16
Federation Star
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
December 2023
Comedian and author Joel Chasnoff featured in two December events “Celebration of Jewish Life” By Rabbi Fishel Zaklos, Chabad Naples
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he “Celebration of Jewish Life” Jewish experiences. From his nine years in program hosted by Chabad of Jewish day school to his IDF service and Naples brings a showcase of the challenge of raising Jewish kids, his Jewish presenters to Naples to entertain, stories are those that make us who we are. enrich and empower community members. A favorite in the Jewish world for more It provides opportunities to come together than 20 years, Chasnoff has performed at for cultural experiences and to explore more than 1,500 synagogues, JCCs and the richness and diversity of Jewish life. Chabads in America, Europe and Israel. The December events feature Joel ChasJoin us on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. noff, stand-up comedian, former IDF at Chabad (1789 Mandarin Road) for soldier and author of multiple “Jewish Comedy Night.” nonfiction books. Tickets are $25 for general o ion f Jew t Chasnoff’s comedy is clever, admission in advance ($30 at clean, hip and hilarious. the door); $54 for VIP seatHis humor is based on real ing; $100 for a private cocktail 2023-24
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Enrichment Entertainment Empowerment Enlightenment Engagement
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reception with Chasnoff from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and VIP seating. On the following afternoon, 2 p.m. at the Naples Conference Center (1455 Pine Ridge Road), join us for “Celebrate Israel: An afternoon of stories, reflection and conversation with Joel Chasnoff.” Chasnoff will have copies of his new book, “Israel 201,” available for purchase and signing. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. For details on these and the other “Celebration of Jewish Life” events and to order tickets, visit CJLnaples.com or call 239-262-4474.
Joel Chasnoff
The Jewish heritage in American folk-art exhibit By Arlene Stolnitz
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o, you ask (having read my article in the October Federation Star article), what is this subject all about? In the 1980s, the Jewish Museum and the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City collaborated in an exhibition they would call “The Jewish Heritage in American Folk Art.” It explored a subject which was largely unknown to scholars. There was virtually little or no
information readily available. Naturally, specialists in both Jewish religious ceremonial art and American folk art were apprehensive. They were not even sure if there was enough material for an exhibit. However, researchers continued their exploration and, two years later, curated an impressive collection of significant pieces, many of which were previously unknown. The exhibit was so impressive
CHANUKAH
DINNER PART Y
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25th ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION! DECEMBER 11, 6:30pm CYPRESS WOODS COUNTRY CLUB, NAPLES Featuring cocktails, an elaborate buffet dinner, and entertainment Guest Fee $85 per person
RSVP by December 7 at NaplesJewishCongregation.org
NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION A S M A L L C O N G R E G AT I O N W I T H A B I G H E A R T
that it later traveled to several major cities According to researchers at The Jewacross the U.S. ish Museum, Ring was born in Vishya, The exhibit included items such as Lithuania and emigrated to the United ketubahs (marriage contracts), prayer States in 1902. He was a widower with shawl bags, pinkas (registers), omer counfive children. He earned his living as ters, memorial plaques, matzah covers, a Hebrew teacher and scribe (sofer) in seder towels, mizrachs (plaque denoting Rochester. His expertise, however, was in Eastern Wall), Torah binders, microhis creation of memorial plaques and mizgraphic portraits, challah covrachim, which were displayed ers, silhouettes, circumcision admiringly in synagogues record, ceremonial chairs and throughout the community. even carousel horses (to be To understand the imporexplained in a later column). tance of his work, and of With major grants from others who were producing The National Endowment Judaic artworks during that for the Arts and the New time, we must understand York State Council on the that period. During the late Arts, along with several fam1900s, there was a great influx ily foundations, the exhibit of Jewish immigrants into the was organized by Norman L. United States from Eastern Kleeblatt, long-time curator, Europe. They brought with Arlene Stolnitz critic and consultant at the them many of their crafts Jewish Museum in New York and the late known to us as “folk art.” Their expertise Gerard C. Wertkin, past director of The in the field of handicrafts was considerable. American Folk Art Museum. Among them were cap making, haberSo, what has all of this got to do with dashery, boot making, goldsmithing, and my family? more. There were also lesser handicrafts, One beautifully sunny day (rare in often extremely original and beautiful in Rochester, NY), my husband and I their simplicity. With little contemporary received a phone call from Rabbi Abradocumentation, knowledge of these crafts ham Karp, z’l, who at that time was our is scarce. These lesser-known handicrafts esteemed rabbi at Temple Beth El, a were the subject of the exhibit “The Jewish Conservative temple in Rochester, NY. Heritage in American Folk Art.” He informed us that our My next article will focus on the family possessed some art of paper cutting, popular in pieces of Judaic artwork Poland in the late 1900s. that could be an important Baruch Zvi Ring was a “maspart of an upcoming exhibit ter” in that art form. His works being organized by the Jewish are still displayed, not only in Museum of New York and the synagogues but in Judaic art American Folk Art Museum. galleries in Eastern Europe as As a scholar and historian of well as the U.S. Judaica, Rabbi Karp owned “See” you in my next artiseveral of these pieces, which cle with a discussion on the art of paper were paper-cuts, and knew of others in cutting, its origin and influence on various synagogues in the Rochester enviAmerican Folk Art. rons. Rabbi Karp also knew the artist was Arlene Stolnitz, the “Jewish Music” conBaruch Zvi Ring, my husband, Avrum (A. tributor to Federation papers the past eight Harvey) Stolnitz’ s maternal grandfather! years, is starting a new series focusing on An interesting aside is that Ring was Judaic folk art. A native of Rochester, NY, my father’s Hebrew teacher, a fact I did Stolnitz is a retired educator and lives in not discover until many years later. Venice, Florida.
