Summertime, and the livin' is easy. Or, in our case, Zumertsayt, and the Yiddish is easy . . . . 
With the warmer weather and longer days, we thought you might have some time and energy to learn a bisl (little) Yiddish.
 
You're in luck! The   Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring  has some wonderful online courses. And if you want to learn more about interesting topics like the folklore of Ashkenaz, or the story of the Yiddish stage, our friends at   YIVO  have some online Yiddish culture classes.
 
And if you are so excited, you want to start learning Yiddish right now, here are a few words to get you started:
Zumer  - Summer (think of, well, summer) 
Harbst - Autumn (think of harvest) 
Vinter -  Winter (think of winter) 
Friling - Spring (just have to memorize this one)
Yiddish Wisdom

SubwayA Subway to Paradise  

The Nign: A Subway to Paradise 
with 
Jeanette Lewicki 
For singers and instrumentalists, all ages, all acoustic instruments 
Presented by KlezCalifornia 

Sunday, June 3, 3:45-6:45 pm 
 
What is a nign? A catchy tune? A mystical formula? The source of klezmer music? What are nigunim? Songs without words-music without instruments-a subway system of the heart? We can ask these questions and more while learning to sing and play nigunim collected by folklorist Ruth Rubin in 1948. 
 
We'll look at deceptively simple transcriptions, and consider elements like ornamentation, phrasing, and tone that are easy to hear but awkward to write. This class will combine music-reading & ear-training; singers and players; sacred song & circus music. We'll answer questions, question answers, and learn a spiritual drinking song. "In the next world, will there be vodka?"
 
Check out all the details. Drop-ins welcome, but we can guarantee enough sheet music and snacks if you RSVP and tell us what instrument you play or whether you will be singing.  

Bring a friend!
Share the FB event page with your friends. Bring someone who has never come before, and you
get a coupon for a future workshop at no charge. Such a deal!

Watch for the announcement of the next  
KlezCalifornia workshops, coming soon! 
  SongsAn Evening that Sings with Stories

Songs of Influence: An evening of music, singing, and storytelling 
with director Marc Smolowitz and writer Alix Wall.
Thursday, June 7, 7pm

 Premiere of "In Retrospect... A Heroine," about Alix Wall's grandmother, Rachela. Gerry Tenney, Mike Perlmutter, and Dmitri Gaskin will teach a portion of "The Lonely Child," a lullaby about Alix Wall's mother and grandmother, written in the Vilna Ghetto in 1943 by poet and partisan Shmerke Kaczerginski.

The in-person Jewish Film Institute event is by invitation only. However the public may participate via Facebook Live. Check Facebook for the link.

Co-presented by KlezCalifornia.
  FlisikFlisik Yidish Salon 

Fluent in Yiddish?  
Come to KlezCalifornia's free monthly conversation salon!

Sunday, June 17, 2-4pm
Walnut Creek
Email or call 415.789.7679
  • Lekoved foterstog, dertseylt vegn a zikorn fun ayer tatn oder farvos ir benkt nokh im.
     
  • Azoy vi yuni iz der khoydesh fun graduirungen, dertseylt vegn vos iz aykh geven vikhtik ven ir hot graduirt fun mitlshul oder universitet.
     
  • Mir veln shpiln tsvantsik shayles.
     
  • Mir veln zingen.   
Fargest nit tsu brengen epes tsu nashn! 
Farshidns
Tidbits of Yiddish culture from around the world 
 

Gefilteh Fish with a Mariachi band! Also  without Mariachi band,  lyrics in transliteration and translation and singable translation by Jim Rebhan.  
 
Ashkenazi Greetings & Farewells for the Jewish Calendar Year (Thanks to Meena-Lifshe Viswanath). 
 
Hasidism: A New History, just published, with eight authors including the Bay Area's David Biale.  
 
Yiddish Culture, Dance & Music
June

Klezmer for Any & All Instruments, workshop withAlicia Svigals
Saturday, June 2, 12noon-2pm  
At press time, problems with The Freight's website. Tickets at 510.644.2020 or at the door.
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
 
My Mother Taught Me to Shop, solo performance piece with Judith Linzer 
Part of five-performer SPW Class Show 
Saturday, June 2, 7pm 
Stage Werx Theatre, SF
 
Simcha Trio, part of Berkeley World Music Festival
Sunday, June 3, 1-4pm
Berkeley Hat Co., Berkeley

KlezCalifornia workshop for singers and instrumentalists with Jeanette Lewicki
Sunday, June 3, 3:45-6:45pm
Kehilla Community Synagogue, Piedmont
 
The Ancient Law , silent film with live original music by klezmer fiddler Alicia Svigals and pianist Donald Sosin
Sunday, June 3, 2pm
Castro Theatre, SF
 
Alicia Svigals' one-woman show, part of vegan dinner party hosted by chef Philip Gelb 
Monday, June 4, 7pm  
Private home, Oakland

Golden Age of Yiddish Theater, with Mark Levy 
Tuesday, June 5, 1pm 
Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto
 
Songs of Influence: An evening of music, singing, and storytelling,
with director/producer Marc Smolowitz and writer/producer Alix Wall.
Thursday June 7, 6:30pm 
Via Facebook Live  
 
Saul Goodman's Klezmer Band, part of Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal,  
also with Orchestra Euphonos, Fanfare Zambaleta
Friday, June 8, 9pm  
Starry Plough Pub, Berkeley

Sunday, June 10, 2:30pm
Jewish Community High School, SF
 
50 Shades of Oy Vey, with Rita Abrams and Caylia Chaiken 
Sunday, June 10, 2:30-4:30pm (rsvp by June 5) 
Part of Hadassah's Solano-Napa Chapter Tea honoring "Those Who Came Before"  
Congregation B'nai Israel, Vallejo 
both groups part of Silicon Valley Jewish Music Festival 2018
Sunday, June 10, 2pm
Addison-Penzak JCC, Los Gatos
 
To Chelm and Back, with Joel ben Izzy (storyteller), Lisa Grodin (violin), Tanya Tomkins (cello)  
Tuesday, June 12, 1pm 
Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, Palo Alto

KlezCalifornia Flisik Yidish Salon
Sunday, June 17, 2-4pm
Walnut Creek
 
50 Shades of Oy Vey, with Rita Abrams and Caylia Chaikin 
Monday, June 25, 11:30am (rsvp by June 20) 
Congregation Shomrei Torah, Santa Rosa 
Coming in July

Isle of Klezbos, concert over dinner after services
Friday, July 6, 7:30-8:30pm
Congregation Sherith Israel, SF

Saturday, July 7, 1-3pm
Yerba Buena Gardens, SF
 
Sunday, July 8, 7pm
Congregation Ner Shalom, Cotati
 
Monday, July 9, 7pm
Temple Beth El, Eureka
 
Wednesdays, July 11-25, 7-8:30pm
Congregation B'nai Shalom, Walnut Creek
 
Sunday, July 15, 2pm 
El Cerrito  
 
Thursday, July 19 - Sunday, August 5
Film details and schedule announced June 19. 
 
 Donate

Help us continue our exciting mission to connect people and communities around the Bay Area with Yiddish culture. Donate $18, $36 or $54
here .
 
If you prefer to mail a check, use the address below.

A sheynem dank! (Thank you very much!)
A bisl mer (a little bit more)

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