June 2025

Sholem Aleichem, Friend,

Sunday evening, June 1, is the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shevuis (Shavuot), celebrating the giving of the Toyre (Torah) at Mount Sinai. Customs include eating dairy foods - such as cheesecake - and learning (see The 37th Annual East Bay Tikkun below!).

After an inspirational nosh, register to learn (more) Yiddish this summer. The (national) Workers Circle is offering free Online Summer Yiddish courses. Plus, see our complete list of online Yiddish courses, including some offered by our friends at Workers Circle Northern California.

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37th Annual East Bay Tikkun: A Day of Learning in Honor of Shavuot (Shevuis)

KlezCalifornia is a community partner

Sunday, June 1, 2 - 8 pm, at the JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley

The community Tikn (Tikkun) in honor of Shevuis (Shavuot) will feature two sessions of particular interest to KlezCalifornia’s constituency:

5 - 5:50 pm, Singing Around the Campfire, with Claire Sherman and Judy Kunofsky. Sing Hebrew and Yiddish songs. Just like camp except chairs, no campfire, no marshmallows, no mosquitoes, and no flashlights. Songsheets provided. A favorite every year!

6 - 6:50 pm, Dance of the Hebrew Letters, with Bruce Bierman. Inspired by the angular forms and opposing energies of the letters of the Yiddish alef-beys (alphabet), learn gestures created by choreographers Judith Berg and Felix Fibich, who choreographed the iconic 1937 film “The Dybbuk."

More info »

KLEZCADIA – A Safer Shtetl for Klezmer Music & Yiddish Culture

US Friends of KLEZCADIA is fiscally-sponsored by KlezCalifornia

Tuesday - Sunday, June 10 - 15, Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada and online

A fully-hybrid festival that prioritizes the safe experience of immuno-compromised and high-risk participants. For its second season in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, KLEZCADIA will feature the virtuoso klezmer band Veretski Pass and other outstanding artists from both sides of the border. FREE registration is available for in-person (limited capacity) and virtual participation.

More info »

Fiddler on the Roof

Advised by Yiddish Theatre Ensemble

June 7 - 22, at the Contra Costa Civic Theatre, 951 Pomona Avenue, El Cerrito

Contra Costa Civic Theatre presents the multiple Tony award-winning musical, based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem and with such immortal classics as “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker,” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”

PROMO CODE: YTE for 15% off on your tickets, valid through the show's run.

More info »

TASTES OF YIDDISH CULTURE SERIES

Flisik Yidish Salon

Presented by KlezCalifornia

Sunday, June 15, 2 - 3pm PT, online (calculate your local time HERE).

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

אױף װאָסערע װיכטיקע אופֿנים האָט דער װעלט זיך געביטן אין די לעצטע צװאַנציק יאָר? רעכן אױס דרײַ אופֿנים

Di teme far yuni vet zayn: Af vosere vikhtike oyfanim hot der velt zikh gebitn in di letste tsvantsik yor? Rekhn oys dray oyfanim.

More info »

A Price Beyond Pearls, with the Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco

Sunday, June 22, 2:30 pm at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay

Come join the Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco, now in its 99th year, for a concert dedicated to lyrics and music composed by and about women, from the 1800s to today.

More info »

More Upcoming Events

KlezKanada's 30th Anniversary Summer Retreat, Monday - Sunday, August 18 - 24 in Quebec! A week of workshops for all skill levels, world-class concerts, and extensive programming on our year's focus: Yiddish dance. More info »

Yiddish Culture Links

The Bay Area music community experienced a huge loss last week with the passing of Rob Reich. Rob will be remembered as a fabulous accordion player and very positive, funny, and generous spirit. See video »

Nu, What Else?

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

• Klezmer Music and Yiddish Song – Online Resources »

Honor Wall

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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