Yiddish Culture Festival

Join Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band for an interactive introduction to klezmer music. We'll explore the history of our music as we sing and play pearls of the traditional repertoire alongside new compositions. Plus, we'll teach you just enough Yiddish to sing along and a few different dances to get you out of your seat. This program is suitable for all audiences - no prior knowledge of Yiddish or ability to read music necessary to enjoy.

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band is one of the world's preeminent klezmer ensembles. 2024-25 season highlights include performing as soloist with Maestro Joshua Weilerstein and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra in Abigale Reisman's Gedanken for klezmer band and orchestra (DK), STETL FEST Brno (CZ), the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (USA), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (USA).

Their music has been featured on television in the Netherlands and Brazil, on the Boston Jewish Music Festival’s compilation album, and a feature length film, in addition to their eight albums.

The Wheels have performed with Hankus Netsky, Frank London, Fabiola Méndez, David Broza, Paula Cole, Jill Sobule, BETTY, and many more collaborators from the klezmer world and beyond. When they’re not playing klezmer, they can be found backing up such household names as Eminem, Hugh Jackman, Weird Al Yankovic, Amanda Palmer, and Chris Botti.

More Ezekiel’s Wheels music continues later on March 2 at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood! Learn more and register.

• Learn about the band
• Watch on YouTube
• Listen on bandcamp

Directions to The Jaharis Recital Hall:

The Recital Hall is attached to Roberts Hall, and is a five minute walk from our usual location in Stokes Hall. You can park closer to the Jaharis Recital Hall by using the usual College Ave entrance, and turning LEFT on Carter Rd immediately after entering the college. Follow Carter Rd and park anywhere on the left that doesn’t say “Student Parking Only”. There’s another lot ahead on the right (Lloyd lot) that is closest to the Recital Hall and has some handicap parking. Look for signs to walk to the Recital Hall, which is attached to Roberts Hall.

The Sholom Aleichem Club of Philadelphia: History and Impact

Professor Larry Schofer moderates a panel discussion of the history and local impact of the Sholom Aleichem Club. The Sholom Aleichem Club flourished in the Philadelphia area from its founding in 1954 until the first years of the 21st century, and was one of the longest-running groups of its kind in the US. The Club originated among people who loved Yiddish culture but who also were part of America. For over 50 years the club met monthly, emphasizing variously Yiddish and Jewish themes as well as socially relevant topics. The Club published four books and a tape of songs for Pesach. Of these books, the Club Haggadah for a Secular Celebration of Pesach went through 5 editions and sold over 40,000 copies.

At the end of Dr. Schofer’s introductory talk, a panel of former members of the Sholom Aleichem club and individuals influenced by the leaders of its Yiddish activities, the Rosenfeld-Katz family, will share their impressions. This group will include Andy Cassel, Hannah Kliger, and Rakhmiel Peltz. Members of the audience who worked with Bess Katz, Jack Rosenfeld, and Max Rosenfeld at the Folk Shule and the Sholom Aleichem club will be invited to participate.

Larry Schofer was one of the organizers of the Sholom Aleichem Club in its later years. He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley. In the 1970s he was on the history faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, and later had two careers, first as a health care administrator and then as a translator of several European languages into English. ln the 1970s he did research at YIVO, and later continued his connection with Yiddish via the Jewish Children’s Folkshul in Germantown and through Yiddish reading groups.

Save the date for a co-sponsored event:

Sunday, June 22 -- Hankus Netsky and the Klezmer All Stars at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood

Visit https://www.phillyjcc.com/shalomsummer/ for more information and registration.