JArts Spring 2017

JEWISH ARTS COLLABORATIVE 1320 Centre Street Suite 201 Newton Center MA 02459

INSPIR ATION COMES IN MANY

S H A PE S AND

SIZES THIS BOOKLET, FOR INSTANCE IS

NonProfit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BOSTON, MA PERMIT 684

Shpas. Kef. Shuki.

(YIDDISH)

(HEBREW)

(LADINO)

HOWEVER YOU SAY IT, HAVE SOME FUN THIS SPRING

6X9 S P RIN G 20 17

JEWISH ARTS COLLABORATIVE

Sephardic food and Ethiopian funk. Award-winning authors and composers as well as Broadway stars, a Pride cabaret, and planning a major public art project. Let’s have some fun this Spring.

WELCOME

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAVE WITH SEASON PACKAGES

Let’s have some fun. Let’s laugh and dine and dance and think and learn, together.

What’s fun to you? Beyond Bubbie’s Kitchen or a Broadway Cabaret with Judy Kuhn (Fiddler on the Roof, Fun Home)? The Pulitzer Prize-winning compositions of Yehudi Wyner or the Ethiopian rhythms of Israeli star-in-the making, Aveva?

From poetry to public art, let’s experience the creativity of some of today’s most dynamic Jewish artists and thinkers.

To us, having fun with Jewish arts and culture isn’t mere entertainment (“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” as they say on Seinfeld). It is the pride we feel when we’re inspired by new ideas rooted in our oldest traditions. When all is said and done, it is a reminder that great art and culture can make us glad that we are alive.

SAVE WHEN YOU PURCHASE ONE OF OUR SPECIAL CURATED TICKET PACKAGES. WELCOME 2 SEASON PACKAGES

BIG IDEAS

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CALENDAR 4 TICKETS + INFO

THE NEW WORLD OF JEWISH MUSIC

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$80 Including Feiler and Hoffman books (SAVE $7)

$100 (SAVE $15)

 The Art in Heaven Project, March 5

 Asefa Dinner and Concert, March 4

 The First Love Story with Bruce Feiler, March 27

 Aveva Concert, March 30

 Till We Have Built Jerusalem with Adina Hoffman, May 1

 Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret, June 15

FOOD 7

And what’s more fun than that?

HAPPENINGS 9 IDEAS 11 PERFORMANCE 13

Laura Mandel Executive Director

Joey Baron Artistic Director

WHO’S WHO

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EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

SIMPLY CLASSIC

$125 (SAVE $24)

$150 (SAVE $30)

 Beyond Bubbie’s Kitchen, Feb 26

 Ethiopian Israeli Shabbat Dinner with Aveva, March 31

 Public Art Shabbat Dinner with Julia Vogl, April 28

 A Celebration of Yehudi Wyner, March 22 ($125 Reception & Preferred Seating)

 The Art in Heaven Project, March 5

 Broadway Cabaret and Conversation with Seth Rudetsky and Judy Kuhn, April 20

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2,929 BC 3

2017

Thursday, March 30 8:00 PM Ethiopian Israeli Funk with Aveva Somerville Armory Somerville

Friday, March 31 6:30 PM Ethiopian Israeli Shabbat Dinner with Aveva Fenway Community Center Boston

Thursday, May 25 Nikitov (Danish klezmer) Noon Orchard Cove Canton 7:30 PM The Burren Somerville

Monday, May 29 10:00 am – 9:00 PM; concert 5:00 PM Special JArts Concert and the Lodz Ghetto Photography Exhibit Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Saturday, March 4 6:00 PM dinner, 8:00 PM concert Asefa Dinner and Concert Once Ballroom Somerville

A PRI L

Friday, March 3 6:00 PM Sephardic Kabbalat Shabbat Temple Israel Boston

Monday, April 3 6:30 PM Gefilteria: Dinner and Discussion with Cookbook Author Liz Alpern Private Home

Sunday, March 5 2:00 PM The Art in Heaven Project NewBridge on the Charles Dedham

Wednesday, March 22 7:30 PM A Celebration of Yehudi Wyner Jordan Hall Boston

Thursday, April 20 7:30 PM Broadway Cabaret and Conversation with Seth Rudetsky and Judy Kuhn The Center for the Arts in Natick Natick

Friday, April 28 6:30 PM Public Art Shabbat Dinner with Julia Vogl 1320 Centre Street Newton

J UN E

Monday, May 1 7:30 PM Till We Have Built Jerusalem with Adina Hoffman Hebrew College Newton

MARC H

Sunday, Feb 26 5:30 PM Beyond Bubbie’s Kitchen Back Bay Events Center Boston

Monday, March 27 7:30 PM The First Love Story with Bruce Feiler Temple Sinai Brookline

M AY

Try something new OR, IF YOU PREFER, something 5,000 years old

F EB RU ARY

SPRING WITH THE JEWISH ARTS COLLABORATIVE

Monday, June 5 7:30 PM JArts TheaterWorks: A New Play Reading Series Location: TBD

Thursday, June 15 7:30 PM Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret Oberon Cambridge

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MAJOR SPONSORS

ONLINE:

Anonymous

Can you imagine life without matzah ball soup? Preposterous. A world

Visit jartsboston.org

Beal Family

without the Marx Brothers or the Gershwins? Feh.

There is a BUY TICKET button for every event.

Combined Jewish Philanthropies Julie and Ronald M. Druker

SPECIAL THANKS

YOU CAN HELP

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Our culture and our artists need our support. Please consider contributing to JArts so that we can continue to make sure great Jewish

BY PHONE:

Krupp Family Foundation

During usual office hours, call our office at

Myra Musicant and Howard Cohen

617. 531.4610 for assistance.

Polinger Family Foundation

After hours and weekends, you can call

Michael B. Rukin Charitable Foundation

Ovationtix, toll-free, at 866.811.4111.

Paula Sidman

2. Send a check to:

Jewish Arts Collaborative

Susan and Jerry Slavet

1320 Center Street, Suite 201

A WORD ABOUT SERVICE FEES

Millicent C. Starr Charitable Trust

Newton, MA 02459

JArts does everything possible to keep service

Wolk Family & Cross Country Group

fees to a minimum. For tickets that go through our own system, all service fees are included

arts and culture are part of the great Boston cultural scene.

1. Donate Online at www.jartsboston.org/donate

3. Add a donation to your online ticket purchase 4. Contact us if your employer offers a charitable gift matching

in the advertised price. Some venues,

program or community foundation. Email Sunnys@jartsboston.org

however, use their own ticketing systems

for more info.

We are THE PE O PLE O F the book, Clarinet AND fry pan, too

which do require small service fees.

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FOOD Sunday, February 26

Monday, April 3

BEYOND BUBBIE’S KITCHEN

GEFILTERIA: DINNER AND DISCUSSION WITH COOKBOOK AUTHOR LIZ ALPERN

See and taste what happens when some of Boston’s hottest chefs get creative with Jewish cuisine! Beyond Bubbie’s Kitchen is Boston’s biggest and longest-running Jewish food celebration. The 8th annual tasting event will feature a Sephardic theme with dishes by: Mamaleh’s, Juliet, La Morra, Catalyst Café, Michael’s Deli, The Chubby Chickpea, The Fireplace, The Dining Car, Whole Heart Provisions, Mei Mei, The Gallows, Inna’s Kitchen, cocktails by Backbar, and more.

LOCATION: Back Bay Events Center 180 Berkeley Street Boston, MA

TIME: 5:30 – 7:30 PM TICKETS: $40

Nosh

The buzz about NYC’s Gefilteria continues to build when restaurant owners and cookbook authors Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz discuss and teach us how to prepare a dinner of reimagined Jewish classics. Dinner will be served, limited to 20 people.

TILL YOU

plotz

LOCATION: Private Home Fort Point Boston, MA

TIME: 6:30 PM TICKETS: $60

Friday, March 31

ETHIOPIAN ISRAELI SHABBAT DINNER WITH AVEVA A rising star in the Israeli music scene, Aveva will share her story – from her family’s journey from Ethiopia, to her musical adventures across Israel and Europe, including performing with Idan Raichel and competing on Israel’s The Voice. All while we enjoy that magic that happens when Ethiopian and Israeli chefs cook together to create an African-inspired Shabbat dinner.

LOCATION: Fenway Community Center 182 Boylston Street Boston, MA

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TIME: 6:30 PM

TICKETS: $38

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HAPPENINGS

Tuesday, April 25 - Friday, April 28

Monday, May 29 I firmly believe and am dedicated to understanding art that challenges perspectives, brings

JOURNEY AND FREEDOM: EXPLORING A PASSOVER PUBLIC ART PROJECT

people together, and causes moments of pause

JArts has commissioned London-based artist Julia Vogl to develop a significant public art project for Passover 2018, inspired by the holiday’s themes of journey and freedom. Internationally-acclaimed, Julia creates thought-provoking social sculpture that is expertly grounded in community involvement.

and reflection – in shock, stunned awe, joyful admiration or the millions of other sentiments people have toward art.

Friday, April 28

What I like about Julia’s work is its spirit of

PUBLIC ART SHABBAT DINNER WITH ARTIST JULIA VOGL

joyful enquiry. She seems genuinely fascinated

.

by what makes us social creatures. There are very few artists who have a clear commitment

Be a part of the creative process as Julia Vogl explores the stories, symbols, and the universal meaning of Passover. Brainstorm and discuss over a post-Passover chametz-filled dinner

to public art and who do it well – it’s a rare skill,

LOCATION: 1320 Centre Street Suite 301

Newton, MA

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JULIA VOGL

TIME: 6:30 PM TICKETS: $53

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE Please join us for a free concert at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s Memorial Day Open House in honor of the special exhibition; Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross*. These stunning photographs reveal the struggles and celebrations of everyday life in a community under incomprehensible circumstances. The exhibit both documents the Holocaust and stands as a tribute to perseverance and memory. JArts is proud to continue our collaboration with the MFA as, together, we present a special Memorial Day concert. For more information about the exhibition, visit mfa.org.

LOCATION: Museum of Fine Arts 465 Huntington Ave Boston, MA

TIME: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Concert: 3:00 PM

TICKETS: Free

*Organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

to which the sheer number of twee, tedious or downright god-awful public works attests. More of this please.

NANCY DURRANT Arts Commissioning Editor The Times (London)

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IDEAS Friday, March 3

SEPHARDIC KABBALAT SHABBAT Ethnomusicologist Dr. Samuel Thomas will lead Kabbalat Shabbat favorites to Sephardic melodies to. After services, there will be an Oneg Shabbat reception and an opportunity to explore Sephardic culture.

LOCATION: Temple Israel 471 Longwood Ave Boston, MA

TIME: 6:00 PM TICKETS: No charge

Sunday, March 5

THE ART IN HEAVEN PROJECT Art in Heaven is a film by photographer Z.S. Rosenfeld who traveled across Europe capturing sacred architectural icons of lost Jewish communities. Asefa’s Gibraltar-born guitarist and singer, Elie Massias creates an improvised soundtrack to the film with guitar, voice, saxophone, keyboard, and looping recorder, bringing these disappearing, sacred structures back to life. Reception to follow.

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FEATURED ARTIST: Elie Mattias

TIME: 2:00 PM

LOCATION: NewBridge on the Charles Dedham, MA

TICKETS: $18

Monday, March 27

Monday, June 5

THE FIRST LOVE STORY: ADAM, EVE & US

JARTS THEATERWORKS: A NEW PLAY READING SERIES

A conversation with author Bruce Feiler and WBUR’s Robin Young Join New York Times columnist and best-selling author (Walking the Bible and Abraham) Bruce Feiler as he shares his travels from the Garden of Eden in Iraq to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, from John Milton’s London to Mae West’s Hollywood, discovering how Adam and Eve should be hailed as exemplars of a healthy, resilient relationship. This journey across four continents and 4,000 years explores how Adam and Eve introduced the idea of love into the world, and how they continue to shape our deepest feelings about it. The conversation with Robin Young will be recorded for future broadcast.

LOCATION: Temple Sinai 50 Sewall Ave Brookline, MA TIME: 7:30 PM TICKETS: Ticket & book: $36

Monday, May 1

TILL WE HAVE BUILT JERUSALEM A Conversation with Adina Hoffman and Rafi Segal A fascinating conversation of three architects who were instrumental in shaping modern Jerusalem. Author Adina Hoffman (co-author of Sacred Trash, story of the Cairo Geniza) and Israeli architect Rafi Segal discuss the people behind the buildings and the recurring themes of loss, exile, and belonging.

LOCATION: Hebrew College 160 Herrick Road Newton Center, MA

Delve into Jewish theater with this new three-part series of play readings, read and directed by theater professionals. Each reading will be followed by a conversation that helps unpack the work and the Jewish story behind it. The first event will be a reading of “God’s Honest Truth,” by Renee Calarco, directed

by DeDe Jacobs-Komisar and featuring Boston theater treasure Annette Miller, the original star of Golda’s Balcony. The final two events of this series will be directed by Barbara Wallace Grossman and Becky Price (information coming soon — please email info@jartsboston.org if you have questions).

LOCATION: TBA

TIME: 7:30 PM TICKETS: Pay What You Wish

IT ’ S LIKE TR AV ELIN G TO

ISRAEL, BROADWAY, OR E VEN

EDEN ON CE Y OU F IN D A PARKIN G SPACE

TIME: 7:30 PM TICKETS: Ticket & book: $40 Ticket, only: $18

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THE MICHAEL B. RUKIN MEMORIAL CONCERT Michael B. Rukin (z”l), entrepreneur, philanthropist, esteemed Jewish leader, an activist for Israel, Soviet Jewry, inclusion in the Jewish community and so much more. He was also a great supporter of art and music. This is the inaugural concert of an annual series in his memory, made possible by the kind generosity of the Michael B. Rukin Charitable Foundation. We miss him dearly.

Wednesday, March 22

PERFORMANCES INCLUDE: Music for Isaac Bashevis Singer’s play “The Mirror” “West of the Moon,” for guitar, mandolin, flute, oboe, violin, and cello “O to Be a Dragon” on poems of Marianne Moore “Shir Ha Shirim” Song of Songs

A CELEBRATION OF YEHUDI WYNER

“Concordance” for violin, viola, cello, piano

Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize in Music and a Grammy award, Yehudi Wyner is one of the great treasures of Boston’s classical music world. He has received commissions from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, Library of Congress, the Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

His other honors include two Guggenheim Fellowships, The Institute of Arts and Letters Award, the Rome Prize, the Brandeis Creative Arts Award, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Elise Stoeger Prize for “lifetime contribution to chamber music.”

“A musical mensch-in-residence,” The Boston Globe describes him as “a composer with a fiercely independent spirit, a modernist who believes that serious music can and should still bring sensual pleasure.”

The program captures the eclectic diversity of Yehudi’s work. Following the performance, classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz will moderate a discussion with Yehudi.

“Duologue” for 2 pianos SCHEDULED PERFORMERS INCLUDE all-stars of Boston classical music: Richard Stoltzman, clarinet Daniel Stepner, violin Rafael Popper-Keizer, cello Ya-Fei Chuang, piano Robert Schulz, percussion Susan Hagen, double bass Gabriel Diaz, violin Sarah Brady, flute Oren Fader, guitar Bill Anderson, mandolin

LOCATION: Jordan Hall 30 Gainsborough Street Boston, MA

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TICKETS: Preferred seating and

TIME: Reception: 6:00 PM

Susan Davenny-Wyner, choral director

pre-concert reception: $125 Reserved seating: $20 & $40

Concert: 7:30 PM

As well as a few surprises.

Yehudi Wyner, piano

Friday, May 12

HONEGGER, WYNER, AND WEINER Cantata Singers’ season concludes with Arthur Honegger’s King David paired with music by Yehudi Wyner and his father Lazar Weiner. In lieu of a pre-concert talk, a Kabbalat Shabbat service will be held at 6:30 pm to contextualize the evening’s program.

LOCATION: Jordan Hall 30 Gainsborough Street Boston, MA TIME: 8:00 PM

TICKETS: Use discount code JACMAY online at cantatasingers.org or by calling 617.868.5885 for 20% off any ticket level. $25-69.

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Saturday, March 4

SEPHARDIC SOUNDS AND SPICES: ASEFA IN CONCERT Spanish and Ladino poetry combine with North African rhythms and jazz to create the distinct sound of Asefa. Led by ethnomusicologist Dr. Samuel Thomas, Asefa features some of NYC’s finest Jewish, jazz and world musicians. We’ll discuss Asefa’s Ladino roots over a Sephardic-inspired meal created Somerville’s award-winning Cuisine en Locale. With an after-dinner concert, of course.

LOCATION: ONCE Ballroom

TIME: Dinner and

156 Highland Ave Somerville, MA

Conversation: 6:00 PM Concert: 8:00 PM

TICKETS: Dinner and Concert: $65 per person, $118 for two Concert only: $25

Thursday, March 30

Thursday, May 25

ETHIOPIAN ISRAELI FUNK WITH AVEVA

NIKITOV

Aveva is bringing the groove from the plains of Africa through the urban beat of Tel Aviv. The Aveva AfroSoul Show presents powerful songs in English and Amharic, dealing with society, love, and freedom.

Combining traditional Ethiopian instruments, the group, founded by the charismatic singer Aveva Dese, creates a fascinating connection between cultures in Israel and around the world. Discovered on the Israeli version of The Voice, Aveva has toured with Idan Raichel and appeared at festivals across Israel and Europe.

LOCATION: Somerville Armory 191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA TIME: 8:00 PM TICKETS: $20 in advance $25 at the door

European jazz/pop arrangements and musicianship are balanced by singer Niki Jacobs’ loving embrace of her Yiddish roots. The result is hip, sexy, and heartfelt.

LUNCH CONCERT LOCATION: Orchard Cove 1 Del Pond Road Cantonn, MA

TICKETS: $25 including lunch

TIME: 12:00 PM

Thursday, June 15

MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER:

KLEZMER AT THE BURREN

Thursday, April 20

SETH RUDETSKY AND JUDY KUHN: A BROADWAY CABARET AND CONVERSATION An evening of song and conversation with two of Broadway’s brightest lights. Seth is a pianist, actor, Playbill columnist, and host on Sirius/XM’s On Broadway. He has played for more than a dozen Broadway shows including Ragtime, Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera. Singing the lead in Disney’s Pocahontas and currently starring on Broadway as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Judy Kuhn is a four-time TONY award nominee. Expect a wonderful evening of songs and stories.

Made possible with support from a MetroWest Strategic Grant from Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

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This contemporary Danish klezmer ensemble’s sophisticated

LOCATION: The Center for the Arts, Natick 141 Summer Street Natick, MA TIME: 7:30 PM TICKETS: $40

LOCATION: The Burren 247 Elm Street Somerville, MA

TICKETS: $20 in advance $25 at the door

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem TIME: 7:30 PM

Martha Graham Cracker is considered to be Philadelphia’s best cabaret performer.

Created by Dito van Reigersberg, Martha is a powerful 6 foot+ cabaret singer, comedian, and entertainer. In obvious need of manscaping, Martha and her band will provide a marvelous and moving evening of song. Martha was a year-long artist-in-residence at the National Jewish Museum and has performed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Joe’s Pub in NYC, L’Etage, and elsewhere. After the show, enjoy an audience talkback with Martha and Abe Rybeck, founder of Boston’s Theater Offensive.

AFTER THE SHOW: Post-show conversation with Martha and Abe Rybeck Produced with ART’s Oberon LOCATION: Oberon 2 Arrow Street Cambridge, MA

TIME: 7:30 PM

TICKETS: Reserved seating: $25

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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HOST COMMITTEE

STAFF

Howard Cohen, Chair

Gloria Rose

Susan Benjamin, Co-Chair

Sylvia and Alan Goodman

Daniel Navisky, Clerk

Alan Rottenberg

Adrien Khelemsky, Co-Chair

Shirley and Chuck Hurwitz

David Orlinoff, Treasurer

Janet Sanders

Syrille Rosman, Co-Chair

Ruth Isaacs

Lorre Polinger, Vice Chair

James Segel

Rachael Ades

Beth and Stephen Israel

Sari Anne Rapkin, Vice Treasurer

Barry Shrage

Helene and David Bailen

Judy Isroff

Robert Beal

Paula Sidman, Past Chair

Michelle Barmazel-Steinberg

Aubrey and Roleen Katz

Barry Bluestone

Gerald Slavet, Past Chair

Lydia Baumrind

Bonnie Margulies

Steven Cohen

Kevin Steinberg

Lizzie Bell

Chana and Steven Meyer

Howard Cohen

Barry Weisman

Barry Benjamin

Becky Price

Ronald Druker, Past Chair

Howard Wolk

Susan and Barry Bergman

Fran and Donald Putnoi

Lara Freishtat

Chris Wyett

Joan Sobel Blair

Arlene Rand

Leslie Gaffin

Ellen Cohen-Kaplan and Jeffrey Kaplan

Diane Rubin

Harriet Goldin

Madelyn and Bruce Donoff

Suzanne Salamon

Rosalind Gorin

Sherri and Kenneth Falchuk

Leslie and Steven Saul

Morris Housen

Toby and Barry Farman

Nina and Eli Schneider

Alison Hammer

Michele Fishel and Barry Weisman

Lisa Seidel

Fred Ledley

Fern Fisher and Jack Eiferman

Barbra Sher

Bonnie Margulies

Pam and Mark Fisher

Eliana Southworth

Michael Miller, Past Chair

Debbie Gerofsky

Karen Tucker and Jerry Avorn

Hankus Netsky

Harriet and Mickey Goldin

Ellen Zarrow-Nissenbaum and

Suzanne Priebatsch

Pam and Alan Goodman

Alan Nissenbaum

ABOUT US

JEWISH ARTS COLLABORATIVE

The Jewish Arts Collaborative is a bold new initiative to infuse Jewish arts and culture into our community. The Collaborative brings together the Boston Jewish Music Festival and the New Center for Arts and Culture, in partnership with an array of Boston’s cultural and Jewish organizations. Simply put, the Collaborative brings the art to the Jewish and the Jewish to the art.

Laura Mandel, Executive Director The Collaborative is the product of extensive conversations

Jim Ball, Director of Communications Joey Baron, Artistic Director

and planning by local Jewish cultural leaders. This inaugural season reflects the creativity of today and unleashes the unlimited potential of tomorrow.

Marissa Gross, Office Manager Matt Hoffman, Bookkeeper Kara Kirby, Administrative Coordinator Sunny Stich, Development Specialist Jeffrey Werner, Graphic Designer

JEWISH ARTS COLLABORATIVE

HORA LI KE

NOB ODY ’S WATC HING

1320 Centre Street Suite 201 Newton Center, MA 02459 617.531.4610 info@jartsboston.org www.jartsboston.org 18