MEDIA CONTACT: Terri Berns
561-297-1164, tberns@fau.edu
FAU Libraries Presents 2005-2006 Kultur Series - A Celebration of Yiddish Concerts, Lectures, and Readings Explore this Unique Culture
BOCA RATON, FL (October 6, 2005) - 'The Friends of Yiddish' at Florida Atlantic University, announce the 2005 - 2006 season of the KULTUR series - a variety of multifaceted programs that explore Yiddish culture and its evolution. The programs include concerts, lectures, readings and a musical presentation with commentary, October 27, 2005 - February 21, 2006. All events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and reserved on a first come, first seated basis.
This unique series, under the direction of Dr. Henry Abramson, University Library Scholar of Judaica, draws patrons from both the University and the surrounding community. Approximately a thousand people attended KULTUR events in 2004.
Based at FAU Libraries, the 'Friends of Yiddish' organization sponsors the KULTUR series, which explores the dynamic world of Yiddish-speaking civilization through a variety of presentations and cultural events presented by local and national scholars and performers. The group is committed to developing the study of Yiddish language and culture at FAU, which upholds its mission to support the scholarly endeavors and provide information to the local, regional, national and international communities.
"The culture of the Yiddish-speaking Jews of Eastern Europe was exceptionally vibrant for almost a thousand years," said Abramson. "Of the remnant of Yiddish speakers who survived the Holocaust, only a miniscule fraction have grandchildren who know Yiddish, with most of them speaking Hebrew, English or Russian as their native language. It is our responsibility to preserve the phenomenally creative cultural expressions of this vanished community."
The series has advanced Yiddish-related scholarship at FAU by attracting tens of thousands of dollars in donations to promote research, performance of Yiddish music, and development of the Yiddish holdings in the Special Collections and Archives at FAU's Wimberly Library, Boca Raton campus.
A $10 membership/donation to 'The Friends of Yiddish' allows members advance notice of all events. Free parking passes and directions to the events are provided at the information booth at the main Glades Road entrance. For a map of FAU's Boca Raton campus, visit http://www.fau.edu/map/bocamap1.html.
For additional information, e-mail lysca@fau.edu, call 561-297-2116 or visit www.fau.edu/library .
FALL EVENTS
Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
"A Jewish-American Oktoberfest: A Yiddishe Momme in Wagner's Backyard"
Song Recital and Lecture by Dr. Leonard Lehrman and Helene Williams
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
"Celebrating Jewish Book Month"
Readings by FAU Authors: Featuring their New and Forthcoming Publications
Dr. Andrew Furman, Alligators May be Present
Dr. Henry Abramson, Learning to Learn: An Introductory Talmud Textbook
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
"Preserving an Endangered Musical Culture:
The Birth of the Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University"
Lecture and Musical Sampling Event
Nathan Tinanoff, Director of the Judaica Sound Archives
SPRING EVENTS
Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Grand Palm Room
"Go Down Moses: Klezmer, Blues, Blacks and Jews"
Musical Presentation and Narrative
Kitty Oliver, Author, Vocalist and Documentary Film Producer, with
Maestro Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Quartet
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
Film Screening: Yidl mitn fidl
Starring Molly Picon, Joseph Green, Director (1936)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
"Recovering our Mothers' Voices: Women's Prayers in Yiddish"
Lecture by Chava Weissler, Professor of Jewish Civilization, Lehigh University
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 3 pm
FAU Performing Arts Auditorium, Live Oak Pavilion, Room D
"Jewish Ambivalence Towards the Bible"
Lecture by Dr. Frederick Greenspahn, Gimelstob Eminent Scholar in Judaic Studies
-FAU-
