There are so many wonderful cultural learning opportunities within our thriving Greater Buffalo Jewish Community. We've posted links here to the happenings in our community to keep you informed. If you have an announcement that you would like to see included, please email it to us!
Yom HaShoah--Holocaust Remembrance Day
https://www.jccbuffalo.org/event/yom-hashoah-holocaust-remembrance-day/

JCC Online Event
April 6 | 2:00 pm
In commemorating the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and the heroism of survivors join Galicia Jewish Museum Chief Curator Tomasz Strug, Robert Hirsch artist, curator, educator, historian, and Dr. Shawn Kelley, Professor of Philosophy/Religious Studies, Department Chair, Daemen College to discuss the photography of the Holocaust, specifically focusing on The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross. From 1940 to 1944, Ross documented life inside the Lodz Ghetto. Officially, Ross worked for the ghetto’s Jewish Administration’s Statistics department, photographing the Jewish ghetto’s inhabitants for identification cards and for Nazi propaganda images. When Ross was not working in his bureaucratic capacity, he risked his life to photograph the reality of daily ghetto life. Ross understood the importance of photographically documenting the Nazi genocide to repudiate those who would not believe or who would deny it happened. The event will conclude with a Q&A. Free Event, Registration Required (see below)
This is an online event and will be streamed through YouTube live. A link will be emailed after registration, please check your spam folders.
This event is presented by the JCC of Buffalo in partnership with the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, Jewish Community Relations Council, CEPA Gallery, Daemen College and the Galicia Jewish Museum.
April 6 | 2:00 pm
In commemorating the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and the heroism of survivors join Galicia Jewish Museum Chief Curator Tomasz Strug, Robert Hirsch artist, curator, educator, historian, and Dr. Shawn Kelley, Professor of Philosophy/Religious Studies, Department Chair, Daemen College to discuss the photography of the Holocaust, specifically focusing on The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross. From 1940 to 1944, Ross documented life inside the Lodz Ghetto. Officially, Ross worked for the ghetto’s Jewish Administration’s Statistics department, photographing the Jewish ghetto’s inhabitants for identification cards and for Nazi propaganda images. When Ross was not working in his bureaucratic capacity, he risked his life to photograph the reality of daily ghetto life. Ross understood the importance of photographically documenting the Nazi genocide to repudiate those who would not believe or who would deny it happened. The event will conclude with a Q&A. Free Event, Registration Required (see below)
This is an online event and will be streamed through YouTube live. A link will be emailed after registration, please check your spam folders.
This event is presented by the JCC of Buffalo in partnership with the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, Jewish Community Relations Council, CEPA Gallery, Daemen College and the Galicia Jewish Museum.
Book Discussion with Mark Gerson, Author of The Telling
https://www.jccbuffalo.org/event/mark-gerson/

Monday April 7th at 4:00 pm
Mark Gerson, The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life
In Conversation with: Rabbi Brian Glusman, MJCCA
ZOOM Webinar Author Talk + Q & A
Free ticket includes one complimentary copy of the book with shipping (shipping to the US only)
Life changing wisdom from one of Judaism’s most powerful texts.
The Haggadah, which can be found in Jewish homes around the world, has guided Jewish families and friends through Pesach celebrations for a millennia. In The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life, author Mark Gerson shows how even the most familiar passages from the Haggadah are sitting on top of buried treasures ready to help us live more meaningful and fulfilling lives today. The Telling will enable readers to make their Seder the most engaging, inspiring and important night of the year — and to understand how Jewish wisdom can help them to live their happiest, most purposeful and worthwhile lives.
Mark Gerson, The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life
In Conversation with: Rabbi Brian Glusman, MJCCA
ZOOM Webinar Author Talk + Q & A
Free ticket includes one complimentary copy of the book with shipping (shipping to the US only)
Life changing wisdom from one of Judaism’s most powerful texts.
The Haggadah, which can be found in Jewish homes around the world, has guided Jewish families and friends through Pesach celebrations for a millennia. In The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life, author Mark Gerson shows how even the most familiar passages from the Haggadah are sitting on top of buried treasures ready to help us live more meaningful and fulfilling lives today. The Telling will enable readers to make their Seder the most engaging, inspiring and important night of the year — and to understand how Jewish wisdom can help them to live their happiest, most purposeful and worthwhile lives.
HRC Presents: L'Dor V'dor From Generation to Generation with Keynote Speaker Jim Klein
https://YomHaShoahCommemoration/
JRT Presents Filmed Staged Reading of Exquisite Potential
https://jewishrepertorytheatre.com/tickets/

JEWISH REPERTORY THEATRE OF WNY PRESENTS:
Exquisite Potential
Available for digital download April 8-28th
All parents think their children are brilliant. Alan Zuckerman just happens to think his 3-year-old son, David, is the Messiah. Thirty years ago, Alan and his wife, Laura, visited their rabbi to verify David’s possible divine nature. Thirty years later, everyone older and wiser, it appears that dad might have been onto something.
Exquisite Potential
Available for digital download April 8-28th
All parents think their children are brilliant. Alan Zuckerman just happens to think his 3-year-old son, David, is the Messiah. Thirty years ago, Alan and his wife, Laura, visited their rabbi to verify David’s possible divine nature. Thirty years later, everyone older and wiser, it appears that dad might have been onto something.
36th Annual Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival
http://bijff.com/films/
36th Annual Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival
Special Events, Virtual Film Screenings and more!
Film Screening and TalkBack event for Yom Ha'atzmaut
Kick-Off Film Screening at the Transit Drive-In
Virtually Screening 13 films - something for everyone
Tuesday TalkBack events with guest speakers
Single Ticket, Flex Pass and All Access ticketing options
Special Events, Virtual Film Screenings and more!
Film Screening and TalkBack event for Yom Ha'atzmaut
Kick-Off Film Screening at the Transit Drive-In
Virtually Screening 13 films - something for everyone
Tuesday TalkBack events with guest speakers
Single Ticket, Flex Pass and All Access ticketing options
BIJFF Celebrates Yom Ha'atzmaut: Screening of Ben-Gurion
http://bijff.com/celebrating-yom-haatzmaut/
BIJFF Kick Off Event at the Transit Drive-In
http://bijff.com/kick-off-event-at-the-transit-drive-in/
Spring Classes are in Session at the JCC
https://www.jccbuffalo.org/

New Classes Starting Now!
The New Spring Class Schedule for the JCC Cultural Arts is available by clicking HERE.
You can also visit https://www.jccbuffalo.org/ or email Katie Wzontek at kwzontek@jccbuffalo.org for more information.
The New Spring Class Schedule for the JCC Cultural Arts is available by clicking HERE.
You can also visit https://www.jccbuffalo.org/ or email Katie Wzontek at kwzontek@jccbuffalo.org for more information.
Made in Buffalo Presents From Broadway to Buffalo
https://buffalojewishfederation.org/mib-cheryl-stern/
Leonard Cohen on ChaiFlicks
https://www.chaiflicks.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-mr-leonard-cohen
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Mr. Leonard Cohen Produced in 1965, this intimate portrait of the legendary Leonard Cohen captures his life as an acclaimed poet and novelist before he launched his career as a singer-songwriter in 1967. Follow Cohen through his hometown of Montreal as he performs his poetry for rapt audiences, makes television appearances, visits his mother at his childhood home, and more - all the while commenting on the nature of documentary filmmaking and storytelling itself. Watch LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... MR. LEONARD COHEN now on ChaiFlicks! |
Sacred Art From an Italian Ghetto
https://momentmag.com/visual-moment-sacred-art-from-an-italian-ghetto/

In the middle of the 18th century in the city of Ancona on the Adriatic coast of central Italy, a young Jewish girl, about age 15, produced a stunning work of embroidery. The intricate textile was a Torah ark curtain, or parokhet, likely destined for the local Italian synagogue. At the lower edge of the textile, the girl, who was the daughter of a rabbi, embroidered an inscription in Hebrew that included her name and the date—Simhah Viterbo, in the year ha-yasher ve-ha-tov, the year of “the straight and the good”(Hebrew 5515, or 1754-1755). Interestingly, this elegant, silk satin curtain, which was embellished in silver and gold, was crafted in Ancona’s Jewish ghetto, Simhah’s home.
New Program Helps WNY Jewish Teens Fight Anti-Semitism
https://news.wbfo.org/post/new-program

A new educational initiative of the Buffalo Jewish Federation is facilitating conversations between Jewish teenagers and their non-Jewish high school peers in an effort to promote understanding and fight anti-Semitism.
The program, called Student to Student, was originally developed by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis more than 10 years ago, but its replication in Western New York couldn’t be more timely: Hate crimes motivated by religion rose about 7% in 2019, according to the latest FBI statistics, and 60% of crimes in that category targeted Jews—far more than any other religious group. There’s also a closely documented link between anti-Semitism and a wide range of extremist groups in the U.S.
The program, called Student to Student, was originally developed by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis more than 10 years ago, but its replication in Western New York couldn’t be more timely: Hate crimes motivated by religion rose about 7% in 2019, according to the latest FBI statistics, and 60% of crimes in that category targeted Jews—far more than any other religious group. There’s also a closely documented link between anti-Semitism and a wide range of extremist groups in the U.S.
Join Virtual Tours of Israel with Jewish National Fund
https://www.jnf.org/visit-israel

Visit Israel LIVE from Your Living Room
on a Virtual TourCan’t get to Israel? Let Israel come to you. JNF is bringing hundreds of people to Israel—RIGHT NOW! Pack your bags and take a trip without leaving the comfort of your own home.
See a side of Israel you have never seen with JNF. Join a "busload" of participants and experience biblical and modern Israel, famous tourist attractions, off the beaten path sites, Jewish National Fund projects and places, and hidden gems—all from the comfort of your own home. See sites like the Old City of Jerusalem, the Ayalon Institute, Rosh Ha'Nikra, Akko, JNF's Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, Be'er Sheva, Timna Park, and more without even leaving your house! It's the next best thing.
Cost
Your $50 registration fee per Zoom spot includes a week of touring. Invite your household to come along on the journey.
How It Works
For one week, join us for one hour a day (Monday through Thursday) for live touring of Israel. After a short break, log back in for a one hour social dinner/cocktail hour. Friday will feature a one hour pre-Shabbat experience.
on a Virtual TourCan’t get to Israel? Let Israel come to you. JNF is bringing hundreds of people to Israel—RIGHT NOW! Pack your bags and take a trip without leaving the comfort of your own home.
See a side of Israel you have never seen with JNF. Join a "busload" of participants and experience biblical and modern Israel, famous tourist attractions, off the beaten path sites, Jewish National Fund projects and places, and hidden gems—all from the comfort of your own home. See sites like the Old City of Jerusalem, the Ayalon Institute, Rosh Ha'Nikra, Akko, JNF's Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, Be'er Sheva, Timna Park, and more without even leaving your house! It's the next best thing.
Cost
Your $50 registration fee per Zoom spot includes a week of touring. Invite your household to come along on the journey.
How It Works
For one week, join us for one hour a day (Monday through Thursday) for live touring of Israel. After a short break, log back in for a one hour social dinner/cocktail hour. Friday will feature a one hour pre-Shabbat experience.
Community Compassion Fund
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Help Create the JCC Virtual Covid-19 Time Capsule
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The Buffalo Jewish Federation and The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies have created a Community Compassion Fund to help our community through the COVID-19 crisis.
Every dollar raised will go to support individuals and families. Distributions will be administered by Jewish Family Services enabling them to support essential services to our most vulnerable populations so their basic needs can be met including mental health and wellness counseling, as well as funds for food, prescriptions, rent subsidies and other essentials. So far, the Community Compassion Fund has provided financial support to furloughed Jewish communal workers, helped to underwrite the Seder in a Box program through Kosher Meals on Wheels, and assisted families with burial arrangements. Together, we can do more! Your gift today will help the people of Jewish Buffalo tomorrow. |
We each have experiences to share about coping, growing and learning from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. You are invited to reflect, and join us to create a “virtual time capsule” of photographs and words. The process will be easy and enjoyable, using PixStori, a new social media platform to add brief audio reflections to photos you provide.
Please contact Katie Wzontek with questions kwzontek@jccbuffalo.org. Share your Pixstori Today, everyone is welcome and encouraged to join! |