Supported by the People of the Book and Friends of the Arts Funds of the St. Paul JCC Endowment Funds.
From mystery to identity, from conflict to rock n’ roll, this year’s Twin Cities Jewish Book Series features something for everyone with novels, biographies, and memoirs. Meet the author of your favorite book, or find your next great literary love.
Assaf Gavron The Hilltop Sunday, October 18 • 7:30 PM • Free Location: St. Paul JCC Hailed as “The Great Israeli Novel” (Time Out Tel Aviv) and winner of the prestigious Bernstein Prize (the annual Israeli literary award for writers 50 years of age and younger), The Hilltop is a monumental and daring novel about life in a West Bank settlement from one of Israel’s most acclaimed young novelists, Assaf Gavron. Dismantling the many complexities of modern life in Israel and the West Bank, The Hilltop explores the human drama of coexistence with often comic circumstances. Sponsored by The Community Lecture Series and the Jonathan Paradise Fund for Modern Hebrew of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Minnesota.
Rabbi Charles Sherman The Broken and the Whole: Discovering Joy After Heartbreak – Lessons From a Life of Faith Wednesday, November 11 • 7 PM • Free Location: Temple of Aaron, 616 Mississippi River Blvd S, St. Paul In The Broken and the Whole, Rabbi Sherman reflects on his journey to find joy after the heartbreaking stroke that left his four year-old son quadriplegic and vent-dependent. Sherman reflects on his journey to find joy after heartbreak with deep insight, refreshing honesty, humor and intelligence and uses his personal experience to ponder questions many of us face: what does the refusal to abandon faith truly look like? To what lengths should parents go to protect their children? What does it mean to laugh after periods of long sadness? Is it possible to experience joy after heartbreak? In the vein of inspirational bestsellers like Tuesdays With Morrie, The Last Lecture and When Bad Things Happen to Good People, The Broken and the Whole is an affecting meditation on rebuilding your life when everything you’ve known has been shattered to pieces. Presented in partnership with Temple of Aaron. Related Gallery Walk exhibit: “To Do, Or Not to Do: Paintings by Eyal Sherman,” November 9 – December 30
Sheyna Galyan Strength to Stand Thursday, December 3 • 7 PM • $7 Location: Beth Jacob Congregation, 1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights A snow-covered December in the Twin Cities Jewish community serves as the backdrop for local author and publisher Sheyna Galyan’s nail-biting thriller, Strength to Stand, the second novel in the Rabbi David Cohen suspense series. “A smart mystery full of Jewish learning and lore.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, Max Webb Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and best-selling author of Making Loss Matter. Presented in partnership with Beth Jacob Congregation.
Walter Mosley And Sometimes I Wonder About You Thursday, November 19 • 7 PM $25 • $18 Member Value Price Location: St. Paul JCC One of America’s most celebrated, best-known writers, Walter Mosley, presents his 49th novel, fifth in the series featuring NYC-based private eye Leonid McGill, And Sometimes I Wonder About You. East Coast foil to the immortal LA-based detective Easy Rawlins, Mosley’s most recent novel finds McGill trying to balance his cases with his chaotic personal life. Tablet Magazine famously called Mosley “America’s Blackest Jewish Writer.” Hear him talk about his best-selling books, being Jewish and identifying with Isaac Bashevis Singer.
r u o y k r a bookm ith us! year w
Anthony David An Improbable Friendship - The Remarkable Lives of Israeli Ruth Dayan and Palestinian Raymonda Tawil and Their Forty-Year Peace Mission Thursday, February 11 • 7 PM $10 • $7 Member Value Price Location: St. Paul JCC
Alina Bliumis with Special Guest Anne Cohen From Selfie to Groupie Sunday, March 20 • 4 PM $12 • $9 Member Value Price $6 Age 30 & Under Location: St. Paul JCC
An Improbable Friendship is the dual biography of Israeli Ruth Dayan, now 98, who was Moshe Dayan’s wife for 37 years, and Palestinian journalist Raymonda Tawil, Yasser Arafat’s mother-in-law, now 74. It reveals for the first time the two women’s surprising and secret 40-year friendship and delivers the story of their extraordinary and turbulent lives growing up in a war-torn country. An award-winning biographer and historian, Anthony David brings us the story of unexpected friendship while he discovers the true pasts of two outstanding women. Their story gives voice to Israelis and Palestinians caught in the Middle East conflict and holds a persistent faith in a future of peace.
From Selfie to Groupie, a book of photographs and essays, explores the variety and intricacy of JewishAmerican identity. Over the course of seven years, Alina Bliumis and her husband Jeff traveled to RussianJewish immigrant communities throughout the country, including right here in St. Paul, and photographed 1,922 people standing proudly in front of the words they use to describe themselves. We welcome Alina back to the Twin Cities, along with event moderator Anne Cohen of The Jewish Daily Forward.
Presented in partnership with National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Minneapolis Section.
Rebecca Kanner Esther Tuesday, March 22 • 7 PM $10 • $7 Member Value Price Location: St. Paul JCC Celebrate Purim and take a new look into the timeless tale of Queen Esther as award-winning, St. Paul-raised author Rebecca Kanner presents her second novel. Esther is a story of finding hidden depths of courage within one’s self, and of risking it all to stand up for what is right. Rebecca Kanner’s writing has won an Associated Writing Programs Award and a Loft Mentorship Award. Her stories have been published in numerous journals, including The Kenyon Review and The Cincinnati Review.
Rowan Pope Six Chairs: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story Thursday, May 5 • 7 PM • Free Location: Sabes JCC Award-winning Minnesota artist Rowan Pope collaborated with students from Breck School to capture Joe Grosnacht’s life through short stories and illustrations; the result is Six Chairs: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story. As a boy growing up in Poland, Grosnacht and his brothers would line up six chairs to make a pretend train to ride. Years later, Grosnacht re-created that scene in a picture, drawing himself seated in the front chair, the other five empty; he is the only member of his family to have survived the Holocaust.
Presented in partnership with Mount Zion Temple.
Presented in partnership with Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council as part of the Rimon Artist Salon series. Sponsored by: Genesis Philanthropy Group and Russian American Jews in Minnesota (RAJMN). Related Gallery Walk exhibit: “From Selfie to Groupie: Photographs by Alina and Jeff Bliumis,” March 11 – April 15
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
The Twin Cities Jewish Book Series is presented by the St. Paul JCC in partnership with the Sabes JCC and generous support from The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library and the George Kaplan Memorial Foundation.
TWIN CITIES JEWISH film FESTIVAL
Closing Night Celebration
October 22 – November 1, 2015
Presented by the Sabes JCC & the St. Paul JCC
A partnership of the St. Paul JCC and the Sabes JCC, the Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival promises to bring the community together by showcasing feature films, documentaries and shorts from around the world on themes of Jewish culture and identity. This year’s festival includes thought-provoking films designed to build bridges and create dialogue; entertaining films that will make us laugh and cry; and groundbreaking films that are not offered in other venues in the Twin Cities. Learn, laugh, cry and share the consciousness of Jewish culture, history and artistry through the magical medium of film. Visit tcjfilmfest.org for the full lineup and to purchase tickets! Film Festival events in St. Paul: Shorts Night Wednesday, October 28 Reception 6:30 PM Film 7:30 PM $10 Advance • $14 Door Location: St. Paul JCC No need to settle in for a full-length feature – join us for an evening of excellent short films, mingling and a nosh reception. Are You Joking? Thursday, October 29 Reception 6:30 PM • Film 7:30 PM $10 Advance • $14 Door Location: St. Paul JCC Barb Schwartz (comedienne Sas Goldberg) is a listless New York twentysomething with a condescending boss (Vanessa Ray), overbearing mother (Margaret Colin), and disapproving sister (Katherine Waterston). When reunited with her childhood friend Billy (the film’s writer-director, Jake Wilson), Barb is inspired to pursue her long-abandoned love for standup comedy. Steve Katz with special guests Stereo Kitchen Blood, Sweat, and My Rock ‘n’ Roll Years: Is Steve Katz a Rock Star? Thursday, April 14 • 7 PM • $10 Location: TBD/check stpauljcc.org for details In his memoir, Blood, Sweat, and My Rock ‘n’ Roll Years, guitarist Steve Katz, a founding member of The Blues Project and Blood, Sweat & Tears, tells the honest and personal account of a nerdy rock star - a nice Jewish boy who got to sit at the cool kids’ table and live at the edge of the spotlight. He won three Grammys (ten nominations), three Downbeat Reader’s Poll Awards, three gold records, one platinum record, and one quadruple platinum platter (the second Blood, Sweat & Tears album), not to mention three gold singles with BS&T. All together, he’s sold close to 29 million records. Join us for an up close and personal, solo acoustic concert with Steve Katz, the rock star. Plus, your favorite Twin Cities rock & roll outfit, Stereo Kitchen, wraps up the evening with all the best tunes from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s! You know them, you love them, and it wouldn’t be a party without them!
Iris Saturday, October 31 • 7:30 PM $10 Advance • $14 Door Location: St. Paul JCC Meet the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven, Iris Apfel, who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how a soaring free
spirit continues to inspire. Iris portrays a woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people, are life’s sustenance, and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Following the film, join us for an Iris-inspired fashion show and reception. Crossing the Line 2 & Of Many Sunday, November 1 Breakfast Reception 9:30 AM Films 10 AM $10 Advance • $14 Door Location: St. Paul JCC College campuses today face antiIsrael activity like never before. AntiIsrael activities to alienate, demonize, and delegitimize Israel are increasingly crossing the line into anti-Semitism, in the form of hate speech, harassment and intimidation. Crossing the Line 2: The New Face of Anti-Semitism on Campus reveals the rise of anti-Israel activity and anti-Semitic rhetoric on North American university campuses, and demonstrates when reasonable criticism of Israel ‘Crosses the Line’ into anti-Semitism.
campuses, Of Many focuses on the surprising and transformative relationship between an orthodox rabbi and an imam, who serve as university chaplains in New York City. Timely and humorous, this short documentary offers an inspiring and hopeful narrative in the face of a seemingly irreconcilable conflict. Discussion on interfaith relations with community leaders to follow.
Closing Night JERUSALEM, WITH SPECIAL GUEST DANIEL FERGUSON, DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER Sunday, November 1 • 4 & 6 PM Location: Science Museum of Minnesota Immerse yourself in the world’s most sacred and beloved city. Discover why, after thousands of years, this tiny piece of land continues to stir the imagination of billions of people, and remains sacred to the three major religions through the stories of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim families who call Jerusalem home. Unprecedented access to the city’s holiest sites and rare, breathtaking aerial footage of the Old City and the Holy Land combine to make Jerusalem a unique and stunning cinematic experience. Between the two screenings of Jerusalem, join us for a Closing Night Bash at 5 pm sponsored by Genesis Philanthropy Group and Russian American Jews in Minnesota (RAJMN).
Set against the backdrop of violence in the Middle East and tensions between Jewish and Muslim students on college
All films in St. Paul sponsored by the Fannie & Maurice Birnberg Cultural Arts Fund and the Herman J. Birnberg Endowment Fund of the St. Paul JCC Endowment Funds.
TWIN CITIES JEWISH humor FESTIVAL January 16 – 31, 2016
Featuring top-notch stand-up comedians from around the country, a community art exhibit examining how we see humor, a celebration of Global Belly Laugh Day, a visit from an Israeli Dream Doctor, and so much more! The 7th annual Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival will be overflowing with opportunities to laugh with friends and family. Visit sabesjcc.org for more information about the Festival. Humor Fest events at the St. Paul JCC: Christopher Noxon with special guest Rabbi Sim Glaser Thursday, January 21 • 7:30 PM $12 Advance • $14 Door Plus One tells the story of a caretaking support goy (his words!), his breadwinning Jewish wife, and the fast-changing roles of parents and partners. Set in the mad show business vortex of contemporary LA, Plus One is based loosely around Christopher Noxon’s life with his wife, TV writer/producer Jenji Kohan (of Orange is the New Black and Weeds), and their three children. Known as the “Twin Cities’ Inappropriate Rabbi,” Rabbi Sim Glaser will kick off the evening! He has been sharing his knowledge of Torah and Kabbalah, passion for social justice, music and storytelling talents, and wicked sense of humor with Twin Cities audiences since joining the Temple Israel clergy in 1999.
out on the town
Not So Kosher – live podcast taping Tuesday, January 26 • 7:30 PM $12 Advance • $14 Door They’re the biggest thing to hit the podcast scene in the Twin Cities Jewniverse. Becca Kvasnik and Bobby Schnitzer a.k.a. Bexy and Bobby, give listeners their take on all things Jewish and, well…all things fun(ny) going on in our Twin Towns. Listen to their Jewy rants and you’ll soon understand why the show is titled “Not So Kosher” featuring their weekly schtick: Kvetch of the Week, Jewcy News, and Jewth or Dare. Be a member of our studio audience for a live recording of their podcast as they dish on all things Jewish in Twincy (that’s cool people-speak for the Twin Cities). 18+ for language and content. Sponsored by the Alive & Social Network
Explore and experience the best the Twin Cities has to offer with us. Every month we delight in theatre, opera, museums, music and more. If it’s happening in town, we’ll be there! Transportation from the St. Paul JCC is included in the ticket price! Let us be your culture connection. Below are just a couple of our upcoming offerings; check out stpauljcc.org for updates on our monthly Out On the Town trips.
gallery walk exhibits The Old City of Jerusalem, Its Stones and Its People: Photography by Alex Lupu Now – November 3, 2015 In Jerusalem’s Old City, every stone has a story to tell. These stories are brought to life by the people that walk the streets lined with those stones. Photographer Alex Lupu’s Journey from the external walls of the Old City through its narrow alleys, to the Western Wall, captures these stories and the spirit of our holy city. Presented in partnership with Sabes JCC
The St. Paul JCC’s Gallery Walk is an intentional gallery space dedicated to displaying thought-provoking works of art from both local and national artists. All exhibits are free and open to the public.
To Do, Or Not To Do: Paintings by Eyal Sherman November 9 – December 30, 2015
Words @ Work: Using Text in Unusual Ways February 4 – March 8, 2016
Eyal Sherman creates vibrant works on paper painted by mouth. Unable to walk, talk, or breathe independently since suffering a massive stroke at age 4, Eyal Sherman’s words – to do, or not to do – reflect the resolve of the artist and his family, who still see and know the curious, intelligent boy from 1986.
This exhibit, which features a variety of visual artists using text in unusual ways, explores the relationship between words and images, encouraging us to look at text in a whole new light.
Follow the humorous and poignant adventures of thirty seniors in Rochester, NY who sign up for a first-of-its-kind speed-dating event exclusively for 70 – 90 year olds. From anxious anticipation through the dates that follow, it’s an unexpected tale of intrepid seniors who lay their hearts on the line, and discover how dreams and desires change – or don’t change – from first love to the far reaches of life.
Delacroix’s Influence on the Rise of Modern Art @ MIA Thursday, November 19 • 1:15 - 4:30 PM $30 • $20 Member Value Price Join us for a tour of this new exhibition, spotlighting paintings by Delacroix, Cezanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir and others.
From Selfie to Groupie: Photos by Alina and Jeff Bliumis March 11 – April 15, 2016
Related event: Twin Cities Jewish Book Series Presents Rabbi Charles Sherman Wednesday, November 11 • 7 PM
A Juried Exhibit Featuring Artwork on the Theme of Humor January 6 – February 1, 2016 Calling all visual artists! In conjunction with the 7th annual Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival, January 16-31, 2016, the St. Paul JCC and Sabes JCC are hosting an accompanying exhibition on the theme of humor! Artists are invited to submit 2D & 3D works of art that incorporate humor, which can be interpreted and explored in a multitude of ways and medias. Local artists and artists from around the country are invited to submit work. To participate, please submit an Exhibit Proposal Form (found on our website) by Monday, October 12. Presented in partnership with Sabes JCC Related event: Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival, January 16 – 31, 2016
The Age of Love | film screening @ Sabes JCC Monday, October 19 • 11:30 AM $10
Presented in partnership with Sabes JCC
Alina and Jeff Bliumis’ photos explore the variety and intricacy of Jewish-American identity. Over the course of seven years, 1,922 people were photographed standing proudly in front of the words they use to describe themselves in locations from New York to Philadelphia, Miami, Sonoma Valley, and right here in St. Paul. Collectively, their photos create a portrait of today’s Jewish-American community in its many shades, shapes, and sizes. Related event: Twin Cities Jewish Book Series Presents Alina Bliumis, Sunday, March 20 • 4 PM
This year marks the St. Paul JCC Symphony’s 89th season, making them one of the oldest community ensembles in the country dedicated to classical repertoire. Lead by Music Director and Conductor Amir Kats, in his fourth season with the orchestra, this season will examine Felix Mendelssohn’s music from both an artistic and Jewish perspective, and will also feature works by Borodin, Brahms, Bartók, and Bizet. All concerts are free and open to the public.
ST PAUL JCC SYMPHONY
Meet our conductor and get the inside scoop on the program at the Conductor’s Chat in the JCC Library at 7 PM prior to each evening performance. Winter Concert Wednesday, December 9 • 7:30 PM The first concert of the season will feature two early works by the prodigious Mendelssohn – a string symphony and a wind serenade – showcasing individual sections of our orchestra. Then the players will all join together to perform one of the great Romantic works, the lyrical Second Symphony of Russia’s Alexander Borodin.
Spring Concert Wednesday, March 9 • 7:30 PM Dance rhythms permeate our spring concert. Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances evoke folk music from several parts of central Europe. We also feature Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony No. 4, inspired by the sights and sounds of the warm Mediterranean country.
Summer Concert featuring Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot Wednesday, June 1 • 7:30 PM Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, revered as one of the greatest and most important cantorial voices of the 21st century, will perform alongside the St. Paul JCC Symphony. Cantor Helfgot has performed on five continents, and this concert will be his Minnesota debut! Helfgot has collaborated with some of the greatest cantors and musicians of our time, including violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman in 2012. He currently serves as Chief Cantor of the Park East Synagogue in New York City. In the concert, our musicians journey to the more mysterious side of Mendelssohn with his Hebrides Overture, while Georges Bizet’s Children’s Games presents merrier fare. We hope you will join us for this once-in-a-lifetime performance of classical and traditional Jewish music.
I s r a e l i n d e p e n d e n c e day F e st i v i t i e s f o r a l l ag e s
musical theatre Our All Children’s Theater Company entertain and inspire your whole family with beloved fairy tales, bedtime stories and children’s books... all brought to life on stage by our young and talented performers. Led by Artistic Director Nancy Michael. Tickets: $8 Adults • $6 Children & Seniors
Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Celebration Sunday, May 15 • 4 pm • Free Location: Sabes JCC
Dr. Dolittle Jr. October 22 • 7 PM October 24 • 7:30 PM October 25 • 2 PM Addams Family the Musical December 17 & 19 • 7 PM December 20 • 2 PM Chitty Chitty Bang Bang February 25 & 27 • 7 PM February 28 • 2 PM
celebrate!
This premiere concert featuring Cantor Helfgot is sponsored by the Mary & Julius Pertzik Jewish Cultural Arts Fund of the St. Paul JCC Endowment Funds.
Family Concert Sunday, April 10 • 3 PM An afternoon for the whole family to enjoy! This abbreviated concert is a great way to share the beauty and joy of symphony music with children of all ages.
The St. Paul JCC Symphony is supported by the Zidell, Resnikoff and Resnikoff-Levin Fund, the David M. Stein Fund, the Sherman and Evelyn Marrinson Music Memorial Fund, and the Ida and Leonard Rapoport Cultural Arts Fund for New Americans of the St. Paul JCC Endowment Funds.
Engage! An Evening of Jewish Learning Saturday, February 6 • 7 PM Location: Talmud Torah of St. Paul, 768 Hamline Avenue South, St. Paul
learn
Visual Journaling January 14 – March 3 • 6:30 - 8:30 PM $30 • $20 Member Value Price Journaling can be much more than writing! In this class, individuals with disabilities experience multi-media visual journaling with Art Therapist Robin Getsug, using photography, painting, poetry, and much more!
Explore cooking, Torah Yoga, text study, Kabbalah, and more during this evening of learning led by the Twin Cities’ finest Jewish educators. Participants choose two topics to study, followed by an afterparty with wine and chocolates. Hebrew school was never this fun! Presented by the St. Paul JCC and Talmud Torah of St. Paul
Light Up the Night @ the St. Paul JCC Family Celebration: Twin Cities’ Largest Hanukah Party! Saturday, December 12 6 – 8:30 PM • Free It’s Hanukah like never before! We’re lighting up the night with a glow-in-thedark dance, light-up activities, and a community candle lighting. Everyone is invited – this is an all-ages celebration. Sponsored by the Rose & Clarence Siegel and Dianne & Leighton Siegel Family Fund of the St. Paul JCC Endowment Funds.
21+ Celebration: The Promised Land: The Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Hebrew Project Saturday, December 12 7:45 pm • $5 Ami Yares is a New Jersey-born, Jaffa-living, world traveling folk musician with a knack for making physically, spiritually, and politically moving music. Sagol 59, aka Khen Rotem, is an Israeli artist and rapper. Sagol and Ami collaborated on the 2015 album The Promised Land: The Grateful Dead / Jerry Garcia Hebrew Project, featuring Hebrew covers of songs by The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. It is the first ever album of Hebrew versions of Grateful Dead songs. Vodka & latkes after the concert. Presented in partnership with the Temple of Aaron, Sabes JCC and the Israel Center of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.
Yom Huledet Sameach - Happy 68th Birthday, Israel! Our Israel Independence Day party is an all-ages celebration. Proudly presented by the St. Paul JCC + Sabes JCC plus the Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul & Minneapolis Jewish Federation. For more information, go to stpauljcc.org.
Martin & Esther Capp Building 1375 St. Paul Avenue St. Paul, MN 55116-2828 651 + 698 0751 • stpauljcc.org
A note from Jonathan Eisenthal, Chair of the St. Paul JCC Arts Crew: We hope you enjoy all of the amazing offerings during this year’s Jewish Arts & Culture Season! Do you love books? Music? Film? Comedy? Art? Then we want you to be part of our crew. We’re a volunteer group who advise the Jewish Arts & Culture Department in the selection of events and provide logistical support. We are the JCC members who make great cultural arts events happen in St. Paul! Join our Arts Crew! For more information, contact Marley Richman, Jewish Arts & Culture Coordinator at 651 + 255-4757 or marleyr@stpauljcc.org.
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE ARTS Help keep arts programming accessible to the entire community by becoming a Friend of the Arts. Your donation of $36 or more helps ensure low or no-cost tickets to readings, films, and performances, including the St. Paul JCC Symphony concerts. Give at spauljcc.org.
stpauljcc.org
Tickets Except Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival, Humor Festival and All Children’s Theater performances, tickets for all events are available online at stpauljcc.org or by calling the St. Paul JCC Front Desk at 651 + 698-0751. JCC members and community partners receive the Member Value Price. Paper tickets will not be issued. Your reservation will be listed with the host at the door. The St. Paul JCC is committed to presenting a wide range of Jewish cultural arts programs. The ideas and opinions of our guests do not represent the St. Paul JCC, Sabes JCC, its sponsors, or its community partners. All events held at the St. Paul JCC unless otherwise noted. A photo ID is required to enter the St. Paul JCC.
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