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Go Out and Play! Old-time Games at Eldridge
Stickball, stoopball, handball, hit the penny, jump rope, jacks – these games and their devotees once ruled the New York City streets. What kinds of games did kids play 100 years ago on the Lower East Side? We’re bringing back all the favorites for this fun outdoor program. You bring the family and we’ll bring the balls, pennies, jacks, and more. Then we’ll all go outside and play, just like the old days! After the games, we’ll engage in another…
The Making of Jewish New York: Eastern European Culture
“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…
Below the Horizon Opening Reception
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…
POSTPONED – The Commandments: Honor and Love in a New Paradigm
This event is postponed. We will update the event listing when a new rescheduled date has been decided. We apologize for the inconvenience. In recent years family structures have taken on entirely new forms. How do we reinterpret the age-old commandment to Honor Thy Father and Mother in a time of blended families, same-sex parents, and new definitions? Author Marjorie Ingall and Rabbi Danny Nevins consider what it means to honor Patriarchs and Matriarchs today. This program is part of a…
Immigrants as Artistic Pioneers
Immigrants, especially the progeny of the massive wave in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, have played a outsize role in the development of American performing arts. Some immigrants were running from persecution, others seeking new opportunities, but the arrival to the Lower East Side of some 2.5 million fostered a climate that emphasized talent and chutzpah over pedigree. The legacy of these innovators are still rightfully celebrated today. This two-session course will highlight individuals who were inspired by creative expression…
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…
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…
