. She was dazzled by this centuries-old tradition and its creative possibilities for “visualizing Judaism,” and its ability to transform a simple piece of paper into a work of art that could release words into pictorial space. This exhibition will present a retrospective of the artist’s work in cut paper,…
In Their Own Words: The Eldridge Street Minute Books
In 1850, a small congregation of immigrants organized Bet Hamedresh, an intimate congregation worshipping below Canal Street. By 1887, this congregation, renamed Kahal Adas Jeshurun built what was commonly referred to as the Eldridge Street Shul. Along the way, the congregation meticulously documented its evolution in minute books. Handwritten in Yiddish, these fascinating historical artifacts hold a wealth of information about the congregation’s aspirations, disagreements, compromises and successes. Join Eldridge Street maven Barry Feldman to dive into these 100-year-old records…
History Hunters: A Kid’s Life at School
The past comes alive in this brand-new family program that takes children back in time to discover what childhood was like 100 years ago. In this first session, we’ll explore what school life was like for Lower East Side kids – so get ready for some crazy calisthenics and a surprising school lunch. Straight A’s guaranteed! (Join us for future History Hunters sessions focusing on A Kids Life…at Home; A Kid’s Life…at Work; and A Kid’s Life…at Synagogue.) This series…
