Jewish Culture Connect - Exploring Jewish Arts, Culture & Education in Western Massachusetts
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Exhibit & Programs
Upper Pioneer Valley
Isaac Bashevis Singer and his Artists
Oct 25 - Feb 15
This unique exhibit features more than 80 paintings, drawings, and photographs created by 17 different artists for Isaac Bashevis Singer's (1902-1991) prolific legacy of books and stories.
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Exhibit
All Regions
Art Exhibition: Women of the Balcony
Oct 30 - Feb 5
Pioneer Valley artist, Jane Trigere, displays 4 pieces that memorialize the women of a closed synagogue in upper Manhattan. All that was left in the women's balcony were rows of individually hand-made cushions. The remnants of German Jewry used fab
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Exhibit & Programs
All Regions
Urban Bubble - paintings by Elke Reva Sudin
Jan 15 - Feb 25
Urban Bubble is a collection of architectural landscapes and figurative narratives that discuss ideas of cultural identity, spiritual awareness, and attaining perspective in the diversity of urban environments. Select paintings included from the seri
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Class
Upper Pioneer Valley
Winter Hebrew Classes with Henny Lewin
Jan 24 - Apr 3
Three classes: Beginning Prayerbook Hebrew, Advanced beginning Modern Hebrew, and Hebrew Literacy. Classes are 10 sessions, beginning January 24, ending April 3, with no class on February 7. If you miss the first classes, feel free to contact Henia t
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Community Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Environment, Food & Sustainability Through Torah w/ Nigel Savage
Jan 27-29
Join Nigel Savage, founder of Hazon, for a weekend of teaching. He will challenge and inspire us to think about the relationship between Jewish tradition and the world in which we live, focusing on our food sources and the way in which we relate to t
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Shabbat B'Yachad - Sabbath Together
Jan 28
"Shabbat B'Yachad - Sabbath Together" program and service - all welcome to our first ever Shabbat B'Yachad! 9:30 a.m. Adult Torah study led by Rabbi Riqi, and Shabbat learning for K-7 students & friends led by our Beit Ahavah Community School teac
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Holiday Celebration
Lower Pioneer Valley
Russian Style Kiddush
Jan 28
On Shabbat, Jan. 28, a special Russian-style kiddush will be served. Members of LYA are planning a special menu that will include Russian olivie (potato salad), vinaigrette and Russian bread. All are welcome to attend and reservations are not ne
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Family Havdallah Gathering with Amy Meltzer at JCA
Jan 28
Grandparents, parents and special adults with young children…You are invited! Come to our Family Havdallah Gathering with educator, author and blogger Amy Meltzer. 4:00-4:45 PM Gathering for Havurah Ketanah (Little Friends Group) participants
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Community Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Winter Social
Jan 28
The Federation's Young Adult Division invites anyone ages 21-45 to our 2012 Winter Social! Brush off thiose winter blues and join us for an evening of fun! Awesome Raffle: Win airline tickets to Tribefest (our YAD National Conference in Las Vegas)
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Family Fun Day
Jan 29
Come One! Come All! Bring the kids, the neighbors...bring everyone to Heritage Academy Family Fun Day! This fun family event will include shows, games, local vendors and artisans, raffles, silent auction, food and so much more! You can see flying dog
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Lecture & Discussion
Upper Pioneer Valley
“Education after Auschwitz"
Feb 1
“Education after Auschwitz: Levinas, Humanism, and the Promise of Jewish Education” Dr. Claire Katz Professor of Philosophy and Women’s and Gender Studies, Texas A&M University Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 5:30PM Herter Hall, Room 301
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Lecture Series
Lower Pioneer Valley
JLI Course Money Matters
Feb 1
Money Matters will present Judaism’s approach to practical economic dilemmas and monetary quandaries that we face daily in both our personal and professional lives. The goal of this course is to provide a sensitive, fair, and unshakable economic
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Family Program
Berkshires
Kabbalat Shabbat & Tu B'Shevat Celebration
Feb 3
Join the Sinai Academy community for a celebration of the trees with song, refreshments, and the shabbat blessing. Please R.S.V.P no later than Monday, January 30, 2012.
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Retreat
All Regions
Tree B'earthday: Celebrate Tu b'Shevat
Feb 3-5
Come have a very special Tree b'Earthday with a pluralistic ecologically engaged Jewish community the week before Tu b'Shevat. Return home with (t)Ree-sources to enhance your community's celebration of Tu b'Shevat, which falls on February 8, the fol
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Holiday Celebration
Upper Pioneer Valley
One Shabbat One World Dinner (Amherst)
Feb 3
Join area families and singles for a dinner celebrating Jewish pride and unity. Dine on home-cooked Shabbat foods, sing, hear stories and words of Torah and share feelings about your Jewish experience. Candle-lighting at 4:30pm and dinner at 7pm. All
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
One Shabbat One World Dinner (Longmeadow)
Feb 3
A memorable event at LYA is the annual One Shabbat One World, Shabbat dinner. An unforgettable Shabbat experience, joyous songs, delicious food, and an inspiring speaker make this a special event. This year, LYA is bringing Rabbi Lazer Gurkow, ra
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Tot Shabbat at Beit Ahavah
Feb 3
Tot Shabbat at Beit Ahavah! A wonderful, musical hour welcoming the Sabbath & holidays for families of kids ages 0-6! Jan 6, Feb 3, March 2, April 13, May 4, June 1 Please bring a healthy peanut-free snack to share at the Kids’ Kiddush. * led
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Community Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
TuBishevat Teaching, Service, and Seder
Feb 3-4
Rabbi David Seidenberg will lead Friday evening service at CBI, focusing on TuBishevat, and will lead a mini seder followed by a pot luck. Saturday after noon Kiddush, he will teach and lead a discussion on TuBishevat.
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
A Family Shabbat at JCA
Feb 4
Come Join Us for Shabbat B'Yachad #2. A Shabbat to come together and study Torah in ways both traditional and eclectic. Choose the time frame that is best for your household needs. At 9:00 am is Shabbat yoga. At 10am, join the song-filled family
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Tot Shabbat with Peggy Walker at CBI
Feb 4
Come join us for a lively Saturday morning program and their families, celebrating the beautiful aspects of Shabbat through songs, stories, dance and creative movement. (for 3 to 5 year olds)
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Family Program
Berkshires
PJ Havdallah Program
Feb 4
Cozy story time for families with children ages 8 and younger (siblings, guests, and other family members are always welcome). Stories, crafts, Havdallah ceremony, and snacks Everyone is welcome to come in pajamas, and bring a cuddly toy to enjoy t
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Tu B’Shevat Celebration
Feb 5
Activities, songs and crafts in ‘stations’ grades k-6 and parents- events are geared towards family participation, parents and children will interact in each of the activities. You do not have to be part of our religious school to attend.
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
4-Worlds Tu B'Shvat Family Seder
Feb 5
Apples, olives, dates, coconut, cocoa beans, tangerines, star fruit, pomegranate, avocado... Beit Ahavah presents the "4-Worlds Tu B'Shvat family seder"... the mystical Kabbalistic custom of dining on fruits from the trees with songs and meditations
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Family Program
Berkshires
Trees and Treats for Tu B’Shevat
Feb 6
The PJ Pals Program spnsored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and The PJ Library invites toddlers and preschoolers - ages 2 -4 and their parents/caregivers and siblings to come together on the first Monday of each month with Jewish educator
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Cooking with Parents III
Feb 6
Join us for a hands on cooking program where families will create and enjoy eating holiday recipes. Cooking with Parents III will showcase recipes from the holiday of Tu Bishvat and incorporate PJ Library books into the program. Activities will inc
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
TuB'Shevat: Start a "Treedition" Family Dinner
Feb 8
Help us celebrate The Birthday of the Trees with a Bountiful Birthday Party. Join us for a dairy dinner and birthday cake dessert. Presents of a non-perishable food item are welcome. learn what the trees do for us and how we can help take care of
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Class
Berkshires
Israeli Folk Dance for Everyone
Feb 9
At 1 p.m. on Thursdays, January 12 and February 9, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will sponsor the series "Israeli Folk Dance for Everyone," with Cheryl Ann Luft. The program is free, open to the public, and will be held at Congregation Knes
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Performance
Upper Pioneer Valley
"Travelling Light" from Britain's National Theatre
Feb 9
Nicolas Wright's new play is a funny and fascinating tribute to the Eastern European immigrants who became major players in Hollywood's golden age. In a remote village in Eastern Europe, around 1900, the young Motl Mendl is entranced by the flicke
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
PJ Pals: Preschool Stories & Arts
Feb 10
Preschoolers 2-5 years old...come join your PJ Library friends, parents, and caregivers for a monthly look at Jewish-themed stories along with art, music, and puppet activities.
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
PJ Pals "Beetles" Tu B'shvat with Felicia Sloin
Feb 10
Come for a rockin' good time with Felicia and your PJ Pals buddies! Get ready for a special, musical presentation!
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Tot Shabbat and Dinner at Sinai Temple
Feb 10
Tot Shabbat is a special, musical, and interactive service designed especially for young children. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-aged children are welcome to attend this service with their siblings and families. The service portion
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Family Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Family Minyan with Anna Sobel
Feb 11
Creative family friendly program with puppeteer Anna Sobel, geared towards grades 2-5 – but everyone is welcome.
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Community Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Whodunit? 80s Mystery Night at LYA
Feb 11
What will your alibi be on Saturday night, February 11, 2012? ? LYA PTO is planning a "Whodunit? 80's Mystery Night" with Silent Auction. The event will feature a delicious hot buffet, an interactive murder mystery set during a 80's class reunion, as
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Community Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
Amherst Borscht Belt Comedy Night
Feb 11
What are you, a comedian? Here's your chance. Tell your one best joke or listen to others and enjoy. Borscht will be served. Jokes limited to under three minutes. Over 18 show.
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Family Program
Berkshires
PJ Library Comes to Sinai!
Feb 12
The PJ Library and Sinai Academy of the Berkshires will co-sponsor a free family program open to all in the community, "Respecting the Environment". Come join us as we learn how important it is to care for our natural environment. What happens w
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Community Program
Upper Pioneer Valley
B'tzelem Elohim/In God's Image
Feb 12
Join other parents of children with special needs e.g.ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum that may cause behavioral or emotional challenges to help identify needs, problems and solutions; to educate ourselves and the community; and to enhance our religious sch
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Community Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Kids in Action at LYA
Feb 12
Join children ages 6-11 from the Greater Springfield area for a morning of fun activities. Kids in Action is a social action club where kids can make a difference in their community while having a good time building personal friendships. Kids in Ac
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Family Program
Berkshires
Story Time at Sinai!
Feb 13
Join us for Story Time at Sinai, a free program for children from birth to 4 years old. Each week will feature a different author, illustrator, or theme and include songs, books, and craft time. Story Time at Sinai will take place on the 2nd and 4th
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Spiritual Practice
Upper Pioneer Valley
Shabbat Sing
Feb 18
Celebrate Shabbat with music and songs. Everyone is welcome
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Author Appearance
Upper Pioneer Valley
"Paris Dreams, Paris Memories" The City and its Mystique
Feb 26
Charles Rearick, Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst will discuss how Paris became the world's favorite city and describe the several cities in one. Focusing on the last century and a half, he will describe the renewal projects radically transformin
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Community Program
Pioneer Valley
Bake Hammantashen with your Child or Grandchild
Feb 26
Celebrate Purim by baking hammantashen with your child or grandchild. Each adult/child team will roll out dough, choose from a variety of fillings and bake 12 to take home. Each team will also be provided with dough to take home and complete. Program
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Concert
Upper Pioneer Valley
A Pre-Purim Celebration with Music & Food!
Feb 26
A fun concert to benefit needy children in Rehovot, Israel with performances by Mak'hela, Jewish Chorus of WMA; Hope Community Church Choir; Felcia Sloin, Singer/Songwriter; the old time country musicians with Rabbi Ben Weiner on Banjo and Cantor Eli
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Workshop
Upper Pioneer Valley
Writing Beyond Tu B'Shevat
Feb 26
Writing Beyond Tu B'Shevat will combine personal writing, exploring Jewish tradition and connecting with the Earth. Led by Maggid David Arfa. Weekly topics include: Sense of Wonder- exploring wonder through texts by Rabbi Heschel, Rachel Cars
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Workshop
Upper Pioneer Valley
Chabad House Helping Hands Hamantash Bake-a-thon!
Feb 29
Make a mountain of hamantashen for Purim! Bag them and take some home! We'll freeze the rest and give them out in local nursing homes, hospitals and other places where needy folks could use a helping hand. No previous culinary experience necessary. J
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Mighty March Purim Dinner
Mar 5
Help us celebrate Purim with a delightful dairy dinner and a Hamantashen taste test. What is your favorite? Apricot, strawberry, chocolate chip, or our very own "Smoresantahen"! We love them all.
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Community Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Kosher for Passover Wine Tasting & Sale
Mar 6
Sample more than 50 wines and choose from a huge selection of kosher wines. Formal tasting on March 6 and informal lobby tastings on March 7,8. Orders accepted until March 26 with pickup March 27-30. Order forms at JCC or at www.springfieldjcc.org in
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Holiday Celebration
Upper Pioneer Valley
4th Annual Queen Esther’s Drag Ball & Dance Party
Mar 10
Beit Ahavah presents... 4th Annual Queen Esther’s Drag Ball & DANCE PARTY "Channel Your Inner Esther or Mordecai, or Both!" Featuring performances by Betty Bitsch & Felicia Sloin, with Esther's Rap Celebrate Purim by channeling your inner
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Film Program
All Regions
Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival
Mar 14-29
20 award-wining independent and international films with Jewish themes, screened in 8 towns throughout the Valley. See website for full schedule.
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Bagels & Blocks (holiday-themed) at Sinai
Mar 18
Bagels & Blocks is a holiday-themed program for children and their special grown-ups. Arts, activities, music, stories, block play, and snack fill this special time! Children 0-5 year old are welcome, but some of the activities may be better enjoye
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Exhibit & Programs
Lower Pioneer Valley
Codes on Canvas and the Holocaust
Mar 29-30
The opening reception is on the same night as the showing of Sarah's Keys in the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival. This art exhibit focuses on the interrelationship between bar codes as methods of counting and sorting and the numbering tattoo
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
Matzah Mania Family Event
Apr 1
Where is the afikomen? Help us search the JCC to find the missing matzah. We will learn a few things about Passover too so come ready to explore with us. We will have a light breakfast for all to enjoy.
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Family Program
Lower Pioneer Valley
The Court Jesters vs. The SKLC
Apr 1
Come watch comedy basketball team The Court Jesters as they play against the Sandi Kupperman Laerning Center!
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Retreat
All Regions
From the Desert to the Berkshires
Apr 5-15
Once we were slaves in Egypt… and now we are free to celebrate Passover surrounded by the beautiful foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. On our organic farm, you can participate in hands-on activities and visit with our family of over 20 goats.
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Retreat
All Regions
Kosher Weight Loss and Fitness Camp
Apr 22 - May 4
Would you like to weigh less and have more energy? Do you need coffee, energy drinks, and snacks to make it through the day? Do you eat to calm yourself or alleviate sadness? We have designed a program to help you feel empowered and motivated, with a
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Discover the wide range of arts, culture and education opportunities in the Pioneer Valley, Berkshires and beyond. Enjoy the rich fabric of Jewish community in our region!