What a weekend coming up! There are SIX klezmer/Yiddish events between Thursday and Sunday, Check out the dates and venues below.
Thursday, January 27, 6:30pm, Holocaust Remembrance Day: Re-inventing Yiddish Culture in Italy, San Francisco. While few remember that the origins of Yiddish literature can also be traced to the Italian Renaissance, today’s Italy has seen an unprecedented revival of “all things Yiddish,” including literature, theater, and music. Assisted by musicologist Francesco Spagnolo, Milanese playwriter/songwriter Mara Cantoni will trace the history of the Yiddish revival in Italy, accompanied by music and videos from her work. At the Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco. No charge. More info: www.iicsanfrancisco.esteri.it. Rsvp to 415.788.7142 X18.
Saturday, January 29, 7:00-10:30pm, Klezmer Music and Dance at Feast of Jewish Learning, Palo Alto. Community Havdoleh at 7:00pm followed by dozens of exciting classes and interactive workshops on Jewish texts, history, poetry, literature, dance, song and film. The first session (7:30-8:30pm) includes a performance by the Yiddish Choristers and a Jewish dance workshop led by Bruce Bierman. The second session (8:45-9:45pm) includes a klezmer dance party with Bruce Bierman and music by The Klezmakers. The Oneg at 9:45pm includes more music by The Klezmakers. At the Oshman Family JCC. The Feast is for those at least bar/bas mitzveh age, and is co-sponsored by KlezCalifornia. No charge. More info: www.bjesf.org/adults_feast.htm, 415.751.6983 X223.
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Sunday, January 30, noon-2:00pm, Klezmer Brunch with Veretski Pass, San Francisco. Vegan and vegetarian food for sale. At Porto Franco Art Parlor. On the second floor; no elevator. Tickets: donation of $0-$100 at brownpapertickets.com. More info: www.portofrancoart.com/klezmer-brunch, 650.575.2044.
Sunday, January 30, 2:00pm, Songs and Poems of Hirsh Glik, read by translators Jack Hirschman and Zachary Baker, San Francisco. Vilna ghetto author Glik wrote the Partisan Hymn and other songs and poems of Jewish resistance. Presented by the Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring at the SFSU Labor Archive, 480 Winston Drive, San Francisco. Refreshments served. No charge. More info: 415.566.7235, DMScott01[at]yahoo.com.
Sunday, January 30, 3:00-4:30pm, Klezmer/Yiddish Kids’ Show with Gerry Tenney and California Klezmer, Berkeley. At Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center. Admission: $6 adults, $4 kids. More info: www.ashkenaz.com, 510.525.5054.
Sunday, January 30, 4:00-6:00pm, Berkeley. Hungry for Yiddish? A Mitzvah Project, Berkeley. Yiddish/Jewish/world music and art to raise money for the San Francisco Food Bank and help feed the hungry. This event will be held at JCC of the East Bay, with Janam, Heather Klein‘s Inextinguishable Trio, Mike Perlmutter, Dave Rosenfeld, Marguerite Ostro, Jeanette Lewicki, Marisa Binder, Yumi Thomas, Alla Gladysheva, and Aaron Kierbel. Bruce Bierman will lead dancing. KlezCalifornia is a co-sponsor. Tickets: $10 at the door. More info: 702.498.1999. www.HeatherLKlein.com .