The Charlotte Jewish News - October 2012 - Page 24
Community Mews
Song, Spirit, Yiddishkeit in Full Force at 34th Annual Charlotte
Yiddish Institute
By Michael J. Solender
Nearly 100 from across
the U.S. enjoyed four days
of Yiddish programming
including music, storytelling
and the Blue Ridge.
They came from Los
Angeles, CA, Washington,
DC, Crown Heights, NY,
Rockville, MD, and Boca
Raton, FL. There was a large
contingent from Charlotte,
of course, and nearby
Carolina towns of Durham,
Hendersonville, and
Huntersville. For four glori
ous song-filled days, the
burdens of aging and distance
between friends were lifted and
replaced by spirits kindled anew in
the crisp Blue Ridge Mountain air
of Little Switzerland, NC.
Here at WildAcres retreat, near
ly 100 intrepid souls from virtual
ly every comer of the country
came to share in hawerschaft.
The attendees of the 34th Yiddish Institute at Wildacres.
camaraderie, storytelling, song,
and nature’s splendor. The 34th
annual Charlotte Yiddish Institute
held August 16-19 was much
anticipated and completed far too
soon for the balebetishen yidden
in attendance.
When the group assembled for
initial introductions including the
origins of their parents
and grandparents, the
lineage shared was a
road map from the
Jewish Diaspora dat
ing back to the 1400s.
Odessa, Warsaw,
Minsk, Pinsk, Vienna,
Budapest, Galicia,
Berlin, Paris, and the
Bronx were all
amongst the roots of
those at the rustic
retreat. With a smatter
ing of first-time atten
dees and a number
attending for more
than a decade, Thursday’s new
acquaintances were Sunday’s
mishpoche as the communal
nature of the long weekend
encouraged exchange and dia
logue through numerous classes,
readings, services, and song.
Jewish music was indeed the
true highlight of the weekend as
each day’s programming was pep
pered with both formal concerts
and informal, Hazzan-led singing
and dancing. Special guest per
formers included:
* Joyce Rosenzweig, an
acclaimed pianist and
arranger from New
York City. She is a ded
icated educator of can
tors and synagogue
musicians, having
served over twenty-
five years on the facul
ty of Hebrew Union
College-School of
Sacred Music where
she is both Artist-in-
Residence and profes
sor at the Jewish
Theological Seminary Abe Luski
since 2004. Institute.
* Robert Paul
Ableson, noted cantor who has
received recognition as a concert
and opera performer.
* Hazzan Moishe Freidler,
spirited former Hazzan for the
Congregation ACIBA, the
Israeliita Community of Buenos
Aries and in Mexico City for the
largest synagogue in the city.
CJDS pom+ed
me in the
Right dlRectlon!
Josh Klprtis, Junior
Vartcicrbilt. SporU Journalism
I can't Imagine thcRe aRe many
people that can say fneiReiemematy
school had a profound impact on their life. But then
again, most people didn't attend the Chariotte
Jewish Day School.
CJDS is a special place^ beyond compare, that exudes
warmth, caring and...yes, academic rigor...lots of it.
Without GDS, I would have never learned my
potential as a student- I would have never been able
to attend a school like Vanderbilt University. And I
certainly never would have dreamed of becoming a
published writer.
Without GDS, I never would have found my Jewish
identity at eighteen and become North Carolina
Council's 6BYO President. And I never would have
learned the words to the Modeh Ani, a prayer that,
to this day, I say each and every morning when I
wake up.
Lastly, without GOS, I never would have met my
threebestfriends:Ryan,Andrew,andSam, Icount
myself fortunate to know these incredible guys,
and over time we've established lifelong
friendships that simply cannot be replaced,
CJDS, in one way or another, has impacted nearly
every aspect of who I am today, and for that, 1 am
forever grateful to call myself a GDS alum.
Open House! October 24,9:30-llann DR October 25,12;30-2pm
Parents, please join us! rsvp to 704-366-4558 or bfoxx@cjdschooLorg
r I n«; ch.none lewteh P^one; 704.366.4558 ■ CJDSCHOOL.org
School ^ Strong academic foundation for living Jewishly.
tells Yiddish stories at the 34th Yddish
* Gene Kavadlo, Principal
clarinetist with the Charlotte
Symphony Orchestra since 1975
and founder/leader of Viva
Klezmer!, an enthusiastic ensem
ble that tours extensively in and
around the Southeast.
* Alice Kavadlo, Principal
Violinst with the Charlotte
Symphony Orchestra, active par
ticipant in local chamber music
concerts and violinist with Viva
Klezmer!
* Paul “Pesach” Nitsch,
pianist and professor of music at
Queens University where he is
also Artistic Director for the
Friends of Music.
Klezmer music, folk songs, tra
ditional Jewish melodies, and
music from the Jewish liturgical
catalog were augmented by Jewish
inspired theater music and even
contemporary Jewish influenced
Hollywood scores were shared in
a series of concerts, each seeming
ly topping the last.
In addition to the above per
formers, Institute participants
were treated to the lovely singing
voices of Elana Rosen-Brown, a
student of both Rosenzweig and
Ableson and recently appointed
cantor, and Cantor Martha Novick
of Temple Emanu-El in Westfield,
NJ.
Perennial favorite Yiddish read
ings by Abraham Luski had the
crowd in stitches as his assorted
bubbe meises and comic stories
from Yiddish masters were punc
tuated by animation, facial expres
sions and gestures developed over
years of retelling and practice -
even novice Yiddish students
could easily follow along. Ever
the charmer, Luski knew how to
tug at the heart-strings as well
with his own poetry honoring his
children drafted many years ago
left few dry eyes in the audience
for its touching poignancy.
Mother Nature cooperated with
crisp cool mornings, sunny after
noon skies and star filled evenings
that for this group of revelers went
well into the early hours in song
after song. ^