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Exotic Personal
tales bring the histories, traditions and customs of
vibrant Jewish communities to life
Learning about foreign and exotic
Jewish cultures through the arts is an exciting and non-threatening
way to explore
one’s Jewish Identity. Ethnic Journeys is crafted to
become a journey towards self-discovery.
Ethnic Journeys, a series of interactive dramatic pieces,
presents intimate portraits of Jewish families from around
the world. This series links us to the history of the Jewish
People; how they interacted within a larger culture, their
lifestyles, ideals, dreams and ambitions.
We are able to sympathize with characters such as Menachem
the Fish Vendor who struggles to make a sale in the Market
of Kartuz-Berez in Eastern Europe, as well as The Samson
Family as they adapt their Judaism to German Society. Beyond
identifying with the individual, Ethnic Journeys establishes
the visceral connection that every Jew has with the Jewish
Kehilla or Community at large.
An elected group called a Kahal managed the Jewish Community
providing services and meeting daily needs for their kehilla.
The kahilla was connected to other communities and its Rabbis
sought council from rabbinic authorities of the day. When
Islam spread through Yemen, Jews faced oppression at the
hands of their Muslim leaders; they sought advice from Rambam
(Maimonides) on how to behave as a Jewish community.
The Jews of Yemen, Eastern Europe, Germany, India, Bukhara,
Afghanistan, Spain, Ethiopia and others, will serve as a
springboard for participants to delve into their roots, evoking
their stories and their own family histories. This process
strengthens Jewish identity and fosters community building.
Ethnic Journeys can be tailored
to the specific needs, interests, backgrounds and sensibilities
of the constituency.
A Family History
Book
Every family has its own history.
Create a family book that will document your family’s
journey.
A Tapestry of Sepharad, The Middle East, Eastern Europe
and Central Asia
Exotic tales will bring the histories, traditions and customs,
tastes, textures, dance and stirring melodies of these
vibrant Jewish communities to life. Included are the
stories of Jews
from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, India, Yemen and Eastern
Europe. Based on true family histories we will learn:
When and how
did these communities originate? How were they influenced
by their surrounding culture? Why did they return to
the land
of Israel? Activities: Storytelling, drama, dance, music,
crafts and cooking.
Three Hundred and Fifty Years of American Jewry
The first Jews settled in New Amsterdam as early as 1654.
They hoped to find lasting freedom and peace in the
Dutch colony.
Throughout American history they contributed to the
struggle for human liberty, equality and justice.
Using drama and storytelling we will learn about the
early Jewish settlers and their contribution to the
New World.
Jewish Yoga and Meditation
According to Jewish mystical tradition, the union of body,
soul, and the world is our universal inheritance as human
beings. We invite you to enhance your health and deepen your
spirituality through the practice of Yoga. The mystics knew
the Hebrew aleph-bet to be the embodiment of creation. Through
the physical practice of the forms of the letters, we can
attune ourselves to divine order and harmony, renew our energy,
and calm the mind. We will learn a basic set which consists
of five constant postures plus two others selected according
to the day of the week and the month. As well as the physical
exercises based on the Sefer Yltzira, we will practice the
candle-gazing exercise of the Zohar, and the breath meditation
techniques of Rabbi Abulafia.
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Friday, August 29, 2008
