Neighbor News
Festival To Showcase the Diversity of Jewish Culture
Congregation Hesed Shel Emet, in Pottstown, PA, to host Jewish Heritage Festival, featuring art, music, dance, food, theater, shopping.
Whether you are experiencing Jewish culture for the first time or reconnecting with your cultural roots, Congregation Hesed Shel Emet’s first-ever Jewish Heritage Festival promises to provide great entertainment, good times, and activities for all. The Festival is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Pottstown, PA.
The paintings of world-renowned artist Mordechai Rosenstein will be featured as the centerpiece of the Festival and the artist will be available to answer questions about his work from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the main lobby of the synagogue. Characterized by vibrant colors and an interest in the Hebrew alphabet, Rosenstein’s paintings reflect the influence of abstract expressionism, and his work is in the collections of prominent people around the globe.
The entertainment will kick off at noon, when a group of six Israeli-style dancers perform in the main sanctuary. Following the dancers, Rabbi Daniel Zucker will offer a tour of the main sanctuary, and a question and answer session. Among other points of interest, the sanctuary features unique stained glass windows depicting Jewish holidays and customs, and the 12 tribes of Israel. “We are proud of our heritage and wish to celebrate it in a public way, sharing its many cultural delights with the larger community,” says Rabbi Zucker.
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“The material – the songs, the jokes, the scenes – is still so funny and engaging even after all these years later,” Graff exclaims. -- Vicki Haller Graff, Reading Theatre Project, Artistic Director
Next, the spotlight will shine on the Reading Theatre Project’s presentation of “From Borscht Belt to Broadway,” from 1:30- 2:15 p.m. in the large social hall. Vicki Haller Graff, the group’s Artistic Director, describes the performance as a “cabaret-style show with songs, scenes, and jokes taken from prominent Jewish performers.”
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Featuring four actors and two musicians, the group created the performance after extensively researching Borscht Belt performers and performances, as well as modern Jewish composers, lyricists, and playwrights. The term “Borscht Belt” refers to New York State’s Catskill Mountains. From about 1940-80, the Catskills offered an array of summer vacation options to a mostly Jewish clientele, and well-known music and comedy performers played the circuit. “The material – the songs, the jokes, the scenes – is still so funny and engaging even after all these years later,” Graff exclaims.
Back in the main sanctuary, music will take center stage 2:30-3:30 p.m., when Klezmer with Class performs. Group members, most of whom are from the former Soviet Union, are under the direction of Mark Sobol, who immigrated to the United States from Odessa, Ukraine in 1989. A classically trained jazz musician, Sobol has performed at many Philadelphia area venues. The group describes their music, explaining, “The word Klezmer comes from two Hebrew words, clay and zimmer, meaning ‘vessel of music or song.’ The idea is that each instrument, the violin or clarinet, for example, takes on human characteristics like laughing or crying with a joyous exuberance or soulful wailing.”
“The dancers are certain to get everyone on their feet. It is a high energy, jump-in and join-in finale,” predicts Miryam Nygaard, entertainment chairwoman for the Festival.
The dancers will return to the main sanctuary stage at 4:00 p.m. with music and a medley of traditional Jewish dances designed to end the day on a high note. Kicking off with the well-known folk song, “Hava Nagila,” “Let Us Rejoice,” the “dancers are certain to get everyone on their feet. It is a high energy, jump-in and join-in finale,” predicts Miryam Nygaard, entertainment chairwoman for the Festival.
In addition to the entertainment, children will have an opportunity to enjoy and participate in a range of activities uniquely designed for them, including crafts, face painting, making balloon animals, and a “please-touch” display. Of special interest for children, and possibly for adults too, Al Wiesner will be at the Festival all day, selling his “Shaloman” comic books. Wiesner created his superhero, Shaloman, so that children could have a Jewish hero with super powers as a role model. Children have been enjoying these Jewish Heritage themed comics for three decades.
All entertainment is cost-free, but shoppers will have an opportunity to view and purchase pieces of art created by Rosenstein. In addition, Philadelphia’s “Dahlia: Treasures from the Holy Land,” will offer an array of giftware, women’s apparel, and Judaica items. Copies of the congregation’s own cookbook will be on sale, and Festival attendees can also purchase $1 raffle tickets to participate in drawings for themed gift baskets and items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to a small harp from Marini Harps in Lancaster to a family membership to the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, among other items.
“I hope folks take the time to explore our beautiful sanctuary, and stay for the art, great entertainment, and food.” -- Amy Wolf, congregation president
A day filled with so much activity is certain to make event-goers hungry, but there is no cause for concern. The Festival will also offer a delicious and extensive array of ethnic foods, available for eating there or taking home or both. Kosher meat and kosher dairy options will be available, under the supervision of Rabbi Zucker. Kosher wines will also be available for tasting by onlinekosherwine.com.
Congregation Hesed Shel Emet president Amy Wolf, summarizes the day: “There will be many great things to experience at the Festival. I hope folks take the time to explore our beautiful sanctuary, and stay for the art, great entertainment, and food. We are a vibrant and exciting little community here in Pottstown, and this is a day not to be missed!”
Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is located at 575 N. Keim St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
For more Festival information and schedule updates, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/jewishheritagefestival?pnref=story
For more information about congregation, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/hesedshelemet
https://www.facebook.com/groups/202266106606782/
For more information about Mordechai Rosenstein, visit:
For more information about Klezmer with Class, visit:
For more information about Reading Theater Project, visit:
