Rivertowns’ 4th Annual Jewish Cultural Festival takes a Unique Approach. What is Jewish “Culture?” A proliferation of festivals in the Westchester/Rockland area are slated to begin shortly. Only one festival takes a different approach: The 4th Annual Jewish Cultural Festival is taking place April 10 through April 18 throughout the Rivertowns, with locations from Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown to the Greenburgh Hebrew Center. The eight events are purposefully diverse in nature.
The other two festivals are longer and focus only on film (The 2016 Westchester Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, and the 13th Annual International Jewish Film Festival at the JCC Rockland in West Nyack).
“We’re showing one film, Dough, which people have been raving about across the country,” said festival co-coordinator Rabbi Lisa Izes, of Irvington, “but we also have Passover cooking with Joan Nathan, who is the maven on Jewish cooking. Our festival has music, art, Yiddish, and even a program for preschoolers.”
Tickets are available at JFestival.Eventbrite.com. More information be found at JCContheHudson.org.
The festival, sponsored by GreenStreet Solar Power, is supported by First Niagara Bank and UJA-Federation’s Westchester Program Services Cabinet. On the event committee, representing the Rivertowns’ Jewish Consortium, are festival coordinators Lisa Izes, and Lois Green of Hartsdale; Melissa Baer of Tarrytown; Donna Fleming of Hartsdale; Rita Joselow of Ardsley; Gail Mendell of Hartsdale; Denise Rosenberg of Hastings-on-Hudson, Robin Rosenberg of Dobbs Ferry, and Rita Wexler of Tarrytown.
The Rivertowns’ Jewish Consortium consists of the JCC on the Hudson, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Mishkan Ha’am, Rosh Pinah Chavurah of the Rivertowns, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Shalom, Woodlands Community Temple, and the Westchester Jewish Council.
Festival Schedule:
Joan Nathan on Jewish Cooking
Lyndhurst Historic Trust
Sunday, April 10
1) Passover Cooking: An Intimate Hour in the Kitchen with Joan Nathan
A lucky few will join Joan for an intimate cooking demonstration focusing on a few recipes from her bestselling book, “Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France,” and an informal chat.
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 per person Space is limited, so sign up early! http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
2) Don’t Freeze the Shank Bone and More!
Joan will delight us with a history of the foods of Passover through the ages in that engaging way that only this doyenne of Jewish cooking can. How have tastes and traditions changed over time and place?
Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Fee: $18 in advance or $25 at the door
Refreshments to follow. http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
Joan Nathan, the authority on Jewish cooking from many perspectives: culinary, cultural, and historic. She is the award-winning author of twelve cookbooks and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Food Arts Magazine, and Tablet Magazine. These two events will be held at Lyndhurst Historic Trust, in the Carriage House, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown.
3) Classically Jewish
Monday, April 11
Husband and wife duo, violinist Sergey Nazarov and pianist Marianna Udler perform classical music written by Jewish composers, and Jewish music written by classical composers! The program will include works by Mendelssohn, Kreisler, and Wenyavsky, as well as by contemporary composers. Presented in conjunction with the Renard Lectures.
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
JCC on the Hudson, 371 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Fee: $5
Reserve at http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
4) A Bintel Brief
The “Dear Abby” column of The Forward
Tuesday, April 12
Oy, what tzuris! Before Abby dispensed advice, NY’s Eastern European immigrants turned to the Yiddish paper, The Jewish Daily Forward, for help with their problems in life and love. Yiddish expert Maddy Simon will share (and help translate) some questions, and we’ll all do our best to guess what advice the Bintel Brief gave before we hear the published replies!
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
JCC on the Hudson, 371 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Fee: $10
Reserve at http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
5) Dough
Thursday, April 14
What can an old Jewish baker do to save his ailing business? Hire a young refugee from Darfur, who inadvertently adds a little something to the dough that makes the challah fly off the shelves! It’s a fun trip of a movie. Starring Jonathan Pryce. Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, will host a short discussion after the film.
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
Fee: $10
Reserve at http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
6) Mini Mitzvah Makers
For pre-K classes of the Rivertowns Jewish Consortium Members’ Early Childhood Programs
Friday, April 15
Four year olds in the early childhood programs of the RJC will celebrate Shabbat together, participate in the mitzvah of feeding the hungry, and enjoy some great entertainment. Through social action and celebration, children become part of a wider Jewish community. By invitation only.
7) Neil Berg Presents “Broadway Melodies”
Showman Neil Berg and company bring you a knock-out afternoon filled with the musical gems of the Great White Way. Singers and musicians will bring a taste of Broadway to Tarrytown for your pleasure and enjoyment. A treat for audiences of all ages!
4:00 p.m.
Temple Beth Abraham, 25 Leroy Ave., Tarrytown
Fee: $18 in advance / $25 at the door
$10 for kids and students
Reserve at http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
8) Icons of the Art World: Jewish Artists Segal, Nevelson, Katz and Chagall
Monday, April 18
Sculptors George Segal and Louise Nevelson, contemporary painter Alex Katz, and pioneer of modernism and a master of color, Marc Chagall, are the subject of this talk. Artist and educator Terry Kessler Schwartz will discuss their differing styles and spiritual approaches. Presented in conjunction with the Renard Lectures.
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
JCC on the Hudson, 371 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Fee: $5
Reserve at http://JFestival.Eventbrite.com
