April 2024

Sholem Aleichem, Friend,

A zisn peysekh! This month, as we gear up for peysekh, we have several interesting programs: a continuation of both our Joy of Jewish Music series and Flisik Yiddish Salons, and a program on the Jewish Music of Baghdad.

Our Yiddish Culture Fund is accepting grant applications for up to $3000 for our Spring 2024 cycle as part of our commitment to fund the development of the next generation of Yiddish Culture Leaders in the Bay Area. If you have an idea for how to make this happen, please apply here. Applications are due on April 15th.

Perhaps relatedly, some folks may remember Jake Schneider's workshop in January about starting a Yiddish Social Club. While KlezCalifornia already presents our monthly Flisik Yiddish Salon online, we would love to collaborate with anybody who might be interested in starting an in-person Yiddish Social Club in the Bay Area with meetings in a restaurant, bar, or other public place. If you are interested, please reply to this email and let's talk.

Finally, we would like to extend a special thanks to the Green Fairy Fund for a very generous gift to KlezCalifornia this month. A groysn dank!

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John Erlich—By the Waters of Babylon: Jews and Music in Iraq

Co-presented by KlezCalifornia

Thursday, April 18th, 7-8:30PM Pacific Time (in person at Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley or online via Zoom – calculate your local time HERE).

In 1947, Baghdad’s Jewish community of 90,000 comprised about 25% of the city’s population, and Iraq’s 130,000 Jews comprised almost 3% of the total Iraqi population (higher than the Jewish population in the USA today). From 1948 to 1951, nearly the entire Jewish population of Iraq emigrated; by 1960, there were fewer than 3,000 Jews in Iraq (and fewer than 10 Jews today). This presentation, with performed musical examples, will describe the place of Iraqi Jews within the larger Iraqi culture, the function of music in Iraqi Jewish life, and the role played by Jews in Iraqi music.

More info and registration »

TASTES OF YIDDISH CULTURE SERIES

Flisik Yidish Salon

Presented by KlezCalifornia

Sunday, April 21st 2-3pm PT (online – calculate your local time HERE).

This monthly online conversation Salon is for fluent (flisik) Yiddish speakers. No charge.

Ver iz ayer balibtster yidisher komiker un far vos? Kent ir ibergebn eynem fun zeyere vitsn oder eyner ayer eygenem?

װער איז אײַער באַליבטסטער ייִדישער קאָמיקער און פֿאַר װאָס? קענט איר איבערגעבן אײנעם פֿון זײערע װיצן אָדער אײנער אײַער אײגענעם?

More info and registration »

The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance

Co-presented by KlezCalifornia; supported in part by KlezCalifornia's Yiddish Culture Fund

Sunday, April 21st, 1-4pm at the JCC East Bay, Berkeley (in person only)

Come to the JCC East Bay for the fourth edition of a new monthly series celebrating “The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance!” This month's presentation features music by Veretski Pass and dancing led by Bruce Bierman.

1pm: Choose between learning music or dance techniques and styles

2pm: Dance party focusing on the dances and tunes taught in the prior hour

3pm: Informal music jam