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JReleases

What is JRelease?

JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. Our goal is to provide the timely distribution of press releases to all AJPA members. AJPA publications represent an ideal forum for companies and organizations to announce important developments and news. JRelease is the ideal resource for clients who wish to reach the Jewish press and through it the wider Jewish community.

How Do I Submit A Press Release?

JRelease submissions should be emailed to amirah@ajpa.org. Please include "JRelease" in the subject line of your email. Submissions will be reviewed and approved within 48 hours after receipt and distributed upon receipt of payment. Please indicate your preferred date of distribution at the top of your press release submission. Acceptance of submissions for distribution is at the sole discretion of AJPA and as is the case with all material submitted to newspapers, the decision to publish the material is that of the newspaper. It's also a good idea to follow up with editors individually to maximize the number of "hits" for your story. AJPA does not provide direct contact information to member editors.

How Do I Pay?

Payment for distribution is accepted online or in the mail following approval of submitted material for distribution.  We will contact you once the submission has been approved and provide further instructions for payment. Material will not be distributed prior to receipt of payment.

Each press release distributed is only $300. Purchase multiple press releases and each release is discounted. Please email AJPA headquarters for package pricing.


Recent JReleases

  • December 08, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    The 29th Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ - On Zoom and YouTube Live*
    Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a (virtual) Chinese Restaurant

    Featuring Ophira Eisenberg, Jessica Kirson, 
    Lisa Geduldig, & Arline Geduldig (Lisa’s 90 year old mother)

    Friday, December 24 & Saturday, December 25 @ 5pm PST
    (6pm MST/7pm CST/8pm EST) 

    Sunday, December 26, 2021 @ 2pm PST
    (3pm MST/4pm CST/5pm EST)

    *San Francisco attendees’ option: Lazy Susan Chinese food delivery on Dec 25 & Dec 26

    Info: www.KosherComedy.com

    Tickets: $25- $50 (Pay what you want) | www.CityBoxOffice.com/KungPao

    Partial Proceeds Benefit

    San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
    Shalom Bayit: Ending Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes

    San Francisco, CA… Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ — Jewish comedy on Christmas in a (virtual) Chinese Restaurant — is an annual tradition in San Francisco, answering the age-old question, “What are Jews supposed to do on Christmas?” Due to the pandemic, the show, which has been operating in San Francisco’s Chinatown every December since its inception in 1993, was livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube Live last year catering to 2000+ people and reaching audiences throughout the country and some internationally. To keep everyone safe, Kung Pao will take place virtually again this year (vaccination still mandatory), but next year in 2022 for its 30th Anniversary, the show will be live in-person, while keeping the online component (aka a hybrid event) in order to continue to entertain the national audiences built during the pandemic. Last year’s virtual show was a Pick in the New York TimesThe Forward, and Jewish newspapers in cities including Atlanta, Tampa and St. Louis, in addition to the San Francisco Bay Area press.

    Kung Pao is the brainchild of San Francisco-based Jewish comedian, Lisa Geduldig, and is one of San Francisco’s longest running comedy shows. Kung Pao has been featured in the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune…and was the country’s first Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese restaurant show. The idea for Kung Pao came about in October 1993, when Lisa was booked to perform at The Peking Garden Club in South Hadley, Massachusetts at what she imagined would be a comedy club, but upon her arrival she discovered it was a Chinese restaurant. A phone conversation the following day with an old friend (Tobi Sovak) from Jewish summer camp (Camp Hemshekh) about the irony of telling Jewish jokes at a Chinese restaurant led to the idea of Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese restaurant, and a brainstorming session of Jewish, comedy, and Chinese food-related words led to the name, Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™.

    Feeding the soul as well as the stomach. – New York Times

    A San Francisco institution. – San Francisco Examiner

    Now in its 29th year, Kung Pao is a take-off on the tradition (law?) of Jews going to a Chinese restaurant and a movie on Christmas. Study: Safe Treyf: New York Jews and Chinese Food” (Treyf means unkosher in Yiddish.) The event has been consistently catering to over 2000 people each December (including last year in Cyberspace), with some people having attended 20+ years while others have attended every year since its inception in 1993. This legendary event has boasted a Who’s Who of household name Jewish comedians including Henny Youngman, Shelley Berman, David Brenner, and Elayne Boosler.

    The New Asia Restaurant, Kung Pao’s home in San Francisco’s Chinatown from 1997 (the fifth year of the show) to 2019 and one of the last 2 Chinese banquet restaurants in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is currently operating as a supermarket due to the pandemic.

    This year, attendees have the option to view the livestream on Zoom or YouTube Live; those watching on Zoom will be able to gather with friends and family worldwide in Breakout Rooms one hour before the show. The rooms, with names that include Bubbelah, Kvetch, Meshugganah, Barbra Streisand, and Joan Rivers, mirror the tables traditionally reserved by participants at the in-person event. Last year, Breakout Room participants kvelled about the ability to, during lockdown, nosh and schmooze virtually with loved ones before the show.

    Kung Pao’s audience is encouraged to support and order Chinese take out from their local Chinese restaurants or cook recipes of Chinese dishes (i.e the signature dish Kung Pao Chicken or Tofu) posted on the event website. And for its San Francisco-based audience, Kung Pao has launched a new partnership with the new take-out and delivery restaurant Lazy Susan Chinese. On December 25 & 26 only (the chefs are off on December 24), San Francisco viewers will be able to order delivery of a price fixed Chinese menu including a vegetarian option along with a packet of custom-made Yiddish proverb fortune cookies from San Francisco Chinatown’s Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (that has made fortune cookies since 1962 and Kung Pao’s since 1994). The Yiddish proverbs include the infamous “With one tuchus, you can’t dance at 2 weddings.” (You can’t be in two places at once). Last year, the fortune cookies were merely virtual (motion graphics). Lazy Susan Chinese will make a donation to this year’s beneficiaries (San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Shalom Bayit: Ending Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes) from each order placed.

    Last July 2020, a few months into the pandemic, Kung Pao creator, producer, and MC, Lisa Geduldig, introduced her audiences to online comedy shows with the monthly Lockdown Comedy every third Thursday of the month (and still running) on Zoom hosted from her mother’s retirement community in Florida where Lisa accidentally found herself marooned for 17 months after going to visit for two weeks last March, just before the pandemic hit. Lisa’s 90-year old budding comedian mother, Arline, has been a special guest each month, performing stand up on the show. The duo has received accolades and press: The LA Times ran How A California Comic Launched A Virtual Stand-Up Show and Discovered A New Star: Mom; the San Francisco Examiner ran the article, Kung Pao Kosher Creator Introduces “Lockdown Comedy”: Lisa Geduldig and Her Mom Stream Standup, with Guests, from Florida, and in September, the San Francisco Chronicle did a feature S.F.’s Lisa Geduldig Happily Sharing Comedy Spotlight with A Fresh Talent, Her 90-Year-Old Mother.

    The annual Jewish Christmas tradition, Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™, spans three days December 24-26 (with the last day being a matinee so audiences in Europe can join), and this year features NY Jewish comedians Ophira Eisenberg and Jessica Kirson, along with Arline Geduldig (Lisa’s 90 year old mother) and Lisa Geduldig.

    COMEDIANS’ BIOS

    Ophira Eisenberg is a stand up comedian, and writer. She was the host of NPR’s Ask Me Another for 9 years where she interviewed and played silly games with Sir Patrick Stewart, Rosie Perez, Awkwafina, Roxanne Gay, Bob The Drag Queen, Jessica Walter, Bowen Yang, Debra Messing, Nick Kroll, Chelsea Handler and more. She’s a regular panelist on Hulu’s Up Early Tonight and has appeared on Comedy Central, This Week At The Comedy Cellar, The New Yorker Festival, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, HBO’s Girls, Gotham Live, The Late Late Show, and The Today Show. Her stories have also been included in two of The Moth’s best-selling collections, including the most recent: Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible. Ophira’s own comedic memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy was optioned for a TV series. Her comedy special Inside Joke is available on Amazon, and her new comedy album Plant-Based Jokes will be available soon. www.OphiraEisenberg.com

    Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage and a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 30 million views on social media. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, Jessica stands out as one of the strongest, regardless of gender. She executive produced FX’s Hysterical, a feature-length documentary, that premiered at SXSW 2021, exploring the changing landscape of women in stand up and features Margaret Cho, Nikki Glazer, Chelsea Handler, Fortune Feimster, and other notable comedians. Her one-hour special, “Talking to Myself,” debuted on Comedy Central. She is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy FallonThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, and Kevin Can Wait. Last year, Jessica was featured playing herself on the HBO series Crashing and recently acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film The Comedian. Her prank call album, The Call Girls, also featuring Rachel Feinstein, was released in September. Recorded virtually during the depths of quarantine, the album features characters such as old Jewish grandmothers and a conservative mother and her gay son. Jessica’s characters are coming to life in her new podcast, Disgusting Hawk. Through her Relatively Sane podcast, she has interviewed the likes of Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, Margaret Cho, and Rosie O’Donnell. Jessica was recently awarded “Best Female Comic” by the MAC Association in New York City and received the prestigious Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian.” She is also a regular contributor to The Howard Stern Show, where she produces and stars in prank calls. www.JessicaKirson.com

    Arline Geduldig, mother of comedian and Kung Pao Kosher Comedy producer, Lisa Geduldig, is a Florida-based budding stand up comedian who took to the (virtual) stage for the first time* in July 2020 on her daughter’s monthly Zoom comedy show, Lockdown Comedy; she has been performing and charming audiences on the monthly show ever since. Arline grew up in Brooklyn, raised her kids on Long Island, and retired to Florida, as is Jewish law. She offers her keen observations on aging, hearing aids, and hot young firemen and reminisces about her first kiss. Arline, who is 90 years young, has always been funny, and it was time for her to share her natural humor with her daughter’s audiences.

    *She hadn’t been onstage since she was a teenager when she performed in a play while working as the rabbi’s secretary at Temple Israel of Jamaica (Queens).

    Lisa Geduldig is a San Francisco-based comedian and the creator, producer, and MC of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ — Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant, which celebrates its 29th year this December (albeit in Cyberspace). Lisa appeared in a Canadian documentary, Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas, which aired on Canadian and European TV in December 2017. Before the pandemic, Lisa had been running Comedy Returns to El Rio, a monthly decade-long comedy show at El Rio in San Francisco where her comedy career began 30+ years ago. Since July 2020, she has been producing Lockdown Comedy every 3rd Thursday of the month on Zoom from her mother’s retirement community home in Florida, where she accidentally got marooned for 17 months during the pandemic (and became a fan of the Early Bird special). Lisa also has been instrumental in helping thousands of people in Florida and visitors from Latin America get vaccinated against Covid-19 through two South Florida Covid vaccine Facebook pages that she helps moderate, Being bilingual (Spanish/English), she has helped countless travelers in their native tongue through the Spanish language Facebook page she co-founded. SF Comedian’s Side Hustle: Helping People Get Vaccines in Florida Lisa is also a freelance arts publicist in both English and Spanish. www.SFPublicist.com

    BENEFICIARIES

    Over the past 28 years, Kung Pao has raised 10’s of 1000’s of dollars and awareness for numerous organizations. www.koshercomedy.com/beneficiaries In keeping with the Jewish tradition of tzedakah (charity, in Hebrew - tied in with a sense of duty and social responsibility), each year Kung Pao donates partial proceeds to organizations and causes in which we believe.

    THIS YEAR’S BENEFICIARIES

    San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. Before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger, the pandemic upended thousands of people’s lives and livelihoods forcing more people than ever before to wonder where their next meal would come from. While we see our community slowly recovering, there is no vaccine for hunger. It will take time for those most impacted by the crisis to get back on their feet. The Food Bank continues to serve more than 50,000 households, compared to 32,000 pre-pandemic, and traffic to the find food page on our website is still up four times what it was pre-pandemic. We’ve met this need so far with the help of community partners, volunteers and other supporters. After more than a year responding to the pandemic, we are focused on returning to solutions that work and continuing to implement services developed during the crisis. It will take a collective effort to ensure we can continue to feed our neighbors facing hunger. www.sfmfoodbank.org

    Shalom Bayit: Ending Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes is the Bay Area’s Jewish resource for responding to domestic violence and sexual harassment. Throughout the pandemic, Shalom Bayit has been on the front lines providing free, confidential counseling, crisis intervention and safety planning (including bilingual services in Russian) to those abused at home. Promoting healthy relationships and a culture of respect, Shalom Bayit’s innovative prevention/education programs like Love Shouldn't Hurt (consent education for teens and parents), MenschUp men's education, and We Commit workplace harassment trainings are transforming the Jewish community’s response to abuse, empowering women to safety in the places that matter most. www.shalom-bayit.org

    Some Random Kung Pao Kosher Comedy Facts

    • Henny Youngman, The King of One-Liners, headlined in 1997, performing at what ended up being his last show; the 91 year old comedian died two months later in February 1998.
    • A chapter in the book, A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to be Jewish focuses on Kung Pao.
    • One couple, after 25 years, got married at the show by a rabbi they met at their table.
    • One year someone brought a rooster named Vern as an emotional support animal. Really. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/LEAH-GARCHIK-3299717.php


    MEDIA CONTACT
    :

    Lisa Geduldig 
    (415) 205-6515 | lisag@igc.org | www.koshercomedy.com


    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

  • November 11, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    First Bobble Menorah and Dreidel Unveiled Ahead of Hanukkah

    MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first Bobble Menorah and Bobble Dreidel. The Bobble Menorah features nine bobbling flames and comes in three color patterns. One version has blue candles, another has blue and white candles and a third has a multi-color assortment of candles. The Bobble Dreidel is on a gelt-shaped base with each side inscribed with the Dreidel’s Hebrew letters—Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin, in a different color. The limited-edition bobbles were produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

    Each bobble is individually numbered to 5,782 to commemorate the current year. They are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbles, which will ship out to customers the third week of November, are $25 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

    The Menorah is the nine-branch lamp used to celebrate, remember, and honor the miracle of Hanukkah. It consists of a center branch with four branches on each side and holds candles or oil lamps. On each night of the eight-day holiday, one more light is lit than the previous night, until all eight branches are illuminated on the final night. The ninth branch is the shamash (“helper” or “servant” branch), which is used to light the other branches. The shamash must be offset on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles or oil lamps. Since 1979, the White House has been represented at the lighting of the National Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah. Two large Menorahs are in New York City, each standing at 32 feet. One is at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, and the other is at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan near Central Park.

    A Dreidel is the four-sided spinning top typically made of wood, plastic, or clay. It has Hebrew letters on each side and is commonly played during Hanukkah. It is a game of luck that uses candy, coins, nuts, or other betting tokens. The four sides of the Dreidel are Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin. Nun means the player does nothing. Gimel means the player gets all the tokens from the pot. Hey means that the player gets half of the tokens from the pot. Shin means that they player has to put one token in the pot. The four letters are an abbreviation for the Hebrew phrase “Nes gadol haya sham,” or “A great miracle happened there,” in honor of the rededication of the Temple. According to some scholars, the dreidel developed from an Irish or English top introduced into Germany known as a teetotum, which was popular around Christmas time and dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times.

    "We’re thrilled to be releasing the very first Bobble Menorah and Bobble Dreidel just in time for Hanukkah,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Hanukkah has always been one of my favorite holidays, and it has been exciting watching this concept come to life over the past year. I hope people proudly display their Bobble Menorah and Bobble Dreidel to celebrate the Festival of Lights every year.”

    About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
    The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit us online and on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

  • November 10, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    The Fun, The Good and The Ugly!
    Put The ‘Happy’ In Chanukah With These Cool and Creative Cookies!
    These Cookie Kits Not Only Taste Good - They Do Good

    (BAYONNE, NJ – November 2021) – Chanukah, a wintertime holiday in Judaism, also known as the Jewish "festival of lights" based on lighting the eight Chanukah candles during the eight days of the festival, begins November 28th to December 6th, 2021.  This festive Jewish Holiday is traditionally celebrated with specific foods and desserts such as decorated Chanukah sugar cookies, cupcake "menorahs," traditional Chanukah donuts and contemporary cakes. KAYCO, America’s largest source for on trend, gourmet-forward kosher products debut two serious twists on the festive Sugar Cookie tradition putting the ‘Happy’ in Chanukah. The two new kits are:  the Manischewitz Ugly Sweater Chanukah Sugar Cookie Kit and the Manischewitz Ready to Decorate Pre-Baked Sugar Cookie Kit, which join the existing Chanukah line which includes: the Manischewitz Chanukah House Cookie Kit and the Manischewitz Donut Making Kit.

    Try this on for size, the new Manischewitz Ugly Sweater Chanukah Sugar Cookie Kit.  The exciting offering has everything your family will need to create your Ugliest Sweater yet.  The kit includes sugar cookie mix; traditional yellow and blue color powders; Chanukah sprinkle mix; three piping bags and a sweater cookie cutter.  All you need is your sense of humor and creativity.  The packages make 8 to 10 Ugly Sweater Cookies to share, gift or ‘just eat.’ They are available a SRP of $8.99.

    For just plain fun and good eating, make a Chanukah Party around the Manischewitz Ready to Decorate Pre-Baked Sugar Cookie Kit.  For an activity anywhere in the house, this kit includes 12 pre-baked sugar cookies shaped in all the festive ornaments of the season including Stars of David, Dreidels, Wine Glasses and Menorahs.  The package is complete with blue and silver glitter crystals; royal icing mix; blue and yellow color powders and three piping bags.  Your kids, friends and family can show their Chanukah creativity, snacking all along the way. The package yields 12 Chanukah Sugar Cookies at a SRP of $9.99.

    These Manischewitz Cookie Kits do not just taste good they do good, Manischewitz has teamed up with PJ Library, the Jewish nonprofit program delivering 225,000+ books every month to children across North America, All the cookie kits contain a PJ Library subscription card so that families raising children with Jewish values and traditions can sign up to receive a free expertly curated, age-appropriate children’s book each month. To learn more about PJ Library, visit: pjlibrary.org/about-pj-library

    For more information go to www.kayco.com  for information for Chanukah recipes, chefs’ suggestions and everything food Kosher related go to www.kosher.com

    “Manischewitz has been comfort food for the soul for over 133 years and are part of many families culture,” says Shani Seidman, CMO of Kayco Kosher Food Brands. “These new products are the perfect inclusive way for families to share Jewish experiences that last a lifetime. They also make great desserts and are great gifts.  We are also proud to support PJ Library with our on and in pack promotion to help raise awareness about this wonderful non-profit organization.”

    The kits are available at leading supermarket and retail chains nationwide, including ACME, Shaw’s, select Albertson’s, Shop Rite, Wegman’s, Stop & Shop, Kroger stores, and online outlets including Amazon:

    KAYCO

    KAYCO is one of the largest producers and distributors of kosher foods and beverages. Brands under the Kayco Kosher Umbrella include Gefen; Heaven & Earth; Manischewitz; and Tuscanini, to name a few. 

    About Manischewitz

    The Manischewitz Company has been making traditional Jewish foods since Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz first opened a small matzo bakery in Cincinnati, OH in the late 1800s. For more than 130 years, the company’s goal has been to provide quality kosher products that bring families together and celebrate the traditions of Jewish heritage. Today, Manischewitz sells hundreds of delicious products to communities across the globe. We continue to provide foods made from simple ingredients that help create family memories in the kitchen. Today, Manischewitz is part of the Kayco family of brands, offering one of the largest assortments of kosher foods and beverages. For more information, visit https://manischewitz.com/.

    To learn more about Manischewitz, visit: manischewitz.com/our-story/

    About PJ Library

    A free program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library sends engaging storybooks that provide fun and easy ways for families to connect with Jewish life. PJ Library’s high-quality books have become everyday favorites of kids from birth through age 12, whether the stories serve as first introductions to Jewish values and culture or inspire families to create new Jewish traditions at home. To find out more, visit pjlibrary.org.

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.
  • October 27, 2021 8:15 AM | Anonymous

    Elie Wiesel Family Members, Consul General of Israel in New York Ambassador Zamir, and Bielski Partisan Martin Bloch to Attend Voices For Truth And Humanity’s 2nd Annual Remembrance Awards Dinner in Support Of Holocaust Education

    US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Other Dignitaries Join to Express Determination To Advance Curriculum For Holocaust and Other Genocide Education in New York State

    Jericho, NY— Voices For Truth And Humanity recently announced its 2nd Annual Remembrance Awards Dinner on its website (https://www.voices4truthandhumanity.org), and interest was immediate.  This is largely due to the stellar lineup of prominent lawmakers, spokespeople, and humanitarian advocates who are slated to join their voices at the event to discuss both compelling reasons, and practical strategies, for implementing Holocaust and Other Genocide education in public schools today.

    Distinguished panelists and presenters will include:

    • Marion Wiesel, Wife of the late Elie Wiesel, Co-Founder of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
    • Elisha Wiesel, Son of the late Elie Wiesel, CEO of Israeli fintech startup The Floor
    • Honorable Ambassador Asaf Zamir, Consul General of Israel in New York
    • Martin Bloch, Holocaust Survivor, member of WWII Bielski Partisans Resistance
    • Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Sponsor of Never Again Education Act to expand Holocaust education in the U.S.
    • NYS Senator Anna Kaplan, Sponsor of NYS Senate bill to study Holocaust curriculum in NY
    • NYS Assemblyman Steve Stern, Sponsor of Suffolk County anti-BDS legislation, Co-Sponsor of NYS Assembly bill to study Holocaust curriculum in NY
    • Prime Minister Salih Hudaya, East Turkistan Government-in-Exile, Champion for the Uyghur people
    • Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of NY Board of Rabbis
    • Rita Cosby, TV news correspondent, Director of LIU Global Service Institute
    The Dinner, which will also include cocktail hour, raffle prizes, and a silent auction fundraiser, will feature an informative panel discussion about the state of proposed Holocaust and Other Genocides education legislation at the state and federal level. The need for such education will be highlighted in presentations by Prime Minister Salid Hudaya, representing the persecuted Uyghur people, and Israeli Consul Asaf Zamir, addressing the rising trend of anti-Semitism both in the US and abroad.

    In addition to its stellar lineup of renowned speakers, this event marks one of the first times that many other distinguished organizations are assembling together to affect specific educational change, including: Anne Frank House, Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center, UJA-Federation, AJC, Jewish Community Relations Council, Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs, New Jersey Department of Holocaust Education, New York Board of Rabbis, and others. 

    Voices For Truth and Humanity (V4TH), an all-volunteer group, believes that this interest among like-minded organizations is peaking now because the need is becoming more and more apparent to all. Truly, it is time to “Educate To Stop Hate!” Accordingly, this 2nd Annual Remembrance Awards Dinner is being positioned not only as an informative report of present initiatives, but also as the launch event for further collaborations to be announced that evening. 

    The goal is simple: to advance the cause of Holocaust and Other Genocide Education in new and vital ways, to impact the next generation and the world. 

    For those who wish to attend and/or support V4TH’s efforts, please go to https://www.voices4truthandhumanity.org/current-events to reserve seating or make a donation. 

    Press coverage is requested for this event. 

    Contact:

    Additional Press Opportunities:

    • VIP Press Spots: Please note that all attending press will be considered the guests of V4TH, and a limited number of press responders will have reserved table seating, up to room capacity. Please provide the reporters / photographers names in advance so that reception staff can afford them prime seating, special access, and assistance.
    • One-On-One Interviews: Interactions and videography with the evening’s honored guests may be arranged on a first come, first served basis at the discretion of V4TH. Please indicate your interest when you call or email.
    • Recap Article: If unable to attend, a recap article with photos will be made available for subsequent publication. Please contact Hank Levy for more details. 

    Event Website Page:  https://www.voices4truthandhumanity.org/current-events

  • October 20, 2021 12:35 PM | Anonymous

    JScreen.Org Adds CancerGEN to National Genetic Screening Program Just in Time for Cancer Awareness Months This Fall

    October 2021 (ATLANTA) – JScreenwww.jscreen.org a national public health initiative based out of Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Human Genetics, adds yet another way to save lives with the successful hard launch of its CancerGEN testing initiative. This new JScreen initiative offers at-home testing for more than 60 cancer susceptibility genes associated with hereditary risks for breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal, skin and many other cancers.  

    During the Pandemic we have all learned how critical it is to take healthcare into your own hands.  With October Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate and Ovarian Cancer Awareness months in the fall, and the staggering statistics showing that half of all men and a third of all women will develop cancer during their lifetime, JScreen understands the importance of giving people a heads up if they have a hereditary risk for cancer. This not-for-profit home education and genetic screening program started in 2013 with reproductive genetic testing called ReproGEN, and now tests for risk for over 40 types of hereditary cancer with the addition of the CancerGEN test.  

    “Making cancer genetic testing accessible is key,” said Jane Lowe Meisel, MD, Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, and medical director for JScreen’s cancer program. “This type of testing is important because it alerts people to their risks before they get cancer. They can then take action to help prevent cancer altogether or to detect it at an early, treatable stage.”   

    Getting tested through JScreen is easy. All you have to do to receive your simple at-home test is sign up online, provide a saliva sample and use pre-paid postage to mail it in, making JScreen.org pandemic proof since before the pandemic!  JScreen’s tests use state-of-the-art genetic sequencing technology to ensure highly accurate results. The robust cancer testing panel includes genes that are actionable, meaning there is something that can be done to help prevent cancer if a person tests positive. JScreen provides risk information in the record-breaking time of three weeks or less. Importantly, licensed genetic counselors provide consults via phone or secure video conferencing to ensure that people understand their results. 

    One of JScreen’s goals is to make testing affordable. ReproGEN currently costs $149 and CancerGEN is $199. JScreen also offers need-based financial assistance. The proof of JScreen’s passion for saving lives is in the incredible stories they hear, the healthy babies that are born and the people that can now take action to avoid a cancer diagnosis. As the JScreen team likes to say – “we are a small team with a huge footprint.” 

    “Knowledge is power. With an understanding and awareness of their cancer risks and available options, individuals can work with their health-care providers on next steps,” said Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, MS, CGC, Assistant Professor of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine, and JScreen’s Executive Director. “Launching our new cancer program and providing convenient and affordable access to cancer genetic testing across the US will help save lives.”    

    About JScreen 

    JScreen is a national non-profit public health initiative dedicated to preventing genetic diseases and cancer. Headquartered in Atlanta at Emory University School of Medicine, the JScreen initiative provides convenient at-home access to cutting-edge genetic testing technology, patient education and genetic counseling services. JScreen believes the combination of education, access to premier genetic screening technologies and personalized, confidential support are the keys to preventing devastating diseases. 

    Please visit JScreen.org for more information.

    For additional information:

    Stacey Bender
    T + 1 (973) 650-1218
    Sbender@bendergrouppr.com

  • September 17, 2021 12:00 PM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    ‘Tango Shalom’ Theatrical Expands Across US As Demand And Momentum Build

    “The improbable story has become the little interfaith family comedy dance film that could.” – Original Cin

    “Admirers of the film ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ will notice some of the same ethnic complications and sheer joy of living running through ‘Tango Shalom.’ That is no coincidence since Joel Zwick, who directed ‘Greek Wedding,’ also produced ‘Tango.’”
    – The Jewish Journal

    Los Angeles, CA (September 17, 2021) –  Tango Shalom’s strong interfaith and positive message of family, tolerance, and inclusion is resonating with Jewish and secular audiences and critics across the country. The multi-award-winning, Joel Zwick produced dance comedy, is expanding into areas with predominantly Jewish demographics, including Palm Springs, CA, Long Island, New York, and opening anew in South Florida and Scottsdale, AZ.

    Tango Shalom was filmed on the streets of Crown Heights and had unprecedented access to “770,” the center of the Chabad-Lubavitch world movement and considered to be an iconic site in Judaism. The film was directed by Gabriel Bologna, son of Renée Taylor and the late Joseph Bologna. The elder Bologna also co-wrote and produced the film with brothers Jos and Claudio Laniado of Convivencia Forever Films. Co-produced by Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks franchise), Zizi Bologna, and celebrity choreographer Jordi Caballero.

    TRAILER:  https://youtu.be/R6w9qkvKca8

    Starring Lainie Kazan, Renée Taylor, Karina Smirnoff, Joseph Bologna, Jos and Claudio Laniado, Bern Cohen and Judi Beecher.

    This fable explores how an Orthodox Rabbi solicits input from various religious leaders and friends to enter a tango competition while remaining true to his religious code. For more information and the full-list of awards, accolades and endorsements, please visit tangoshalommovie.com. Press kits available upon request.

    Los Angeles-area theaters include The Landmark Westside Pavilion (where Jordi Caballero, Tango Shalom’s producer and choreographer, Judi Beecher, co-lead, and Director of Photography Massimo Zeri, will be attending a screening on Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm PT with a Q&A to follow), Laemmle Town Center 5 Encino and Newhall, Regal Irvine Spectrum, Regency Theatres Rancho Niguel, AMC Thousand Oaks, Promenade Woodland Hills, Burbank 8, and the AMC Rolling Hills where immediately following the 4:30pm PT showing, Tango Shalom producer and editor Robert Meyer Burnett and music and sound designer Steve Yeaman will be available to discuss the film.

    Palm Springs theaters include Tristone Palm Desert 10, Regal Palm Springs, and Mary Pickford 14 Cathedral City where on Sunday, September 18, co-stars Renée Taylor, Lainie Kazan, and director Gabriel Bologna will make a special appearance after the 1:10pm PT screening, including a Q&A and meet-and-greet.

    New York theaters include Kew Gardens 6, Malverne 5, Manhasset Triplex, and AMC Raceway 10, Palisades 21 West Nyack, and Kips Bay in New York City where the film’s line producer Ari Taub will be hosting a special Q&A after the Saturday 3:15pm ET screening.

    Miami-area theaters include AMC Aventura, AMC Sunset Place South Miami, CMX Dolphin 24, Magnolia Place Stadium 16 Coral Springs, Regal UA Falls, South Beach Stadium 18, and Silverspot Cinema Downtown.

    The Shea 14 is the first theater to release in Scottsdale, AZ.

    About Vision Films

    Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. visionfilms.net

    Media Inquiries

    For media inquiries, please contact Andrea McKinnon at andrea@amckpr.com.

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.
  • August 23, 2021 5:01 PM | Anonymous

    Vision Films To Release Award-Winning Dance Comedy ‘Tango Shalom’ With Exclusive LA and NY Theatrical Release

    The Joel Zwick Produced Film Is An Interfaith Milestone Promoting A Timeless Message of Peace, Tolerance, and Love

    LOS ANGELES, August 23, 2021 -- Vision Films, Inc. (“Vision”) announces the exclusive theatrical release of the interfaith dance comedy film Tango Shalom that is racking up film festival accolades and endorsements from diverse religious leaders as well as Jewish and other interfaith organizations from around the world. The film is a true family-friendly romp that has viewers of all ages up on their feet dancing. The film will open on September 3 in Los Angeles and New York following a red-carpet event on September 1 in Los Angeles. It will also be released on all major streaming and cable platforms, and on DVD, October 29. From the director who brought you My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this fable includes Golden Globe® Nominee Lainie Kazan together again with lifelong friend and colleague, Oscar®-nominated Renée Taylor.

    Tango Shalom was a uniquely joint collaboration with The Vatican, a Hasidic Synagogue, a Mosque, and a Sikh Temple, promoting a very timely, and timeless, message of peace, tolerance, and love in these fraught times.

    The film is showing at numerous Jewish film festivals, including San Diego (CA), Charlotte (NC), Sacramento (CA), Miami (FL), JFILM Pittsburgh (PA), JCC Chicago (IL), Wilmington (NC), Boca Raton (FL), JxJ Film (DC), Axelrod (NJ), Berkshire (MA), and Milwaukee (WI). It is also sweeping up awards at top festivals worldwide. Tango Shalom broke boundaries with many firsts, including being the first film to shoot at 770, the world headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Movement in Crown Heights Brooklyn (NY), seat of the most revered Rabbis in modern Jewish history.

    The film is directed by Gabriel Bologna, son of Renée Taylor and the late Joseph Bologna (My Favorite Year, Blame It On Rio, Big Daddy, Lovers and Other Strangers). The elder Bologna also co-wrote and produced the film with the Laniado brothers, Jos and Claudio, Convivencia Forever Films. Co-produced by Joel Zwick, Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks franchise), Zizi Bologna, and Jordi Caballero. The dance sequences, representative of different styles and cultures, were choreographed by Caballero who has worked with Madonna, The Spice Girls, and served as Supervising Choreographer for Dancing With The Stars.

    TRAILERhttps://youtu.be/R6w9qkvKca8

    Synopsis: When a female Tango dancer (Karina Smirnoff) asks a Rabbi (Jos Laniado) to enter a dance competition, there's one big problem—due to his Orthodox beliefs, he's not allowed to touch her! Desperately in need of splitting the prize money to save his Hebrew school from bankruptcy, they develop a plan to enter the competition without sacrificing his faith. The bonds of family and community are tested one dazzling dance step at a time in this lighthearted fable.

    Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films says, “Tango Shalom is a feel-good family movie with a goodwill message and what we all need, no matter your religion or culture. If we all were respectful and tolerant of each other, as the characters in the film are, the world would be a more peaceful place. We hope audiences enjoy the fanciful story, the humor, music, dancing, and star-studded cast.”

    Producer Joel Zwick shares, “It is a rare occurrence that a movie can attain the humor, the warmth and the inclusivity of 'Tango Shalom.'  Brilliantly directed by Gabe Bologna, I am excited to announce that this tender-hearted dance film makes its theatrical debut in New York and California September 3rd. I have been lucky in my career to have directed 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' and I anticipate a similar path for 'Tango Shalom.'"

    The film stars Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Don't Mess With The Zohan), Karina Smirnoff (Dancing With The Stars), Academy® and Emmy® Award-winner Renée Taylor (Adam Sandler's The Do Over, The Producers, CBS' The Nanny, How to Be a Latin Lover), Jos Laniado (Milcho Manchevski's Bikini Moon), Claudio Laniado (Mudbound), Bern Cohen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Judi Beecher (Taken 3, Family is Family, La Garconne).

    In Los Angeles, the film will open at The Landmark theater on Pico and The Town Center 5 in Encino. In New York, the film will open at the AMC Empire 25 and the Village East Cinema by Angelika. Soundtrack provided by Universal Music includes multiple Grammy® Award-winning Gordon Goodwin, Latin Grammy®-nominated Tango sensation Daniel Binelli, British chart-toppers Touch and Go, The Circolo S. Pietro del Vaticano Choir, as well as modern Klezmer bands Golem, The Burning Bush, and Barcelona Gypsy Klezmer Band. Score by Zoe Tiganouria and Zizi Bologna.

    For more information and the full list of awards, accolades and endorsements, please visit tangoshalommovie.com. Press kits available upon request.

    About Vision Films

    Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. visionfilms.net

    Media Inquiries

    For media inquiries, please contact Andrea McKinnon at andrea@amckpr.com

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

  • April 06, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)



    Association for Jewish Studies Announces 2020 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award Winners

    (NEW YORK, NY, April 2021) The Association for Jewish Studies has announced the 2020 winners of the Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards.

    Since 2008, these prestigious annual awards recognize and promote scholarship in the field of Jewish Studies and honor scholars whose work embodies the best in the field: rigorous research, theoretical sophistication, innovative methodology, and excellent writing. Winners receive a $10,000 prize and finalists receive a $2,000 prize.

    Winners and finalists are recognized for books in four categories:

    Biblical Studies, Rabbinics, and Jewish History & Culture in Antiquity

    Winner: Lynn Kaye (Brandeis University) for Time in the Babylonian Talmud: Natural and Imagined Times in Jewish Law and Narrative (Cambridge University Press)
    Finalist: Edward L. Greenstein (Bar-Ilan University) for Job: A New Translation (Yale University Press)

    Jews and the Arts: Music, Performance, and Visual

    Winner: Karen B. Stern (Brooklyn College) for Writing on the Wall: Graffiti and the Forgotten Jews of Antiquity (Princeton University Press)
    Finalist: Ruthie Abeliovich (University of Haifa) for Possessed Voices: Aural Remains from Modernist Hebrew Theater (SUNY Press)

    Modern Jewish History and Culture: Europe and Israel

    Winner: Joshua Teplitsky (Stony Brook University) for Prince of the Press: How One Collector Built History’s Most Enduring and Remarkable Jewish Library (Yale University Press)
    Finalist: Alyssa Quint (YIVO) for The Rise of the Modern Yiddish Theater (Indiana University Press)

    Social Science, Anthropology, and Folklore

    Winner: David S. Koffman (York University) for The Jews’ Indian: Colonialism, Pluralism, and Belonging in America (Rutgers University Press)
    Finalist: Sarah Willen (University of Connecticut) for Fighting for Dignity: Migrant Lives at Israel’s Margins (University of Pennsylvania Press)

    The 2021 Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards will begin accepting submissions later this spring in the categories of Jewish Literature & Linguistics; Medieval & Early Modern Jewish History & Culture; Philosophy & Jewish Thought; and Modern Jewish History and Culture: Africa, Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

    This book award program is made possible by funding from Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.

    The Association for Jewish Studies is the largest learned society and professional organization representing Jewish Studies scholars worldwide, with more than 2,000 members in 33 countries. The mission of the AJS is to advance research and teaching in Jewish Studies at colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, and to foster greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public.

    ###

    If you would like more information about the Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards or the Association for Jewish Studies, please contact Amy Ronek at (917) 606-8249 or aronek@associationforjewishstudies.org.

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.
  • March 23, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    null

    Association for Jewish Studies Offers Opportunity to Learn with World’s Top Jewish Studies Scholars

    Spring Courses in Race & Antisemitism by Marc Dollinger & Pamela Nadell

    (NEW YORK, NY, March 2021) The Association for Jewish Studies is pleased to announce the launch of AJS Academy, which offers online courses with the world’s top Jewish Studies scholars.

    This launch comes as part of the organization’s larger efforts to share Jewish Studies work and research with the wider public. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the AJS has seen growing interest in distance learning and is using this moment to grow its current public program offerings and reach more audiences all over the globe. Besides AJS Academy, those public engagement efforts include the Adventures in Jewish Studies podcast series, an online and in-person lecture series, and Arts and Culture Community Grants.

    The inaugural courses offered through AJS Academy will be taught by Marc Dollinger, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at San Francisco State University and Pamela Nadell, the Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women’s and Gender History at American University.

    Dr. Dollinger’s course will examine Jews and race in United States history and the civil rights movement, while Dr. Nadell’s course will consider the long history of antisemitism in the United States.

    The spring courses are:

    Jews, Race, and the US Civil Rights Movement
    taught by Marc Dollinger, PhD
    4 Mondays at 7 p.m. EDT beginning April 5

    Antisemitism and the American Past
    taught by Pamela Nadell, PhD
    3 Tuesdays at 12 p.m. EDT beginning April 27

    Courses are open to the public, and Friends of the AJS Benefactors are invited to attend for free.

    To learn more about AJS Academy and register, please visit associationforjewishstudies.org/academy.

    AJS Academy is made possible by funding from the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation.

    The Association for Jewish Studies is the largest learned society and professional organization representing Jewish Studies scholars worldwide, with more than 2,000 members in 33 countries. The mission of the AJS is to advance research and teaching in Jewish Studies at colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, and to foster greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public.

    ###

    If you would like more information about AJS Academy or to interview either of the instructors, please contact Amy Ronek at (917) 606-8249 or aronek@associationforjewishstudies.org.

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.
  • March 17, 2021 9:00 AM | Laura Herring (Administrator)

    Yiddish Theatre Ensemble Presents… God of Vengeance (Got Fun Nekome)
    An artful online video adaptation of Sholem Asch’s groundbreaking 1906 Yiddish play
    Directed by Bruce Bierman / English translation by Caraid O'Brien

    Streaming Saturday, March 20 thru Tuesday, March 23, 2021

    Tickets ($18 - $54): klezcalifornia.org/yiddish-theatre-ensemble • www.Eventbrite.com

    For Immediate Release:

    Berkeley, CA… The Yiddish Theatre Ensemble (YTE) planned on presenting the English language translation of the 1906 controversial Yiddish play God of Vengeance (Got Fun Nekome) by Sholem Asch in September 2020 at a theater in Berkeley, California but had to halt production due to the pandemic. Dedicated to this endeavor, YTE devised an innovative approach to presenting theater during this unprecedented time. The play will now be mounted on Vimeo on March 20-23, 2021 as an artful video adaptation  with actors from around the country. Due to COVID restrictions, the actors were rehearsed and filmed on Zoom in full character and costume from their respective locations.  (The cast was never actually in the same room together).

    The multi-cultural, multi-generational and diverse LGBTQ cast of 17 actors, many of whom had never spoken a word of Yiddish before, comes from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond (New York and Las Vegas) and includes nonagenarian veteran of stage, Naomi Newman, co-founder of The Traveling Jewish Theater. Local Treasure Naomi Newman: 90 Years Old and Still Acting

    As the play has been re-set in New York’s Lower East Side during the Depression, digital set designs (or backdrops) were added creating the 1930’s atmosphere with a distinct graphic novel style. The sets, designed by Production Designer, Jeremy Knight, of West Edge Opera, are inspired by photographs courtesy of the Tenement Museum collection with period costumes coordinated by Wardrobe Consultant, Suzanne Stassevich, formerly of San Francisco Opera. The play will be enhanced by an original score, by San Francisco Bay Area Klezmer musician, David Rosenfeld, anchoring the emotional voice of this evocative family drama. 

    This adaptation based on the English translation (but including some Yiddish language and idioms) by Caraid O'Brien stays close to the script with new interpretations of character portrayals and plot development. Themes explored include: issues of domestic violence, dignity and portrayal of sex workers, freedom of expression and acceptance of LGBTQ relationships. As with many of Asch’s plays, powerful female characters give voice and agency to women. The themes speak directly to the inequities of human and civil rights still being fought for today. The play is peppered with humor.

    ABOUT THE PLAY:

    God of Vengeance tells the story of a seemingly observant Jewish couple and their daughter Rivkeleh who live upstairs in their Lower East Side apartment during the Great Depression. Yankl and Soreh do their best to protect their only child from mixing with their bustling livelihood---a thriving 'brothel' business downstairs in the basement. Rivkeleh is at a marriageable age and plans for a future husband are being made.  She is ensured an attractive dowry when her father commissions a Torah scroll, worth thousands, to be written just for her.  Supposedly, the hand-written scroll is believed to protect her and keep her kosher. Meanwhile young Rivkeleh has fallen in love with Mankeh, one of his prostitutes and a tender relationship blossoms. Tensions mount and soon life upstairs and downstairs begin to entangle. As Yankl’s plans are threatened, he begins to unravel.

    The themes of this play are deep and resonate today: can money buy salvation, happiness, holiness? All are explored in this family drama story that has extraordinary tenderness, elements of Greek drama —and a bisl (little) Yiddish. — Laura Sheppard, Producer

    Audiences should know this is not, God forbid, a moralistic play! Sholem Asch himself said he didn’t care if he wrote a moral or immoral play. He only cared about writing a good play that had an impact and spoke to people. — Bruce Bierman, Director

    HISTORY:

    After the play’s opening in Berlin, God of Vengeance had tremendous success throughout Europe and was translated into many languages. Upon arriving in New York, it was first seen in Yiddish at the Provincetown Playhouse in the West Village. The 1923 production in English at the Apollo Theatre in New York was the first to portray a lesbian relationship in a sympathetic light and included the first lesbian kiss on Broadway. That production was assailed by members of the religious and cultural establishment and was charged with obscenity and shut down. The producer and company members were arrested and found guilty.

    The history of Asch and this play was inspiration for the 2015-2017 Tony award-winning Broadway production Indecent which was also seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for which Director Bruce Bierman served as Yiddish Dance Dramaturge. This production only scratched the surface of the original play. Yiddish Theatre Ensemble would like audiences to experience the power of the characters and immediacy today. Yiddish Theatre Ensemble is particularly interested in Sholem Asch because he was the first playwright to incorporate modernity into his plays, mirroring 20th century life in cities and towns rather than focusing on Biblical stories or folk tales of the past.

    ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:

    Sholem Asch (1880–1957). Although he penned several of his 18 plays, shorts stories and novels in the US on New York City’s Lower East Side and at his home in Staten Island, Asch wrote only in Yiddish. Asch is often mentioned in the same breath as other modern Yiddish fiction writers like Sholem Aleichem and I.L. Peretz. The Polish-born author and playwright is the first Yiddish writer to be widely translated into English and to gain worldwide renown, and to have a bestseller in English (The Nazarene). The star literary contributor of the Yiddish newspaper, The Forward (Forverts) from 1915-1940 was the most widely reported and caricatured writer in the Yiddish press from 1915-1950.

    ABOUT YIDDISH THEATRE ENSEMBLE:

    Laura Sheppard, Producer and Bruce Bierman, Director, have collaborated for twelve years to create community-based productions in affiliation with fiscal sponsor KlezCalifornia. Their collaborations include the popular Yiddish musical Di Megileh of Itzik Manger, produced as part of the Jewish Music Festival (2014, 2015), as well as KlezCalifornia’s Cabaret by the Bay. Yiddish Theatre Ensemble is dedicated to producing the rich, rarely performed repertory of the Yiddish theater as well as new works by living artists.

    This production is part of the 40th Anniversary of the Yiddish Book Center (Amherst, MA), the nation’s acclaimed center for the preservation of Yiddish literature and culture and their Year of Translation. This production is fiscally sponsored by KlezCalifornia and supported in part by a Civic Arts Grant from the City of Berkeley.

    CAST/LEAD ACTORS: Roni Alperin -Yankl | Jill Eickmann - Soreh | Elena Faverio - Rivkeleh | Zissel Piazza - Mankeh | Simon Winheld - Shlomo | Esther Mulligan - Hindl | Naomi Newman - Reb Eli | Josiah Prosser - A Scribe | Rebekah Kouy-Ghadosh - Basha | Frances Sedayao – Rayzel

    Click here to view the production photos

    For Calendar Editors:

    WHAT: Yiddish Theatre Ensemble Presents… God of Vengeance
    An artful online video adaptation of Sholem Asch’s 1906 Yiddish play

    WHEN: Streaming from Saturday, March 20 @ 8:30pm through Tuesday, March 23 @ 11:30pm PST

    WHERE: Vimeo

    INFO: klezcalifornia.org/yiddish-theatre-ensemble

    TIX: $18, $36, $54
    ($54 tickets include a VIP Conversation with the actors on Zoom on Sunday, March 21 at 4pm)

    EventBrite.com

    klezcalifornia.org/yiddish-theatre-ensemble

    Contact: Lisa Geduldig
    lisag@igc.org

    Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

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