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JJ STREAMING GUIDE

March 14-21

Jewish Journal wants to keep you educated and informed. We offer our Curated Streaming Guide to provide readers with easy access to Jewish interest educational opportunities around the world. To submit an event, please email lisas@jewishjournal.com

Thursday, March 14

THE JEWS OF UKRAINE

Explore the Jewish heritage of Ukraine by visiting its heart and key cities, Kiev and Odessa.  With a Jewish presence dating back to the 8th century, Kiev boasts a rich history of Jewish scholars, rabbis, writers, Zionists, and various leaders in business, culture, and politics.  The Jewish community in Kiev has witnessed periods of prosperity as well as tragic devastation. Odessa, often regarded as the Jewish capital of the former USSR by Russian-speaking Jews, is marked by a distinctive sense of humor, unique architecture in Jewish quarters, a notable Jewish criminal world, a vibrant Zionist movement, and the compelling story of ships transporting Jews to the land of Israel in the early 1920s.  This invitation encourages a journey through the cultural and historical aspects of Jewish life in these Ukrainian cities.  Led by tour guide Evgenia Kempinski.  March 14, 1:00 pm, PT.  $9.  https://www.qesher.com/the-jews-of-ukraine/

BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY’S ANCIENT TREASURES AT THE MET

Embark on a virtual journey through the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) with New York Adventure Club to explore its significant collection of artworks directly tied to the Bible.  Led by tour guide and deacon Mel Lehman, the non-sectarian experience unveils archaeological treasures with connections to the Bible, a central aspect of the three Abrahamic faiths and global cultural history.  The tour encompasses jewelry dating back 4,500 years from ancient Ur, a statue inscribed by Ramses II linked to the Exodus, wall murals from Assyrian ruler Ashurnasurpal II, a striding lion from Babylon’s Ishtar Gate associated with the Hebrew people, and artifacts relating to the New Testament.  The session concludes with a Q&A, inviting participants to delve deeper into these archaeological treasures and their historical significance.  March 14, 5:00 pm, PT.  $12.  https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/biblical-archeologys-ancient-treasures-at-the-met-webinar-registration-844748965897/

LEVITICUS IS CHRISTIANTY, DEUTERONOMY IS JUDAISM (MOSTLY)

Early Bible scholars were German Protestants who took a very dim view of priestly literature in the Bible because they associated priests with Roman Catholicism.  How ironic that all of Christianity is fundamentally reliant upon the priestly worldview! Within Rabbinic Judaism, we’ll see the two systems appear as rationales for Rabbinic disputes that might otherwise seem unintelligible.  We’ll also see that Rabbinic Judaism tilts towards Deuteronomy.  Led by Rabbi Dr. Shai Cherry of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.  March 14, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://mailchi.mp/dc3c693e501e/csp-zoom-programs-week-of-april-5-5927148

ANTISEMITISM IN ELITE COLLEGE ADMISSION: A BRIEF HISTORY

The talk will discuss the origins of Jewish quotas in Ivy League universities and their evolution until they were finally eliminated in the 1960s.  It will conclude with a discussion of why Jewish enrollments have declined sharply over the course of the past half century at all of the Ivy League institutions.  Led by Jerome Karabel, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.  March 14, 1:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://theweitzman.org/events/antisemitism-elite-admission/

HAMANTASCHEN BAKING AND DECORATING MASTER CLASS

Purim is fast approaching! Want to impress your friends and family with your hamantaschen this year? Join renowned Jewish cookbook author Shannon Sarna for a master class in hamantaschen baking, filling and decorating. Shannon will share all her favorite secrets — from preventing cookie leaks to creating custom flavors to decorating with drizzles, dips and plenty of sweet toppings. She’ll also provide recipes and a list of suggested ingredients to have on hand.  March 14, 4:30 pm, PT.  $25.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hamantaschen-baking-and-decorating-master-class-tickets-851083863747

Sunday, March 17

STUCK: IMMIGRATION, NATURALIZATION AND REPATRIATION IN THE WWI ERA

The US State Department’s Records of Foreign Service Posts reveal gripping narratives of families grappling with separation during WWI, as detailed through stolen passports, heartfelt pleas, and forged visas.  Many husbands, who initially immigrated to the USA with the intention of bringing their families later, found themselves entangled in prolonged separations due to the outbreak of war.  The evolving geopolitical landscape in post-war Europe introduced new regulations on movement and emigration, complicating reunification efforts.  Additionally, heightened concerns about a potential influx of war refugees prompted the US Congress to enact restrictive immigration laws with quotas.  This presentation sheds light on the extraordinary challenges faced by families during this period and elucidates the records used to chronicle their compelling stories.  Led by professional geneologist Renée Carl.  March 17, 10:30 am, PT.  Free.  https://programs.cjh.org/stream-tickets/stuck-2024-03-17

ISRAEL AFTER OCTOBER 7

This conference is about the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza.  The impact of these events extends to Israel’s foreign relations, Israeli-Palestinian relations, global Jewish communities, and domestic politics.  The event aims to delve into these repercussions through insights and analyses from diverse speakers, including Thomas Friedman, Prof. Dov Waxman, Ahmad Tibi, and others.  The discussions will provide a comprehensive understanding of how these events have significantly altered Israel’s critical relationships and the nation itself.  The speakers will offer nuanced perspectives on these profound changes, transcending the immediate news coverage.  March 17, 9:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.haaretz.com/2024-02-28/ty-article-conference/.free/israel-after-october-7/0000018d-efe6-d7f4-a3dd-efeeb8470000

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

The Ghetto Fighters’ House presents the fourth program in its series, “Bridge Over Troubled Water: Solidarity and Civic Responsibility in Times of Crisis,” titled “Rescue Outside the Ghetto Walls: Warsaw 1943-44.” The event features guest speakers Prof. Emanuel Berman and Noam Rachmilevitch, who will shed light on the organized rescue efforts for Jews in occupied Warsaw during 1943-1944.  Prof. Berman recounts the heroic story of his parents, Basia and Adolf Abraham Berman, who, under false identities, played a pivotal role in a clandestine network providing forged documents, rent money, food, and medical supplies to help fellow Jews survive.  Rachmilevitch, a senior researcher, delves into the Adolf Berman collection in the museum’s archives, focusing on financial support and documentation supply as crucial aspects of the rescue efforts during this perilous period.  March 17, 11:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://cwbpgh.org/event/bridge-over-troubled-water-solidarity-and-civic-responsibility-in-times-of-crisis/

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS

Spertus Institute’s annual program, Critical Conversations, focuses this year on “Artificial Intelligence, Jewish Ethics, and the Future of Humanity.” The online event aims to explore the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into our lives.  Experts and activists will discuss the pervasiveness, perils, and potential of AI, addressing diverse perspectives on its societal impact.  While some view AI as a boon for societal progress, others perceive it as a dangerous tool compromising privacy and exacerbating inequity.  The program, moderated by Spertus President & CEO Dr. Dean P. Bell, brings together specialists in artificial intelligence, ethics, and Jewish thought to contemplate the implications of this expanding technology on our future. Tickets are free, and reservations are required.  March 17, 5:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://www.spertus.edu/critical-conversations-ai-and-jewish-ethics/

THE DYBBUK CENTURY

A little over 100 years ago, the first production of An-sky’s The Dybbuk, a play about the possession of a young woman by a dislocated spirit, opened in Warsaw.  In the century that followed, The Dybbuk became a theatrical conduit for a wide range of discourses about Jews, belonging, and modernity.  This timeless Yiddish play about spiritual possession beyond the grave would go on to exert a remarkable and unforgettable impact on modern theater, film, literature, music, and culture.  This talk, based on Dr. Debra Caplan’s recently published co-edited volume The Dybbuk Century, will consider this remarkable history and the enduring influence of The Dybbuk.  March 17, 3:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://jewishcommunitylibrary.org/events-listing/dybbuk-century/

Monday, March 18

1964

The New York Adventure Club is hosting a multimedia exploration of the transformative year 1964 in American pop culture history, led by pop culture historian Arlen Schumer.  Focusing on events from January to June, the showcase delves into iconic moments, including Bob Dylan’s impactful song “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” LIFE magazine’s critique of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, and the event that ignited Beatlemania in America.  The presentation also highlights the lasting legacy of the World’s Fair in Queens, NY, and significant achievements in comics, such as Marvel Comics’ Daredevil and DC Comics’ revamped Batman.  The opening of the Broadway hit Hello, Dolly! and the influence of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters on the psychedelic movement are also explored. March 18, 2:30 pm, PT.  $12.  https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1964-an-american-pop-cultural-phenomenon-part-1-january-june-webinar-registration-844748875627/

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Why did the founders consider “the pursuit of happiness” an inalienable right, and how did they understand the phrase? In The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America, the National Constitution Center’s Jeffrey Rosen examines how the founders treated happiness as the pursuit of a virtuous life, a view they took from their reading of the philosophers of classical antiquity.  Join AEI’s Adam J. White and Mr. Rosen for a discussion of how the pursuit of happiness is vital to the project of self-governance.  March 18, 2:30 pm, PT.  Free.  https://www.aei.org/events/the-pursuit-of-happiness-a-book-event-with-jeffrey-rosen/

THOMAS FRIEDMAN

Thomas L. Friedman, foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, is set to discuss Israel’s invasion of Gaza and the uncertainties surrounding its goals and consequences, including the potential eradication of Hamas, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political survival, and the impact on Israel’s international credibility.  Friedman, known for his insights and three Pulitzer Prizes, acknowledges the complexity of the situation and expresses uncertainty about its outcome.  The discussion, held at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center, will be facilitated by Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, addressing Friedman’s concerns about the invasion, Hamas’s PR tactics, and Israel’s post-invasion plans.  March 18, 4:00 pm, PT.  $18.  https://streicker-winterspring-2024.ticketleap.com/friedman/dates/Mar-18-2024_at_0700PM

JEWISH SONGS AND DANCES FOR PIANO: JOEL ENGEL’S “FIVE PIANO PIECES” OP. 19 (1923)

Join us for a performance of Joel Engel’s “Five Piano Pieces” (1923): a collection of Jewish folksongs, dances, and Hasidic nigunim in virtuosic piano arrangements.  Engel’s earlier Jewish Folksongs volumes I, II, and II (featured by YIVO in November 2020 and June 2021) were the first published classical compositions to feature Yiddish folksongs.  His use of Yiddish folk music in his compositions proved to be influential and inspired the Society for Jewish Folk Music and the composers affiliated with it to create a vast oeuvre of similar work.  This collection of five pieces will be performed by pianist Thomas Kotcheff.  March 18, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://yivo.org/Engel2024

LAW AS A MORAL FORCE: WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMAN AND CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN STUDIED TALMUD AT JTS

In this lecture, we will uncover a fascinating moment in JTS history, a weekend in the 1950s when Chief Justice Earl Warren and Former President Harry S. Truman came to JTS to learn about what Judaism had to offer to a broader question concerning American judges and politicians at that time: Could law be a moral force in a society? We will consider the content of what Warren and Truman studied that weekend and its broader impact on both of them, as well as the way that this historical moment sheds light on other significant aspects of American Jewish history in the 1950s and 1960s.  Led by JTS professor Dr. Shira Billet.  March 18, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.jtsa.edu/event/law-as-moral-force-president-truman-warren/

Tuesday, March 19

REFLECTING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

In this presentation, Ronnie Dunetz, PhD, will delve into the profound reflections of second-generation Holocaust survivors, exploring the impact of their parents’ experiences on their own life narratives and the subsequent influence on their children and grandchildren.  Drawing from his doctoral research, Dunetz will share findings from interviews with 41 individuals across 11 countries, offering insights into the less-explored aspects of this legacy.  As the son of Mordechai Dunetz, a Holocaust survivor, Ronnie will weave personal experiences into the discussion.  The presentation aims to deepen our understanding of resistance during the Holocaust and encourages reflection on its relevance to contemporary challenges.  March 19, 11:00 am, PT. Free.  https://www.thetogetherplan.com/events/reflecting-back-and-looking-forward/

EXAMINING ISRAEL'S NORTHERN BORDER

Join the JCRC for the second of our wartime conversations, featuring Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center. Sarit, a security expert specializing in military intelligence who served 15 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, will discuss developments on Israel’s northern border, the role Hezbollah and other terror groups have played in the current war, and provide an outlook for Israelis living in northern communities.  March 19, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.jcouncil.org/events/examining-israels-northern-border

REIMAGINING THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

As the war in Gaza continues, a debate is unfolding over the future governance and status of Gaza.  Join YIVO for a discussion with Marwan Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Jordanian foreign minister and deputy prime minister, about Muasher’s views on “the day after” in Gaza.  In this conversation, led by former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel C. Kurtzer, Muasher will lay out his perspective on past failed peace processes, his own recently proposed framework for a peace process going forward, and his assessment of the likely alternatives to a durable peace.  March 19, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://yivo.org/Muasher

GREEN COMMEMORATIONS

In her presentation, Aleksandra (Ola) Janus will explore innovative strategies for commemorating Holocaust sites, focusing on integrating green spaces and ecological sustainability.  Addressing the challenge of caring for forgotten graves of Holocaust victims in Polish cities and villages, the non-profit “Zapomniane” (meaning “forgotten”) plays a key role in rediscovering and respectfully commemorating these sites in collaboration with local communities.  Janus’ approach emphasizes environmental sustainability through the use of local materials and technology, artistic and architectural quality, and a strong scientific foundation.  This new method of remembrance advocates for community-based processes that incorporate diverse voices and stakeholders, blending cultural and artistic mediation into both urban and rural landscapes that include various stakeholders and a variety of voices into the process.  March 19, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://mailchi.mp/27b92ab266cb/csp-zoom-programs-week-of-april-5-5927196

CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY AND STRENGTH OF REFUGEE WOMEN AND SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

HIAS invites participants to celebrate the strength and diversity of refugee women in honor of International Women’s Day and Purim.  The event focuses on HIAS’ programs addressing gender-based violence, offering tools and resources to women, girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, and survivors of gender-based violence to foster solidarity, resilience, empowerment, and healing.  Attendees will hear directly from program participants and HIAS staff in the Latin American and Caribbean region, gaining insights into their experiences and the impact of HIAS’ initiatives.  Featured speakers include Rabbi Sarah Bassin, Joseph Mejía, and Hester Moore, discussing the organization’s work in empowering and supporting individuals in Guyana, Colombia, and Peru.  March 19, 9:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://hias.org/events/celebrating-diversity-and-strength-refugee-women-and-survivors-gender-based-violence/

SHOULD WE REALLY BE HAPPY THIS PURIM?

The Talmud teaches that “mi shenichnas Adar, marbim b’simcha,” when we enter the month of Adar, our joy is increased.  As the war and this period of darkness continues, the joy we are meant to tap into during Adar and on Purim might feel misaligned and inaccessible to many.  Is it appropriate to experience simcha this Purim? Can we understand this statement from the Talmud in a way that meets us in these difficult times? Join Pardes faculty Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabba Shani Gross for an exploration of these questions that will help prepare us for the holiday with intentionality.  March 19, 9:30 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.coing.co/Pardes/136977

OCTOBER 7 – THE AFTERMATH

This is the third installment in a series on the Hamas-engineered massacre on October 7, 2023 sponsored by Fordham University’s Center for Jewish Studies, featuring Dr. Hussein Ibish and Prof. David Myers.  This session aims to explore the roots and implications of this latest stage in a long-standing and divisive conflict.  The terrorist attack has led to a heightened division among supporters of Israel and the Palestinians globally, with a particularly pronounced impact on college campuses.  March 19, 3:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1362/18/interior.aspx?sid=1362&gid=1&pgid=12591&cid=23093

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION: HOW JEWISHNESS INFLUENCED SLAVERY IN ANTEBELLUM CHARLESTON

This lecture explores the historical intersection of American Jewish and African American history in Charleston, a city with a unique place in both narratives.  Home to the largest Jewish community in the United States in 1820, Charleston is often considered the birthplace of Reform Judaism. Simultaneously, it played a significant role in African American history, with approximately 40% of forcibly trafficked Africans entering through Charleston Harbor.  The lecture, led by Joseph Weisberg, delves into the coexistence of these worlds, particularly examining the white side of the color line in a slave society.  The focus is on Dr. Jacob de la Motta and his extended family, who created a network supporting each other in the slave economy, exploring its characteristics, significance, and the extent to which it had a distinctly Jewish character.  March 19, 4:30 pm, PT.  Free.  https://www.habermaninstitute.org/events-2023-summerfall/charleston

IT'S NOT A CONSPIRACY: THE JEWISH AND BLACK ORIGINS OF THE SKINHEAD MOVEMENT

It wasn’t until the early 1980s that the Skinhead movement was infiltrated by White supremacists and neo-Nazis. The Skinhead subculture began in London in the late 1960s, influenced by reggae, ska and punk and was not rooted in hate but the opposite. In fact, there have always been Jewish and Black skinheads. Join Emmy-winning filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth, director and producer of the new documentary “We’ve Been Here Before”; civil rights strategist Eric K. Ward, a longtime punk rocker who identifies as an “anti-racist skinhead”; Jewish anti-hate skinhead Pam Nesbitt; and Moment Editor-in-Chief Nadine Epstein. They will discuss the Jewish and Black origins of the Skinhead movement, how punk activists like Ward and Nesbitt successfully pushed back against white nationalists and neo-Nazis to save the subculture they love, and why this little-known story is important at a time when hate is on the rise.  March 19, 1:00pm, PT. Free. https://momentmag.com/zoominars/

Wednesday, March 20

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS: JEWISH WAR BRIDES AFTER THE HOLOCAUST

Facing the harrowing task of rebuilding a life in the wake of the Holocaust, many Jewish survivors, community and religious leaders, and Allied soldiers viewed marriage between Jewish women and military personnel as a way to move forward after unspeakable loss.  Proponents believed that these unions were more than just a ticket out of war-torn Europe: they would help the Jewish people repopulate after the attempted annihilation of European Jewry.  Historian Robin Judd, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust and married an American soldier after liberation, introduces us to the Jewish women who lived through genocide and went on to wed American, Canadian, and British military personnel after the war.  March 20, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.jtsa.edu/event/between-the-lines-between-two-worlds/

RIVALRIES IN MEDICINE

In the realm of medical discoveries, the greatest breakthroughs often emerged from the efforts of brilliant doctors who, despite their human flaws, overcame setbacks and persevered through adversity.  Author and surgeon Andrew Lam explores the imperfect nature of medical pioneers such as Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Jonas Salk, and Albert Sabin.  These individuals, driven by personal flaws like arrogance and self-interest, engaged in rivalries that, paradoxically, led to remarkable breakthroughs in medicine.  Lam emphasizes the competition and conflicts between figures like Pasteur and Koch, Salk and Sabin, and the quartet competing for credit in the discovery of anesthesia.  Despite the personal costs to these individuals, the resulting breakthroughs ultimately benefited humankind and saved millions of lives.  March 20, 3:45 pm, PT.  $25.  https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/rivalries-in-medicine

TIPSY TURVY

Beginning with the story of Noah, Jewish tradition repeatedly warns us about the dangers of imbibing too much wine.  But on the holiday of Purim there seems to be an obligation to get drunk! In this special holiday class with acclaimed Melton teacher Rabbi Ben Kramer, we will study a variety of classical rabbinic texts to better understand the nature of this unusual obligation and the meaning behind it.  We will also explore how rabbis throughout the generations have tried to reconcile this obligation with the generally negative attitude toward drunkenness in Jewish tradition.  March 20, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://events.org/events/calendarcourse?tid=16f6ba56-7e30-4c17-9004-d74e6068297b

FIRST PERSON

This online discussion invites viewers to explore Esther Rosenfeld Starobin‘s poignant story, focusing on the heartbreaking decision her parents made during Nazi Germany to send her away to live with a foster family in England.  The audience is encouraged to submit questions for Esther.  The discussion is part of the First Person series, a monthly hour-long interview between journalist Bill Benson and a Holocaust survivor, with the inclusion of audience questions.  The program is made possible through the generous support of the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation and is accessible on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s YouTube page.  March 20, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://www.ushmm.org/watch/first-person?d=n

STRANGER IN THE DESERT

While exploring his grandparents’ house one Thanksgiving, Jordan Salama stumbled upon a binder containing a rich five-hundred-year history of his Arab-Jewish family’s journey, spanning from Moorish Spain to Ottoman Syria to Argentina and beyond.  The narrative that captivated him was that of his great-grandfather, a Syrian-born Jewish immigrant to Argentina, working as a traveling salesman in the Andes in the 1920s, possibly leaving behind forgotten descendants.  Inspired by his grandfather, Jordan embarks on a quest to find these “Lost Salamas,” traversing over a thousand miles through the stunning landscapes of South America, from Patagonia to the high Andes, and exploring the Jewish quarter of Damascus to the vibrant neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.  Stranger in the Desert blends travelog, history, memoir, and reportage, offering not just a geographical exploration, but a profound journey of self-discovery as Salama grapples with his Jewish, Arab, and Latin American identities, questioning the narratives that families construct.  March 20, 7:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://jewishcommunitylibrary.org/events-listing/stranger/

POST FILM DISCUSSION: VISHNIAC WITH LAURA BIALIS, PRODUCER/DIRECTOR, AND CWB SCHOLAR AVI BEN-HUR

The film Vishniac, directed and produced by Laura Bialis, explores the journey of Roman Vishniac, one of the foremost photographers of the 20th century, from pre-war Berlin to Eastern Europe and the Princeton offices of Albert Einstein.  Vishniac’s best-known work was a photographic assignment for the American Joint Distribution Committee from 1935 to 1938, capturing Jewish life in Eastern Europe to raise funds for impoverished communities. Unpredictably, these communities were wiped out less than a decade later, making Vishniac’s photographs the last visual records of that world.  The film delves into Vishniac’s career, his dramatic life story, and the context of his captivating images.  With over 10,000 images, Vishniac’s collection serves as a legacy, offering a glimpse into a fading world.  The documentary, produced with Vishniac’s daughter Mara Vishniac Kohn’s cooperation, frames his work as a key modernist photographer and preserver of memory, exposing audiences to a lost world.  The post-film discussion will be facilitated by Avi Ben-Hur, CWB Scholar in Residence, providing further insights into the film’s historical context.  March 20, 12:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://cwbpgh.org/event/post-film-discussion-vishniac/

Thursday, March 21

VINT HANS LIED

The Newberry Consort presents a program focused on the remarkable “Vints Han Lied,” a Yiddish historical song recounting the events of the Fettmilch Uprising in Frankfurt am Main in 1614.  This unique composition narrates the infamous revolt initiated by the baker Vincent Fettmilch, which ultimately led to an attempted expulsion of the Jewish community from the city.  The program, complemented by historical music for Purim, features period instruments, vocal performances, and traditional noisemakers for audience engagement.  To provide context, musicologist Paul Feller-Simmons will kick off the concert with a brief explanatory talk.  The event offers a captivating blend of historical storytelling and musical performance, immersing the audience in the dramatic events of the Fettmilch Uprising.  March 21, 5:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUezxwv90qff4PWwrbt0MMyapyz1jW5hsNHPZvaa79GgbgsQ/viewform

MEDIEVAL JEWISH PHILOSOPHY AND RABBINIC JUDAISM

The Rabbinic prayer book canonized Deuteronomy’s version of Judaism.  The medieval philosophical tradition, beginning with Moses Maimonides, did two things: (1) They understood all of Jewish tradition through the prism of Deuteronomy, and (2) They believed Deuteronomy was written for purposes of political education rather than philosophical truth.  By rereading tradition so radically they created a new religion.  By the late Middle Ages, it was moribund.  Led by Rabbi Dr. Shai Cherry of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.  March 21, 10:00 am, PT.  Free.  https://mailchi.mp/dc3c693e501e/csp-zoom-programs-week-of-april-5-5927148

KNICKERBOCKER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

In coordination with “Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark,” a special exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage highlighting the remarkable story of the rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust, the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra presents a program of musical works that speaks to courage, compassion, and bravery through the ages.  This special concert will feature the premiere of a new work by Gary S. Fagin, Founder and Music Director of the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra, honoring Henny Sinding Sundø and her boat, the Gerda III.  The Gerda IIIwas donated to the Museum by the Danish Parliament in 1989 and is currently docked at The Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut.  In 1943, twenty-two-year-old Henny led the Gerda III’s rescue activities, saving an estimated 300 Jews in groups of 10-15 at a time on clandestine journeys across the Øresund Sound to Sweden.  March 21, 4:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://898a.blackbaudhosting.com/898a/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=c2dc8ce7-476a-4dfb-b8ff-5b633acc96e2&_ga=2.4215731.1417246088.1708556950-809584956.1702317106

IS ANYTHING OKAY? THE HISTORY OF JEWS AND COMEDY IN AMERICA

Celebrate the launch of “Is Anything Okay? The History of Jews and Comedy in America,” our newest online course about Jewish comedy, which delves into the history of Jewish comedy and its development in the United States. Join us for a panel discussion with lead scholar Eddy Portnoy and special guests Judy Gold and Alan Zweibel as they consider the diverse world of Jewish comedy past, present, and future.  March 21, 4:00 pm, PT.  Free.  https://yivo.org/Comedy-Launch

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