METROPOLITAN NEW YORK
Lectures and Discussions
Bookish: Yiddish poet and songwriter Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman reads from and signs copies of her new Yiddish poetry book, “Perpl Shlenglt Zikh der Veg” (“The Purple Winding Road”). Readings are in Yiddish and English. Workmen’s Circle Book Store, 45 E. 33rd St.; July 8, 6:30 p.m.; free. (212-889-6800 or www.circle.org) The Hampton Synagogue kicks off its fourth annual Jewish Book Discussion Series with a book fair and cocktail reception. The first featured author is Daniel Levitas, talking about his book “The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right.” The series includes master writing classes and weekly discussions with Jewish authors. The Hampton Synagogue, 154 Sunset Ave., Westhampton Beach; book fair and reception July 4, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., and July 5, 10 a.m.-noon, master classes July 25 and Aug. 15, 9:30 p.m.-11:30 a.m., discussions July 3-Aug. 28, Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.; free. (631-288-0534)
Music
‘The New Event’: The Washington Heights-based Jason Caplan Quartet and the Mimaamakim Journal of Jewish Creativity present “The New Event,” featuring performances by JCQ, a jazz and blues band; klezmer revivalist Yale Strom, and percussionist William Ruiz, known for introducing the log drum to the public. For the evening event, JCQ’s frontman, Caplan, a rabbinical student at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, discusses music and Jewish law, and tai chi instructor Bernard Rozenberg performs a demonstration. The evening also features an “open mic.” The Bridge Shul, 815 W. 179th St., Washington Heights; July 8, 7:30 p.m.; $10. (212-923-4407 or www.jcqonline.com)
Exhibition
In Stone and Steel: “Inside/Outside/On the Wall” is a new sculpture exhibit comprising 17 works by Louise Bourgeois, Lawrence Fane, Harry Gordon, Nancy Graves, Richard Heinrich, Mel Kendrick, Louise Nevelson, John Newman, Tom Otterness, Joel Perlman, Joel Shapiro and George Sugarman. The exhibit’s name reflects the geography of the display: The works are displayed in a sculpture garden overlooking the Hudson River and inside the Goldfine Pavillion. Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, 5901 Palisades Ave., the Bronx; through Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; free. (718-581-1000 or www.hebrewhome.org/art.htm)
Festivals
Something for Everyone: The Nevele Grande Hotel hosts the 14th annual North American Jewish Choral Festival, which brings together hundreds of Jewish chorale music lovers — amateurs and professionals, singers and “listeners” — for four days. Activities include daily community sings led by top conductors from around the country; “instant ensembles” for all participants, led by conductors for four days of rehearsals, culminating in a performance at a gala closing concert; evening concerts featuring Jewish vocal ensembles from around the country, sing-alongs and music videos. Workshops being offered include performance practice, new choral repertoire, musicianship, sight singing and vocal technique. And don’t worry, children’s activities are available. Nevele Grande Hotel, 1 Nevele Rd., Ellenville; July 6, 4 p.m. through July 10, 2 p.m., evening concerts Sun.-Wed., 8:45 p.m., finale performance July 10, 10:30 a.m.; full participant $245, observer $165, one-day participant $100. (212-362-3335 or www.zamir.fdn.org)
PianoSummer: PianoSummer is back for its eighth year at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Under the direction of Vladimir Feltsman, the international summer festival is dedicated to piano music. The festival includes a master class and recital with pianist Daniel Pollack and a festival concert featuring “Masterpieces of the Russian Underground,” which highlights works by composers such as Shostakovich and Schnittke, who defied “official” Soviet artistic policies in the second half of the 20th century. SUNY New Paltz McKenna Theatre, 75 S. Manheim Blvd.; festival July 7-Aug. 1, recital July 19, 8 p.m., festival concert July 26, 8 p.m.; each event $25, $20 students and seniors; please call or visit Web site for additional details. (845-257-3904 or www.newpaltz.edu/piano)
Tour
Land of the Immigrants: Big Onion Walking Tours’ “Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour” takes participants on a tour of the Lower East Side, while munching on everything from plantains and pickles to dim sum and mozzarella. Meet at the southeast corner of Essex and Delancey streets; July 6, 1 p.m.; $16, $14 students and seniors, includes snacks; reservations requested. (212-439-1090 or www.bigonion.com)
Community
Getting in Gear: Hazon, an organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness in the Jewish community, is expecting roughly 150 Jews of all denominations for its third annual New York Jewish Environmental Bike Ride, which takes place Aug. 15 through Aug. 18 and features a Sabbath retreat in the Hamptons followed by a two-day, 110-mile bike ride from East Hampton to Manhattan. Kosher food is provided. Bikers must be 12 or older. Meeting place to be announced; registration by June 30 $175 or $225, registration July 1-July 31 $215 or $265. (212-284-6812 or www.hazon.org)
Faces From Afar: In “Portraits of an Eternal People: A Jewish Family Album,” an exhibition of more than 30 black-and-white photographs, New York-based photographer Zion Ozeri explores Jewish communities around the world. Ozeri, who was born in Israel to Yemenite parents, has traveled to Israel, Yemen, Russia, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, India and South America to capture the diversity of Jewish life on film. The exhibit opens with a discussion by Ozeri on “Jewish Life in the Diaspora.” Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles; discussion July 1, 7:30 p.m., exhibition July 1-Aug. 31, Tue.-Sat. noon-5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; discussion $5, free members and students; exhibition free. (323-655-8587 or www.skirball.org)
Camelot Big Screen: Temple Isaiah and Camelot Theatres present the second annual Summer Jewish Film Series. Films include Erez Laufer’s “Mike Brant — Laisse-Moi T’Aimer (Let Me Love You)” and Lina and Slava Chaplin’s “Trumpet in the Wadi,” both from Israel; Austria’s “Blind Spot: Hitler’s Secretary,” directed by Andre Heller and Othmar Schmiderer, and Brian Bain’s “Shalom Y’All,” from the United States. Camelot Theatres, 2300 Baristo Road, Palm Springs; July 9-July 30, Wednesdays 12:30 p.m.; $7, $10 includes 11:30 a.m. lunch; please call or visit Web site for complete listings. (760-325-6565 or www.camelottheatres.com)
MASSACHUSETTS
A Look Back: Singer-songwriter Laura Wetzler and her trio celebrate American Jewish creativity in popular music with a performance that features songs by Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch and Stephen Sondheim. National Yiddish Book Center, Hampshire College campus, 1021 West St., Amherst; July 6, 2 p.m.; $7. (413-256-4900 or www.yiddishbookcenter.org)
PENNSYLVANIA
Independence Day: The National Museum of American Jewish History celebrates the Fourth of July with outdoor music by the Bob Butryn Klezmer Band, show tunes by singer-entertainer Bobby Kravitz and magic tricks by Mark Spencer Goldstein. Children make American flags, Uncle Sams walk around on stilts and a George Washington impersonator discusses his 1790 letter to Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia affirming religious freedom. National Museum of American Jewish History, lawn, 55 North 5th St., Philadelphia; July 4, noon-4 p.m.; free. (215-683-2200 or www.nmajh.com)
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