February 2025

Sholem Aleichem, Friend,

Long time no see! Well, I'm not the most consistent about sending out this newsletter, which means sometimes it's every week and sometimes every few months. But we had to get one out right now, at the end of January. because there are so many exciting events in early February. We hope to see you at some of them!


- Dmitri Gaskin

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From the Steppes to the Shtetl: Yiddish and Slavic Harmony Singing Workshop, with Polina Shepherd


Co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Monday, February 3rd, 7:30pm, Grace Lutheran Church in El Cerrito


Dive into an explosive mixture of songs from the Steppes and the Shtetl. And extra flavor with spices from a Tatar Bazaar, and wash them down with an Odessa fisherman’s tune: Yiddish folklore and popular songs, the powerful and the profound wordless songs (nigunim), traditional Slavic songs and Art songs in harmonies. Develop new ways for your voice to flow: free, inspiring, and exciting.


More info »

In der Heym / Down Home


Co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Wedneday, February 5th, 7pm in Berkeley

Friday, February 7th, 7pm in Santa Cruz


Master musicians and storytellers of Yiddish and Eastern European repertoire, Michael and Craig will regale you with their wonderful fiddle tunes, ballads, and stories from the Ukrainian, Yiddish and American heartlands.


More info for the Berkeley concert »

More info for the Santa Cruz concert »

Yiddish San Francisco


Co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Thursday, February 13th, 7pm PT, online

(calculate your local time HERE).


The history of San Francisco Jewry tends to be told in terms dominated by the experience of Jews from German-speaking lands who settled with great success in California in the mid-nineteenth century. Less attention has been given to the lives of Jews from Eastern Europe who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Howard Freedman’s presentation will focus on these immigrants through the prism of Yiddish language and culture, with a focus on the artistic and political life of the community.


More info »

TASTES OF YIDDISH CULTURE SERIES


Flisik Yidish Salon


Presented by KlezCalifornia



Sunday, February 16th, 2-3pm PT, online (calculate your local time HERE).

This free, monthly online conversation Salon is for fluent (flisik) Yiddish speakers.


Di teme far februar vet zayn: Treyst-esn: vos iz an esn vos ven ir est es iz aykh gut afn hartsn?

טרײסט־עסן: װאָס איז אַן עסן װאָס װען איר עסט עס איז אײַך גוט אױפֿן האַרצן און פֿאַר װאָס?  ‏


More info »

Everything I Have is Yours


Co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Saturday, February 22rd, 7pm, in San Francisco


In this sensitively crafted documentary, choreographer Hadar Ahuvia begins a personal endeavor unpacking and confronting the appropriative origins of the Israeli folk dances she grew up with. Part of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's Winterfest.


More info »

The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance


Grantee of The Yiddish Culture Fund and co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Sunday, February 23rd, 1-4pm, JCC East Bay in Berkeley


Come to the JCC East Bay for the monthly series celebrating “The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance.” Great for musicians, dancers, and other enthusiasts to meet, shmooze, or take in the beauty of our rich traditions. February's session will feature klezmer music and dancing by Brooklyn-based Ilya Shneyveys and Cantor Sarah Myerson. Tickets $25 - $54, sliding scale. No one turned away for lack of funds. Kids are free.


More info »

Klezmer and Friends


Co-presented by KlezCalifornia


Wednesday, February 26th, 7pm in Albany


Klezmer, in its essence, has always been about joy for its own sake. Join accordionist Dan Cantrell, visiting from Los Angeles, and clarinetist Asaf Ophir, for an evening devoted exactly to that. They will play some classics, some favorites, some oldies, some newbies, and some more exotic tunes that just go so well together that they can’t pass them up. Mixed in with storytelling, this is going to be a memorable night!


More info »

Yiddish Culture Links

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Bay Area klezmer band Veretski Pass recently released a new album with clarinetist Joel Rubin, The Peacock and The Sunflower. The album explores the musical interactions between Jews and Ukrainians.


Listen to the album and purchase »


The Peacock and The Sunflower is a fiscally-sponsored project of KlezCalifornia.

Nu, What Else?

KlezCalifornia Event Directory (with all the events we know of) »

Yiddish Classes Online » (see free Workers Circle Northern California classes! All classes generally continue each year; contact teacher.)

Honor Wall

Preeva Tramiel

In memory of Sue Brandes of Toronto. Sue Brandes was a balaboste, a business woman, and a heck of a skiing partner. She will be missed.

View KlezCalifornia's Honor Wall. Become a donor to post your tribute.

Support the renewal of Yiddish culture through a donation to KlezCalifornia.


You may also mail a check payable to KlezCalifornia to the address below.



A sheynem dank! Thank you very much!

A bisl mer (a little bit more)

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