All May Jewish Culture 101 Classes Now Free
Registration is open for online classes on GI Jews, Cabaret, and Debbie Friedman
To keep things simple, I’ll no longer be selling individual tickets to the Encore classes, which means for the rest of May (at least), all four remaining Jewish Culture 101 classes are available to the public free of charge. They are:
Monday, May 18: GI JEWS
• Noon EDT: "Defender of the Faith"
Philip Roth’s classic short story about an assimilated sergeant challenged by an upstart private who tries to use their shared Jewish identity to gain special privileges.
• 12:50 pm EDT: Biloxi Blues
Neil Simon's autobiographical play/movie Biloxi Blues explores the responses to anti-Semitism - and the sexual awakening - of a Jewish private in boot camp.
Monday, May 25: "If You Could See Cabaret Through My Eyes"
This 90-minute class will meet twice - at Noon EDT and at 7 pm EDT.
Bob Fosse's brilliant 1972 film Cabaret is really Jewish: from Jewish songwriters Kander & Ebb to Master of Ceremonies Joel Grey to themes of anti-Semitic prejudice. What does the Kit Kat Klub symbolize in the Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret, and the 1972 Bob Fosse movie? Songs like “Mein Herr” and “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” contain so much more than meets the eye. A close look at the lyrics, the staging, and the acting.
Thursday, May 28 (Bonus Shavuot Class): Debbie Friedman 101
• Special start time: 11 am EDT
Debbie Friedman’s liturgical music democratized worship, then the synagogue, and eventually the wider Jewish community. In honor of Shavuot we'll remember - and celebrate - her life and music. Bring memories if you have them!
To register for any of the classes, press the links above. If you’ve already signed up, there’s nothing you need to do.
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Please, stay stay safe.
-David Benkof