Cleveland Israel Arts Connection - Fall & Winter - 2018-2019

theater dance

literature

film

ISRAEL AT 70 music

visual arts Roe Green, Honorary Producer

FALL & WINTER

2018-19 SEASON

HIGHLIGHTS

The Desert Shall Rejoice and Blossom visual art

Vertigo Dance Company dance

Avital Meets Avital music 2

A Song in the Flame theater

Dear Friends:

The Oslo Diaries film

The beginning of our celebration of the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel was filled with thought-provoking theater, insightful literature, and captivating music. Over the next several months we’ll continue to celebrate through the exploration of Israeli fine arts.

The Desert Shall Rejoice and Blossom, now on display in the Federation’s Roe Green Gallery, features the photographic excellence of Tal Shochat and Oded Balilty. Each looks at the landscape of Israel and the fruit it bears through their respective lenses and discerning eyes.

World music, classical, contemporary, and baroque music from the Israeli perspective will be heard year round in Cleveland’s finest concert halls. And dance and movement will be on display as DanceCleveland presents Vertigo Dance Company and Playhouse Square presents Mayumana.

We are thrilled to welcome a new partner, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, which will present “A Song in the Flame,” a Chanukah story based upon an Israeli folktale. And for the first time, we will explore the culinary arts of Israel as well.

Joining us in celebration of Israel at 70 is the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage with a World Premiere Special Exhibition: “Israel Then & Now.” Be sure to experience their cultural programs that are listed throughout this brochure.

As always, thank you for joining us on this wonderful cultural journey!

Roe Green

Yossi Klein Halevi literature

Erica Hartman-Horvitz 3

CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION

Fall & Winter 2018-19 Season 2018

theater 6

dance 8

film 12

SEPTEMBER 1- thru Dec 21

1-thru Dec 21

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6

7

16

23

26

27 & 30

OCTOBER

1 Evan Fallenberg: “The Parting Gift” 25

2 Jerusalem String Quartet 18

3-7 Chagrin Documentary FilmFest 11 “When the Smoke Clears” “Above the Drowning Sea” * “EVA A-7063” *

3 “Life in Stills” 10

4 “Conviction” 7

4-14 Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish FilmFest 12-13 “Scaffolding” “The Oslo Diaries” “And Then She Arrived (VeAz Hi Hegiaa) “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” “Let’s Dance” “Mossad: Imperfect Spies” “Red Cow (Para Aduma)”

24 Yossi Klein Halevi: “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” 24 NOVEMBER

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1-3

4-19

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7

15 15, 17-18

literature 24 4

The Desert Shall Rejoice and Blossom: Photographs by Oded Balilty and Tal Shochat 14-15 Our Shared Garden 16 “Dr. Chasis and the Battle Against Tuberculosis” 10 “Days of Atonement” 7 Gili Yalo 18 Violinspiration: An Evening with Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein* 26 Israel: Then & Now: Exhibition Opens 5 “Mr. Gaga” 10 Yefim Bronfman, piano 22

“After the War” 7 Kirill Gerstein, piano* 22 Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish Book Festival 24 “The Soul of a Thief” 24 “Dancing in Jaffa” 10 Talmud & Literature 25 Emanuel Ax, piano* 23

ISRAEL AT 70

November, continued

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18

10-18 24-Dec 16

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Living in English, Writing in Hebrew 25 Alon Goldstein, piano 23 O Jerusalem! 19 “A Song in the Flame” (A Tale of Israel) 6 Hummus Wars: Food Identity & The Middle East Conflict 17

DECEMBER

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19

Israeli Soul: Easy, Essential, Delicious 17 “The Flat” 10

2019

JANUARY

13, 23

16 FEBRUARY

10-14

“Golda’s Balcony” 6 “The Gatekeepers” 10

Israel at 70 is a community-wide celebration to mark Israel’s 70th birthday. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland, together with local synagogues, agencies, and organizations, will bring Israel to Cleveland through a variety of arts, cultural, and educational events for all ages.

Please look for this logo throughout the brochure for events specifically designed to celebrate Israel at 70!

ISRAEL: THEN & NOW

A World Premiere Special Exhibition

Presented by Maltz Museum of Heritage

Jewish

September 23, 2018 – May 12, 2019 “The Gate” 7

Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood

MARCH

9 Vertigo Dance Company 8-9

10-14 Youth Expressing, The Graffiti Way 16

13 Mayumana 8-9

13-17 Dorman Violin Concerto No. 3, World Premiere 18 27-Apr 7 Cleveland International Film Festival 13

A people with no home, rejected across the globe for religious beliefs, find hope in a land they can make their own. In 1948, when Israel was declared the first Jewish state, it gave the Jewish people an opportunity to create a home for themselves and their children – what would come of this land, the people, and a culture? Take a look back and imagine what’s ahead, Israel: Then & Now.

APRIL

A first of its kind special exhibition makes its world premiere in Cleveland. See the landmarks, learn the history, explore the culture, meet the people – without leaving home. Celebrate Israel at 70.

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Avital Meets Avital 20

MAY

2-5

9

15-19

Vadim Gluzman, violin 20 Yom Ha’atzmaut Concert Amit Peled, cello 21

JUNE

1

14-29

Spirit and Matter in Bodies and Things: Exhibition Opens* 26 ChamberFest Season 8 26

SEPTEMBER

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Shai Wosner & Orion Weiss, piano 23

• For tickets visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

Israel: Then & Now will feature many cultural opportunities including Israeli theatre, literature, and film. Please look for this logo throughout the brochure for events specifically designed to complement the exhibition.

*

Jewish-themed cultural events

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THEATER & DANCE

A SONG IN THE FLAME (A TALE OF ISRAEL)

By Margi Herwald Zitelli, Directed by Alison Garrigan Presented by Talespinner Children’s Theatre

November 24 – December 16, 2018

Reinberger Auditorium, Gordon Square Arts District 5209 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland Chanukah is a time of music, light, and celebration, but for best friends Esti and Leah, this year it is bittersweet as they find out they will be separated across the still new country of Israel. Thanks to a magical tale, a menorah from the Old Country, and melodies that are even more ancient than Esti’s Bubbe, the girls find a way to stay connected and remember each other’s friendship whether their very different journeys take them to the city or through the desert, studying old traditions or learning new ways.

• For tickets, visit http://talespinnerchildrenstheatre.org/ or call 216-264-9680.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

Staged Reading of

GOLDA’S BALCONY

By William Gibson Featuring Dorothy Silver Presented by InterPlay Jewish Theatre, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU

Sunday, January 13, 2019 @ 3 pm Wednesday, January 23, 2019 @ 7 pm Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood “Golda’s Balcony” is a one-woman play that premiered in New York in 2003. It follows the trajectory of the life of Golda Meir, from Russian immigrant to American schoolteacher, to a leader of international politics as Israel’s fourth Prime Minister. Dorothy Silver reprises the role she played at Actors’ Summit Theatre in 2008.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

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THEATER & DANCE ISRAELI PLAY DISCUSSION GROUP with Faye Sholiton Presented by InterPlay Jewish Theatre, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood Join Interplay Jewish Theater’s Faye Sholiton and be part of a new script reading club at the Maltz Museum.

Participants are given a script by an Israeli playwright ahead of time to read at home then everyone comes together for a group discussion and analysis. If you’ve never read a play before but are interested, please come. Faye will guide you through how to read a script!

Readings are at 1 pm.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

THE GATE: A PLAY ABOUT DREAMS, REALITY, AND DIALOGUE Featuring Robbie Gringras Presented by The Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and @Akiva

February 10 – 14, 2019 On a small insignificant kibbutz in the Galilee a great debate rages: should the gate that faces the local Arab village be locked shut, or should it remain open? Pinni, who lost his brother in the War of Independence just near the kibbutz, fights for the gate to be closed.

Yiftach, an aging peacenik, must do all he can to signal openness to his Palestinian cousins. And Amal, the caterer from the local Arab village just wants to get home through the locked gate after a long day. How can we remain open? When must we close up? And what does a yellow old automatic gate have to do with the Gates of Heaven?

Robbie Gringras, a British-born Israeli living in the Galilee, presents his sixth charming new solo show with a lightness of touch and a depth of emotion that has been the hallmark of his displays of physical story theater over two decades of international performance.

• F or information call Lisa Goodman at 216-371-0446 or email lgoodman@jecc.org.

DAYS OF ATONEMENT

by Hanna Azoulay-Hasfari September 6, 2018 Following the disappearance of their mother just before Yom Kippur, four estranged Israeli sisters reunite to map a plan. But first, they must reconcile their disparate takes on morality, religion, and social status – and mom’s role in shaping their life choices.

CONVICTION

by Oren Neeman Adapted by Ami Dayan and Mark Williams from the novel “Confession” by Yonatan Ben-Nachum October 4, 2018 An Israeli scholar visits Franco’s Spain in 1962 to learn the horrific fate of one particular 15th century Spanish converso. This taut drama crosses back and forth in time to examine one of history’s most shameful periods of anti-Semitism.

AFTER THE WAR

by Motti Lerner November 1, 2018 A world-renowned pianist returns home to perform with the Israeli Philharmonic immediately after the 2006 war in Lebanon. He’s hoping that time has healed the 18-yearold political rift in his family and that love can conquer their differences.

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THEATER & DANCE

VERTIGO DANCE COMPANY Presented by DANCECleveland

Saturday, March 9, 2019 @ 7:30 pm Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square 1511 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland

“The rising star of Israeli modern dance.” ~ ArtsATL

MAYUMANA Presented by Playhouse Square

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 @ 8 pm

KeyBank State Theatre Playhouse Square 1519 Euclid Avenue Cleveland

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THEATER & DANCE

One of Israel’s most highly regarded contemporary dance companies; Vertigo takes the viewer on an exciting and challenging journey into unfamiliar territories with every performance. The company strives to bring people closer together and touch them through the language of the body and movement, which can be felt from their powerful performances.

Vertigo Dance Company will feature their new work “One. One & One” created by Artistic Director, Noa Wertheim. The piece was inspired by the fifth chapter of the Yoma Tractate and features the artists dancing among soil scattered on the stage, giving the audience a full sensory experience. The movement style of Vertigo’s dancers will awe audiences as Wertheim challenges the limits of the body through dance.

• For more information, visit www.dancecleveland.org or call 216-991-9000.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discount.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

Mayumana comes from the Hebrew word for skill – Meyumanut.

In 1996, Elyon Nuphar and Boaz Berman, driven by their deep love for percussion and music, created the first Mayumana show.

With performers from more than 20 different nationalities, Mayumana has become one of Israel’s leading cultural exports.

It has entertained millions of people around the world with its international touring cast, as well as in its home theatre in Old Jaffa.

“Funky moves and cutting Mayumana will present “Currents,” edge technology.” a spectacular show inspired by the ~ Time Out, New York historical Battle of Currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in their quest for finding energy sources for the world. The show combines a variety of elements: specially made musical instruments, massive video art projections including video mapping on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and eleven skilled performers in constant movement, playing on different instruments and musically juggling between different sounds.

• For tickets visit www.playhousesquare.org or call 800-801-7407.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discount.

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FILM WEDNESDAY ISRAELI FILM SERIES AT THE MALTZ

Presented by Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU

Enjoy contemporary Israeli cinema at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in conjunction with Israel: Then & Now. Each screening begins at 6:30 pm and will be accompanied by a talk-back after the show.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood

DR. CHASIS AND THE BATTLE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS September 5, 2018 After the Holocaust when Israel was declared a state and Jews from across the diaspora began to make aliyah, an unexpected trouble began: the widespread outbreak of tuberculosis.

MR. GAGA | September 26, 2018 Mr. Gaga tells the story of Ohad Naharin, renowned Israeli choreographer and artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company. An artistic genius who redefined the language of modern dance.

LIFE IN STILLS | October 3, 2018 When 96-year-old Miriam Weissenstein discovered “The Photo House” – her late husband Rudi’s life’s work – was destined for demolition, she knew she needed help. A special relationship is forged between Miriam and her grandson, Ben, as they join forces to save the shop and its nearly one million negatives that document Israel’s defining moments.

DANCING IN JAFFA | November 7, 2018 Famous ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine returns to his birthplace in Jaffa to confront issues of identity, segregation, and racism by teaching Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli children to dance together through Dancing Classrooms.

THE FLAT | December 19, 2018 A Tel Aviv flat was where filmmaker Aaron Goldfinger’s grandparents lived ever since leaving their beloved Germany in the 1930s. The film begins with the emptying out of a flat and develops into a riveting adventure.

THE GATEKEEPERS | January 16, 2019 This documentary features interviews with all surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency whose activities and membership are closely held state secrets. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature Academy Award.

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FILM

CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILMFEST October 3 – 7, 2018

Various Venues, Chagrin Falls The 9th annual Documentary FilmFest will bring compelling films for five exciting days.

Events include panel discussions and the opportunity to experience stories from around the world.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection • For tickets, schedules and venues visit www.chagrinfilmfest.org.

OTHER FILMS OF JEWISH INTEREST *

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience and Hope A film by Rebecca Shore

Saturday, October 6, 2018 @ 12:30 pm

South Franklin Circle 16575 S. Franklin Street, Chagrin Falls

Sunday, October 7, 2018 @ 3:15 pm Chagrin Falls Township Hall 87 N. Main Street, Chagrin Falls

Three young Israeli soldiers overcome physical and mental injuries to find the strength to live. Coming together in their time of need, they teach us valuable lessons about overcoming adversity in our own lives.

ABOVE THE DROWNING SEA October 3 & 4, 2018 On the eve of World War II, tens of thousands of Jews were trapped in Vienna. However, because of one courageous Chinese diplomat, they were brought to a very foreign shore to survive and tell his tale.

EVA A-7063 An Auschwitz Survivor’s Journey to Forgiveness and Healing October 6, 2018 Eva Mozes Kor: at 10, she survived experiments

by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. At 50, she helped launch the biggest manhunt in history. Now, after decades of pain and anger, she travels the world to promote what her life journey has taught: Peace. Humanity. Forgiveness.

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FILM MANDEL JCC CLEVELAND JEWISH FILMFEST October 4 – 14, 2018

Presented by the Mandel Jewish Community Center

The 10th annual Cleveland Jewish Film Festival will showcase a broad selection of feature, documentary, and short films with Jewish and Israeli themes.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection • F or complete schedule and tickets visit www.mandeljcc.org/cleveland-jewish-filmfest/filmfest, Mandel JCC Membership Service Desk (no Saturday or Jewish holiday sales), or at the theater on day of show.

• Many screenings sell out – please purchase tickets in advance!

• For more information call 216-593-6278 or email filmfest@mandeljcc.org.

SCAFFOLDING (PIGUMIM) A film by Matan Yair

Saturday, October 6, 2018 @ 9 pm Cedar Lee Theatre 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

Torn between the teachings of his charismatic literature teacher and the expectations of his brash, workman father, 17-year-old Asher must decide what sort of man he will become.

THE OSLO DIARIES A film by Mor Loushy & Daniel Sivan

Monday, October 8, 2018 @ 1 pm Cedar Lee Theatre 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

“The Oslo Diaries” provides new insights as why peace has not been achieved in the longest ongoing conflict of our times. Personal diaries written by Israeli and Palestinian participants of the secret peace talks and archival footage create a dramatic journey into the backstage of Oslo accord.

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FILM

HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL A film by Daniel Miller, Jeremy Newberger, & Seth Kramer

Sunday, October 14, 2018 @ 7 pm Cedar Lee Theatre 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” is a warm and inspirational documentary that celebrates the triumphs of a little team that could – and did – pave the way for future generations of Israeli ballplayers who aspire to win the World Baseball Classic for their homeland.

OTHER FILMS OF ISRAELI INTEREST

43rd CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Let’s Dance | October 5, 2018 Despite its reputation as a militaristic and “macho” society, Israel has become a recognized world leader in modern dance. The film follows the circumstances that made Israeli modern dance one of the greatest local cultural achievements to date.

March 27 – April 7, 2019

Tower City Cinemas 230 West Huron Road, Cleveland

Red Cow (Para Aduma) | October 10, 2018 Premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival, this film shows not only the unpredictable sexuality of youth but is also a rare glimpse into an infrequently seen element of Israeli society.

CIFF will once again present their Jewish and Israeli Visions sidebar. These films from – or about – Israel and the Jewish diaspora enlighten and entertain with their unique cultural perspective.

And Then She Arrived (VeAz Hi Hegiaa) | October 11, 2018 Dan’s life is planned out, or so he thinks. But a chance encounter with a free-spirited waitress turns his world upside down and leaves him questioning his choices and yearning for something more. (Adult content: language, sexual situations)

• CIFF43 program details will be announced in February 2019 at www.clevelandfilm.org.

Mossad: Imperfect Spies | October 14, 2018 Utilizing intimate interviews, first person accounts, startling archival photographs and news footage, the leading figures in Israel’s intelligence community reveal their successes, failures and near misses.

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VISUAL ART

THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE

Oded Balilty

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VISUAL ART

AND BLOSSOM: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ODED BALILTY AND TAL SHOCHAT

Tal Shochat

Presented by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection Barbara Tannenbaum, Curator

September 2018 – January 2019

Roe Green Gallery, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Mandel Building 25701 Science Park Drive, Beachwood Israeli artists Oded Balilty and Tal Shochat provide contrasting yet complementary metaphors for the spirit of their native country: the prickly pear and the fruit tree. Balilty’s somber black-andwhite “Sabra Traces” series examines the tenacious, thorny, and omnipresent cactus that has come to symbolize native-born Israelis.

Shochat’s lush, colorful portraits of fruit trees in bloom and full fruit are shot in the fields, but have been isolated against cloth backdrops and groomed for the camera. Balilty, a Pulitzer-prize winning

documentary photographer, captures his country as it is, while Shochat creates an idealized vision, an Edenic Israel made possible by the character traits represented by the sabra.

• To schedule group tours email israelarts@jcfcleve.org or call 216.593.2845.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture 15

VISUAL ART

OUR SHARED GARDEN

Immigration, the Environment, and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are unique to Cleveland and celebrate immigrant communities and multi-culturalism in our city. The Hebrew Cultural Garden was dedicated in 1926 with Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver in attendance. The focus of this exhibit is the photo-collage, The Hebrew Cultural Garden, by Masumi Hayashi, a past winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize and a Fulbright fellow.

Now thru December 21, 2018

The 1988 collage, although beautiful, depicts the garden during a time of neglect. In 2016, the Garden was rededicated and revitalized.

The beautiful marble fountain is now working, the six plaques that honor Jewish poets, philosophers, visual artists, scientists, writers, and important leaders of Israel have been restored, and the stone staircase has been reconstructed.

Featuring Masumi Hayashi’s Photo-collage, The Hebrew Cultural Garden Presented by The Temple-Tifereth Israel in conjunction with FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art

The Hartzmark Center The Temple-Tifereth Israel 26000 Shaker Blvd, Beachwood

YOUTH EXPRESSING, THE GRAFFITI WAY Featuring Elinoy Kisslove Presented by The Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and @Akiva

March 10 – 14, 2019

• For information, visit www.ttti.org or call 216-831-3233.

Elinoy Kisslove, a 28-year-old graffiti artist, activist, and the owner of “grafitiyul,” lives in Tel Aviv. In her art, she focuses on social and political messages as a response to the daily life in Israel that many times are forgotten quickly. Elinoy picks extreme subjects and criticizes them by play on words, quests, with a technique of free style spraying, pasting and stencils. Elinoy specializes in graffiti in Israel and gives tours and workshops that teach the meaning of graffiti as a language, as a way to pass important messages, and to see things people haven’t seen before.

• For information call Lisa Goodman at 216-371-0446 or email lgoodman@jecc.org.

“Expressing opinion on the street without people knowing who behind it is the best way to spread a strong message and focusing on the message and not on the person behind it”.

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~ Elinoy Kisslove

CULINARY ARTS

HUMMUS WARS: FOOD, IDENTITY & THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LECTURE AND HUMMUS TASTING

Presented by Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 @ 7 pm Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood Food is for eating. But it also provides a vehicle for expressing ethnic pride and national identity. Sometimes food articulates conflict. And other times it serves to foster coexistence. Join Ari Ariel from University of Iowa’s History of Modern Middle East to learn how these dynamics play out in “Hummus Wars.” These include the Guinness World Record competition for the largest serving of hummus, calls for boycotting the food product from the shelves of American grocery stores, and debates about who invented hummus anyway. A kosher hummus sampling by Chef Yuval will follow the talk.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

ISRAELI SOUL: EASY, ESSENTIAL, DELICIOUS with Michael Solomonov & Steven Cook Presented by The Mandel JCC

Thursday, December 13, 2018 @ 7 pm Mandel JCC 26001 South Woodland Rd., Beachwood

Following their wildly successful cookbook Zahav, Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook embrace the informal, varied, boisterous, and simple food of a nation in Israeli Soul: Easy, Essential, Delicious.

Their newest cookbook not only shows how the food has shaped the soul of Israel but also brings that deliciousness home to the American kitchen. Our special guests will discuss their new book, their journey to Israeli cooking, and their Philadelphia restaurant Zahav. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet these James Beard Award winners in person!

• For tickets and information, visit mandeljcc.org or email ideas@mandeljcc.org.

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MUSIC

GILI YALO

Presented as part of the Cleveland Museum of Art and FRONT International’s 2018 City Stages

Friday, September 7, 2018 @ 7:30 pm Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland

Combining Ethiopian roots music with a modern touch of jazz and soul, Tel Aviv-based Gili Yalo incorporates traditional sound into the music of right now. Yalo’s family was part of the migration to Israel of Ethiopian Jews fleeing famine in Sudan; the music encouraged Gili and his family to keep moving forward in this exhausting, emotional journey.

Photo: Gaya Saadon

• Free, no tickets required.

• For more information, visit www.clevelandart.org.

JERUSALEM STRING QUARTET Presented by the Cleveland Chamber Music Society

Tuesday, October 2, 2018 @ 7:30 pm Plymouth Church, UCC 2860 Coventry Road, Shaker Heights

Since the ensemble’s founding in 1993, the four Israeli musicians have embarked on a journey of growth and maturation resulting in a wide repertoire and stunning depth of expression. The ensemble has found its core in a warm, full, human sound, and an egalitarian balance between high and low voices allowing the quartet to maintain a healthy relationship between individual expression and a transparent and respectful presentation of the composer’s work. The Jerusalem Quartet is a regular and beloved guest on the world’s great concert stages.

• For more information, visit www.clevelandchambermusic.org or call 216-291-2777.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

“Passion, precision, warmth, a gold blend: these are the trademarks of this excellent Israeli string quartet.”

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Photo: Felix Broede

~ The New York Times

MUSIC

O JERUSALEM!

CROSSROADS OF THREE FAITHS Presented by Apollo’s Fire

November 10 – 18, 2018 “The place where brothers and strangers are one…” ~ Jalal al-Din Rumi, 13th-c. Persian poet

Various Venues including The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Beachwood A new creative program from Jeannette Sorrell, in the spirit of Apollo’s Fire’s much acclaimed “Sephardic Journey” program. Through music and poetry, this is a “tour” of the 4 quarters of Jerusalem – Jewish, Christian, Arab, and Armenian/Byzantine. The company of 26 performers, including musicians of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian backgrounds, raise their voices in a celebration of brotherhood and sisterhood.

Tel Aviv native, Daphna Mor, will be featured on recorders and ney.

• For tickets and venue information, visit www.apollosfire.org or call 216-360-0012.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

View of Damascus Gate with Camel Drivers, Jerusalem, c.1844 (oil on board), Caffi, Ippolito (1809-66) / Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna, Ca’ Pesaro, Venice, Italy / © Mondadori Electa / Bridgeman Images

DORMAN VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 3 WORLD PREMIERE

Avner Dorman, Conductor Presented by CityMusic Cleveland

March 13 – 17, 2019 Various Venues

Avner Dorman writes music of intricate craftsmanship and rigorous technique, expressed with a soulful and singular voice. A native of Israel, Dorman draws on a variety of cultural and historical influences that result in music that affects an emotional impact while exploring new territories. His works utilize an exciting and complex rhythmic vocabulary, as well as unique timbres and colors in orchestral, chamber, and solo settings.

Photo: Lynn Ischay

• For more information and tickets, visit www.citymusiccleveland.org or call 216-632-3572.

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MUSIC

AVITAL MEETS AVITAL Presented by Cleveland Museum of Art

VADIM GLUZMAN, Violin Presented by The Cleveland Orchestra

May 2 – 5, 2019

Severance Hall 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman is universally recognized among today’s top performing artists. His extraordinary artistry brings back to life the glorious violin tradition of the 19th and 20th centuries.

• For tickets visit www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

Photo: Marco Borggreve

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MUSIC

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 @ 7:30 pm Gartner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland

Avital meets Avital is a dialogue between two musicians who come from different worlds but share a common richness of musical heritage.

Grammy-nominee mandolinist, Avi Avital, comes from a classical tradition whilst award-winning bass virtuoso and oud player, Omer Avital, is an acclaimed jazz performer and composer. In Avital meets Avital, these two musicians, joined by Omer Klein on piano and Itamer Doari on percussion, draw on the diverse influences of Moroccan and North African sounds, folkloric and classical traditions, Israeli harmonies and Mediterranean rhythms creating a musical melting pot where the finesse of chamber music meets the raw emotional energy of jazz.

• For information and tickets, visit www.clevelandart.org/performingarts or call 216.421.7350.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

Photos: Christie Goodwin

AMIT PELED, Cello Presented by CityMusic Cleveland

May 15 – 19, 2019 Various Venues

Grammy-nominated cellist, conductor, and pedagogue Amit Peled enjoys a busy and dynamic career performing for audiences across the globe. Peled, an Israeli-American, combines a growing conducting schedule, while continuing a thriving solo career and his professorship at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

• For more information and tickets, visit www.citymusiccleveland.org or call 216-632-3572.

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Photo: Roger Mastroianni

MUSIC

YARON KOHLBERG President and CEO, Cleveland International Piano Competition

The Cleveland International Piano Competition recently announced that Yaron Kohlberg has been retained as the President and CEO, effective September 1, 2018. Kohlberg will implement the organization’s goal to become the preeminent international piano competition in the world.

Yaron Kohlberg is among today’s top Israeli pianists. He has played in major halls in 40 countries spanning five continents and has more than 10 international prizes, including the second prize at the 2007 Cleveland International Piano Competition.

• For more information, visit www.clevelandpiano.org

PIANO

YEFIM BRONFMAN Presented by The Cleveland Orchestra

September 27 & 30, 2018 Severance Hall 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland

Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim (“Fima”) Bronfman is among the most talented virtuosos performing today. Born in Tashkent in the former Soviet Union in 1958, Bronfman immigrated to Israel with his family in 1973, where he studied with pianist Arie Vardi, head of the Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University.

• For tickets visit www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

KIRILL GERSTEIN

Presented by The Cleveland Orchestra

November 1 – 3, 2018

Severance Hall 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland 22

* Pianist Kirill Gerstein has rapidly ascended into classical music’s highest ranks. Born into a Jewish family in Russia, Gerstein studied classical piano at an early age. He was awarded First Prize at the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition, received a 2002 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and a 2010 Avery Fisher Grant.

• For tickets visit www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

Photo: Jiyang Chen

MUSIC

O VIRTUOSOS ALON GOLDSTEIN Classical Piano Series Presented by Cuyahoga Community College

SHAI WOSNER & ORION WEISS

Presented by Cleveland International Piano Competition

Sunday, November 18, 2018 @ 2 pm Gartner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland

Israeli pianist Alon Goldstein is one of the most original and sensitive artists of his generation, admired for his musical intelligence and dynamic personality. Alon’s artistic vision and innovative programming have made him a favorite with audiences and critics alike throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel. He made his orchestral debut at the age of 18 with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta.

• Concert is free and open to the public.

• For information visit www.tri-c.edu/arts-and-entertainment or call 216-987-2060.

Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

Saturday, September 14, 2019 @ 8 pm Israeli-born pianist Shai Wosner has attracted international recognition for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity, and creative insight. Widely sought after by colleagues for his versatility and spirit of partnership, Mr. Wosner has collaborated as a chamber musician with numerous artists.

One of the most sought-after soloists in his generation of young American musicians, the pianist Orion Weiss has performed with major American orchestras. His deeply felt and exceptionally crafted performances go far beyond his technical mastery and have won him worldwide acclaim.

•T ickets available beginning Fall 2019 at www.clevelandpiano.org or 216-707-5397.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

EMANUEL AX

Presented by The Cleveland Orchestra

November 15, 17 – 18, 2018 Severance Hall 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland

* Born into a Jewish family in modern day Lvov, Poland, Emanuel Ax moved to Canada, with his family as a young boy. Ax captured public attention in 1974 when he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv.

• For tickets visit www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

• Use code “JFED” for ticket discounts.

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LITERATURE

YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor Presented by John Carroll University English Department, Cleveland Hillel Foundation, Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish Book Festival, and Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 @ 7:30 pm Dolan Science Center Auditorium John Carroll University, University Heights

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He is a former contributing editor of the New Republic and writes for the op-ed pages of leading American newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.

In Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, Halevi attempts to break the agonizing impasse between Israelis and Palestinians. He addresses his Palestinian neighbors in this taut and provocative book, empathizing with Palestinian suffering and longing for reconciliation as he explores how the conflict looks through Israeli eyes.

• Lecture is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested.

• For tickets and information, visit www.mandeljcc.org/jewish-bookfestival/book-festival or Mandel JCC Membership Desk (no Saturday sales.)

MANDEL JCC CLEVELAND JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL Presented by the Mandel Jewish Community Center

November 4 – 19, 2018 The 19th annual Cleveland Jewish Book Festival will showcase a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction books and authors with Israeli and Jewish themes.

• For tickets and full schedule, visit www.mandeljcc.org/jewish-book-festival/book-festival or Mandel JCC Membership Desk (no Saturday sales).

• For more information, contact ideas@mandeljcc.org or call 216-831-0700 x1348.

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THE SOUL OF A THIEF

by Steven Hartov

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 @ 12 pm Cleveland Public Library, Rice Branch 11535 Shaker Blvd, Cleveland

The Soul of a Thief is a fictional story about Shtefan Brandt, a young German Jew disguising his identity and working for Colonel Himmel.

Seeing that the Allied forces are approaching, Himmel hatches a plot to escape Europe by stealing money from the Allies, a plan Brandt plans to steal for himself.

In 1977 American-born Steven Hartov volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces Airborne Corps, serving first as a paratrooper and later in a Special Operations branch of Israeli Military Intelligence. He subsequently spent 13 more years as a reservist in the IDF. In the mid-1980s, he began writing a series of espionage novels based in the Middle East.

• Free and open to the public.

• Light lunch will be served.

LITERATURE

TALMUD & LITERATURE:

How an Ancient Jewish Text Can Inspire Contemporary Art with Ruby Namdar Presented by Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU

Photo: Nikki Magill

Thursday, November 15, 2018 @ 7 pm

EVAN FALLENBERG The Parting Gift

Siegal Lifelong Learning Landmark Centre 25700 Science Park Drive, Beachwood

Winner of Israel’s 2014 Sapir Prize, The Ruined House interweaves imaginative Talmudic texts and graphics with depictions of contemporary Jewish life. Join CWRUSiegal Lifelong Learning’s Alanna Cooper in conversation with award-winning author Ruby Namdar for a discussion on how the Talmud has inspired Namdar’s life as a modern Jewish writer, and an exploration of art as creative spiritual practice.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

Presented by Cuyahoga County Public Library

Monday, October 1, 2018 @ 7 pm Cuyahoga County Public Library Beachwood Branch 25501 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood

Evan Fallenberg is an American-born writer residing in Israel. He is the author of three novels and a translator of Hebrew fiction, plays, and films. His work has won or been short-listed for numerous awards, including the American Library Association Barbara Gittings Stonewall Award for Literature, the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction and the PEN Translation Prize. Fallenberg is the founder of Arabesque: An Arts and Residency Center in Old Acre.

Fallenberg’s newest novel, The Parting Gift, is an erotic tale of jealousy, obsession, and revenge, suffused with the rich flavors and intoxicating scents of Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

• Lecture is free and open to the public.

• For information or to register, visit www.cuyahogacountylibrary.org or call 216-831-6868.

LIVING IN ENGLISH, WRITING IN HEBREW:

A Conversation with Israeli-American Author Ruby Namdar Presented by Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at CWRU

Friday, November 16, 2018 @ 10 am Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood

18 years ago, Israeli author Ruby Namdar arrived in New York. Namdar’s award-winning novel, The Ruined House, was his artistic response to his incredible literary, cultural, and personal journey.

Namdar will discuss what it means today be an “Israeli author,” and how his work re-defines this term. He will also address his new-found relationship to the great Jewish-American authors of the previous generation, and the rewards – as well as the setbacks – of living in one language while writing in another.

• For tickets and more information visit www.maltzmuseum.org or call 216-593-0575.

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VIOLINSPIRATION

An Evening with Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Presented by Interplay Jewish Theatre

Sunday, September 16, 2018 @ 7 pm Dobama Theatre 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

Widely considered one of the finest jazz violinists of his generation, Aaron Weinstein has been a featured soloist at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and festivals around the world. He’s performed and recorded with jazz icons like John Pizzarelli, Annie Ross, and NY Pops founder, Skitch Henderson.

Also a master of deadpan comedy, he’s been dubbed “the Groucho of the Violin,” by Tony Bennett.

Weinstein appears in celebration of Interplay Jewish Theatre’s 7th Anniversary.

• Reservations required. Donations at the door.

• For information, contact interplayjewishtheatre@gmail.com or call 216-393-PLAY.

CHAMBERFEST SEASON 8 Presented by ChamberFest Cleveland

June 14 – 29, 2019

“the most significant addition to the region’s classical-music scene” ~ The Plain Dealer

Launched in 2012 by Cleveland Orchestra principal clarinet Franklin Cohen and daughter Diana Cohen, concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, ChamberFest Cleveland brought to life their dream of bringing a world-class chamber music festival to Cleveland. ChamberFest Cleveland is now the region’s only such festival, creating thematic programming for unique chamber music experiences in a variety of venues around town.

• For more information visit chamberfestcleveland.com or call 216-471-8887.

SPIRIT AND MATTER IN BODIES AND THINGS Cleveland Jewish Arts and Culture Lab Presented by The Mandel JCC

June – July, 2019

Mandel JCC 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood Formed from earth and from breath of the Divine, Adam, the first human embodied both spirit and matter. In our contemporary world, these two categories – the inert and the lively – are usually treated as separate. What if we viewed them as intertwined? How might we depict the intimate relationship between body and soul, people and things, spirit and matter?

Now in its 7th year, the Jewish Arts and Culture Lab offers artist fellowships to artists and creatives of all types. Together we will learn texts, discuss objects, engage in creative processes designed to inspire you, deepen your thinking, and forge new connections with other local artists in this content-rich, supportive, collaborative fellowship. The fellowship culminates in an exhibition at the Mandel JCC. • For information visit www.mandeljcc.org.

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Sponsored with support from the Jewish Federation’s Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION The Cleveland Israel Arts Connection is a program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, connecting our community with the most dynamic 21st century cultural experiences that Israel has to offer. Working in partnership with Northeast Ohio’s leading arts organizations, we strive to identify, enhance, promote, and create unique and engaging Israeli cultural opportunities.

Gary L. Gross, Board Chair Stephen H. Hoffman, President

CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION ADVISORY GROUP Roe Green and Erica Hartman-Horvitz, Co-Chairs Gabe Adler Edna Akrish Leslye Arian Ziona Austrian Samantha Baskind Miriam Becker Zeda Blau Richard Bogomolny Amy Budish Rebecca Carmi Joanne Cohen Deena Epstein Natalie Epstein Lauren Rich Fine Marc Freimuth Mady Friedman Barbara Galvin Peter Galvin Matthew Garson Jay Geller Valerie Geller Jane Glaubinger Florence Goodman Rochelle Gross Rebecca Heller Joan Horvitz Sara Hurand Robert Immerman Susan Immerman Robert Jackson Roseanne Kadis Susan Koletsky Susan Krantz

Karen Krause Donna Kurit Rachel Lappen Daniel Levin Karen Levinsky Toby Lewis Irwin Lowenstein Debbe Deutch Rabinowitz Deborah Ratner Barbara Robinson Sharon Rosenbaum Bill Rudman Linda M. Sandhaus, M.D. Nancy Schwartz-Katz Charna Sherman Anita Siegal Scott Sill Marjorie Simon Margaret Singerman Ivan Soclof Marilyn Soclof Cathy Stamler Marla Comet-Stark Robert Stark Barbara Tannenbaum Herbert Wainer Susan Wasserman Penni Weinberg Elie Weiss Judith Weiss Trudy Wiesenberger Ruth Wolfson Scott Zeilinger

STAFF Hedy P. Milgrom, Senior Development Officer Israel Wiener, Israel Arts & Culture Consultant Debra S. Yasinow, Director, Cleveland Israel Arts Connection

The Jewish Federation’s 2018-19 Cleveland Israel Arts Connection is brought to you by these generous individuals and foundations:

Roe Green, Honorary Producer STAR PATRONS Roe Green Foundation Richard Horvitz & Erica Hartman-Horvitz Robert & Susan Immerman PLATINUM PATRONS Miriam Becker, Ph.D. The Jean, Harry and Brenda Fuchs Family Foundation Drs. Jane Glaubinger & Eric Baer Karen & Alan M. Krause Toby Devan Lewis GOLD PATRONS Stanley I. and Honnie R. Busch Memorial Endowment Richard Bogomolny & Patricia Kozerefski Gary & Cari Gross Harley & Rochelle Gross David and Inez Myers Foundation Robert & Eileen Sill Family Foundation Sara Hurand & Elie Weiss Abe & Idelle Wolf SILVER PATRONS Zeda W. Blau Stanley G. Blum Rebecca & Irad Carmi Marc Freimuth Barbara & Peter Galvin Florence Goodman Amy & Steve Hoffman Jewish Arts Endowment Fund Roseanne Kadis Barbara Robinson Sharon & Bruce Rosenbaum Linda M. Sandhaus, M.D. Charna E. Sherman Michael & Anita Siegal Family Foundation Marjorie Simon Margaret Singerman Herb & Jody Wainer Susan Wasserman Judith Weiss 27

Jewish Federation of Cleveland Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building 25701 Science Park Drive Cleveland, Ohio 44122

The Jewish Federation’s 2018-19 Cleveland Israel Arts Connection is brought to you by these generous Sponsors:

Roe Green, Honorary Producer PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

The Leonard Krieger Fund of the

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS