Free Musical Evening: The Influence of Gershwin's Jewish Heritage on His Music and Thinking

Join the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism on Saturday evening, May 31st, for an extraordinary musical event beginning at 7:30 at the Southport Congregational Church. We will enjoy a delightful and informative evening with Orin Grossman, Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Fairfield University. Dr. Grossman's presentation will focus on the influence of Gershwin's Jewish heritage upon his music and his thinking. After the lecture and performance of "The Rhapsody In Blue", he will be open to questions.

Dr. Grossman is a concert level pianist and renown internationally for his knowledge of Gershwin’s music. He has lectured and performed at concerts throughout the US and Europe on the topic. 

A graduate of Harvard College with a PhD in Music from Yale University, Dr. Grossman has been particularly associated with the music of George Gershwin, lecturing and performing his works around the world. Recent performances have been in Cairo, New York, Florence, and St. Petersburg, where he performed Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue and gave the Russian premier of Gershwin's Second Rhapsody with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. 

There will be no admission charge to this event. The Southport Congregational Church is located at 524 Pequot Ave., Southport. Please notify Lynne or Gordon Leibowitz (203 713-6639) if you plan to attend and the number in your party.

Humanistic Judaism emphasizes personal responsibility in fulfilling the Jewish ideals of loving kindness, justice, good deeds, and giving to those in need. These ethical ideals are shared by Jewish tradition and humanist philosophy.  Humanistic Jews practice in personally meaningful ways, consistent with a modern understanding of the world.  

Humanistic Judaism is the most recent group recognized as a major branch of Judaism by the United Jewish Communities.  The Fairfield County CHJ Congregation was founded in 1967. Humanistic Judaism is now active in many countries throughout the world. 

The Congregation has a full calendar of activities for adults including Jewish holiday celebrations, Sunday morning Adult Education, Shabbat dinners, a wide array of Friday and Saturday evening programs, discussion groups, and a book group. To learn more about the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism and its programs, visit www.humanisticjews.org or call (203) 293-8867.

In addition to adult activities, the CHJ Sunday School provides a contemporary Jewish education for children in kindergarten through Bar/Bat Mitzvah.  Children learn about Jewish holidays, history, literature, and traditions of the Jewish people in a warm, participatory environment. The curriculum is enriched by Hebrew language, music, art, dance, and crafts. Jewish and Humanistic values and their relation to interpersonal, social and environmental issues are explored in all areas of the curriculum. Small class size fosters involvement and learning. A supervised preschool playgroup is open to younger siblings 0-5 years of age. For more information email sundayschool@humanisticjews.org.