Jonah Maccabee Concert - The Jonah Maccabee Foundation

THE SIXTH ANNUAL
Jonah Maccabee Concert
March 7, 2015
17 Adar 5775
PRODUCED BY
Woodlands Community Temple
50 Worthington Road, White Plains, NY 10607
“Music gives
a soul to
the universe,
wings to
the mind,
flight to the
imagination,
and life
to everything.”
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— Plato
The Sixth Annual
Jonah Maccabee Concert
A celebration of Jewish music,
camping, and community
FEATURING
Billy Jonas
and
The Levins
Woodlands Community Temple
Saturday, March 7, 2015
PROCEEDS SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR URJ CAMPS
AND OTHER JEWISH SUMMER EXPERIENCES.
The evening begins with Havdalah, led by
Rabbi Billy and Cantor Ellen Dreskin.
There will be a 15-minute intermission after the first music set.
Delicious home-baked goods and water are available for purchase.
Every nosh you buy goes to summer scholarships for
Woodlands children and teens, so eat and drink!
Representatives from URJ camps are here to answer your questions.
Please look for their displays.
You can also buy the musicians’ CDs and take home
the magic and music of this special night.
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From the Dreskin Family
March 7, 2015 17 Adar 5775
Dear Friends,
Jonah Dreskin is well remembered for his signature presentation of the Jewish
rap piece, “Makin’ a Motzi.” And every kid who has ever attended a URJ
summer camp knows the original Motzi as well as Birkat Hamazon, the blessing
after a meal. Birkat Hamazon finds its origins in the Book of Deuteronomy
(8:10) as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land and they are reminded:
V’akhalta v’savata u’veirakhta et Adonai elohekha... when you have eaten your fill,
give thanks to God.
This passage teaches us not only to be grateful for our food but for all of the gifts
we encounter throughout our lives. We are so frequently the recipients of an
embarrassing abundance of blessings. “Give thanks to God” is our tradition’s
way of moving us to respond to life’s goodnesses.
Your presence this evening at the Sixth Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert is one
of those responses. The ticket you have purchased will help send a child to a
URJ summer program who might otherwise not be able to go. While many of
us know the wonders of summers at camp and in Israel, all of us understand
the adventure that childhood ought to be. So we come to this concert – this
magnificent evening with Billy Jonas and with The Levins – to enjoy ourselves
and to give thanks for the abundances that have filled our lives ... by helping fill
the lives of others.
Former President of France Charles de Gaulle once asked, “How can you govern
a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?” Our answer: By sharing the benefits
of that cheese with as many as possible, as often as possible. This is the spirit of
Woodlands Community Temple and of our Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert.
Your willingness to share what you have, and to help others, is what we try to be
all about. That was certainly what Jonah was about. So often he gave unselfishly
of himself to others, and his model continues to inspire our family and the work
we do to honor his life.
We are so grateful you have joined with us in this sacred project, both to
remember our son and brother, and to help the kids of this community.
You fill us, and you are our blessing. We give thanks.
Enjoy the show!
Ellen, Billy, Katie and Mark, Aiden
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A
About the Artists
sonic celebration.
A musical conversation.
That’s how Billy Jonas
describes his concerts. His
music mixes conventional instruments
and homemade creations such as
buckets and barrels, keys and cans,
and bells and body percussion — but
his favorite instrument is the audience.
His recordings and videos have received
multiple awards. In 2010, he was invited
to present a concert at the White House.
Billy’s songs are born out of a
reverence for all expressions of
spirituality and faith. Here he reflects
on his Jewish soul and his music:
Feeling dissatisfied with my spiritually
vacuous Jewish upbringing, I was
creating my own pastiche of a PaganBuddhist-New Age Christian-Native
American/Lakota-Jew-ish religion,
filling in my “holy-days” on a calendar.
I put a cleansing fast and a sweat
lodge on the fall equinox (“Oh, look
... there’s Yom Kippur”), a “return-ofthe-light” ritual on the winter solstice
(“Oh, look ... Hanukkah”), and a
rebirth-of-the-earth feast on the spring
equinox (“Oh, look ... Passover…”).
Then I realized: “Oh, somebody
thought of all this already.” I’m so
grateful I naïvely stumbled upon
Judaism’s beautifully earth-bound
nature-honoring foundational matrix.
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“Okay,” I thought, “I’ll be Jewish. It’s
how I was born, the melodies have
been in my ears since before I was
born, and the template feels flexible
enough to accommodate the things
that make life meaningful to me.”
Further study revealed that Judaism
is all about this kind of dialogue and
the oneness of seemingly disparate
pieces. My music comes from the same
impulses: to create new paths into
the spirit and reinvigorate old ones.
Everything is holy and worthy of a
song — the sacred, the profane, the
mundane, the sublime, the sub-prime,
and all things in between.
T
he Levins — Ira and Julia
Bordenaro Levin — are
singer-songwriter-storytellers
who combine harmonydriven acoustic folk with catchy
original tunes and unique arrangements.
Their music speaks the universal
language of hope, compassion, and
joy and accentuates the connections
between communities and generations.
The couple met at an open mic in
2000, fell in love, and married a few
years later. They have performed
throughout the world and received
numerous songwriting awards for their
folk, pop, and Jewish music, including
winners of the 2011 Connecticut Folk
Festival Songwriting Competition.
Here they reflect on the role of Jewish
music in their lives:
We would be remiss if we didn’t go
back to one of our very first dates
fifteen years ago. A Havdalah dinner,
complete with music that sent us into
the following week seeing nothing
but sweetness. The niggun within
Debbie Friedman’s Birchot Havdalah
immediately grounded us in harmony.
Little did we know that the tone was
set for our future together.
Ira’s experiences at the songleader’s
conference, Hava Nashira, and in
working in JCCs and singing in temples
had been opening him up to his deeper
connection with Judaism. The day
after our honeymoon, Julia began a
decade of singing in Hebrew, Yiddish,
and Ladino with the Jewish a cappella
women’s quartet Vocolot. We came
came together as performing singersongwriters, children’s entertainers, and
educators but it was our Jewish musical
connection that grounded us and
served as a foundation.
Music, for us, is one of the strongest
conduits for breaking down barriers,
and Jewish music has an innate
capacity for sparking the communal
spirit. We have the privilege of playing
in a variety of Jewish communities and
settings. We get to see generations
dance and interact with each other,
beyond feelings of obligation. It makes
l’dor v’dor a rich reality — and a well
in which we replenish our strength.
Jewish music helps us keep focused on
the “why” of why we do what we do.
Joining Billy, Ira, and Julia on stage…
Elana Arian has performed at every
Jonah Maccabee Concert and returns
on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and vocals.
She has recorded two acclaimed
albums of original music.
Bassist and composer Dave Phillips
has traveled the world as a solo
performer and a collaborator. A
dedicated music educator, he teaches
bass in Bronxville.
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Something Special
for Every Child and Teen
URJ offers a rich array of summer programs. Here are great options available to
children and teens in our community.
Eisner and Crane Lake Camps All-around summer fun in the Berkshire
Mountains includes athletics, arts, aquatics, and trips in an environment
emphasizing Jewish culture, history and values.
Camp Chazak 6-day camp, offered by Eisner and Crane Lake, for children
with social developmental delays.
Kutz Camp (NFTY’s Campus for Reform Jewish Teens). For 10th – 12th
graders, emphasizing leadership development, in Warwick, N.Y.
6 Points Sci-Tech Academy Pursue robotics, video game design,
environmental science, digital media production and more on a campus outside
Boston. For children entering grades 5 – 9.
6 Points Sports Academy Got game? So does the first Jewish sports camp in
the U.S. Two-week sessions for 4th – 11th graders, in Greensboro, N.C.
NFTY Mitzvah Corps Service and social action in a Jewish ethical
framework. Opportunities across the U.S. and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and
Israel. For 10th – 12th graders.
Rabbi Billy can answer your questions about
choosing the right program for your child or
applying for a Jonah Maccabee Fund summer
scholarship. Please call the Woodlands office
to schedule an appointment. 914.592.7070
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“Israel is perfect in so many ways, from its cultured cities to
its arid deserts. There is so much to do there and so much
history to explore. It’s good to know that my roots lead
back to such a beautiful place. I can’t wait to go back!”
— Daniel Hirth
WCT, 11th grade
Discovering Israel
NFTY in Israel, a 4-week adventure, is a spectacular
opportunity for fun, friendship, and camel rides. It’s also a
transformative Jewish growth experience.
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Woodlands Family Camp Album
URJ summer programs have been central to the lives of members of our
Woodlands community year after year — and generation after generation.
See how many happy faces you recognize.
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“From the moment you enter
the gates, they make you feel as if everyone has been waiting all year just to see you. It’s
an awesome feeling.”
—Lauren Hirth
WCT, 10th grade
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‘
‘‘
A father should teach his son Torah, to marry a good woman, and to perform deeds of
loving kindness. And some say: How to swim.
—Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Kiddushin 29a)
Parents should teach their children to study Torah, to get along with others, to swim, to row a canoe, some arts and crafts, the ropes
course, a bit of Hebrew, and lots of Jewish songs. And some say: How to make a s’more.
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—Rabbi Billy’s commentary on Kiddushin 29a
The Sixth Annual
Jonah Maccabee Concert
is underwritten by
a generous gift from
Herbert J. Friedman and family
in loving memory of
Elaine Friedman
HERBERT J. FRIEDMAN
EVAN, FAYE, AND RACHEL FRIEDMAN
NORMAN AND PATRICIA FRIEDMAN
TODD, BETH, AND JOSHUA BENJAMIN
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To our entire community of generous supporters,
thank you for making tonight’s concert a success.
Golden Gifters
The Bacharach Family
Adriane and Joel Belmont
The Boonshoft Family
Nancy and Chuck Fishman
David and Dayle Fligel
Cantor Jennifer Frost and Family
Rabbi David and Kathy Gelfand
Lisa Ann Green and Herb Bradensten
Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman and Dr. Gayle Hoover
Mark Horowitz and Tom Staebell
Cantor Brad Hyman and Family
The Jonah Maccabee Foundation
Judith and Victor Linn
Cantors Jack and Fredda Mendelson
Mickey Milbauer
Julie Newman and Bill Klingensmith
The Sirkmans, in loving memory of Susan Sirkman
Fran Weingast
Mara, Mark, and Noah Young
List as of February 26, 2015
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Silver Supporters
Rabbi Ramie Arian & Merri Lovinger Arian
Ellen Bittner
Marcus Burstein and Eric Larson
Joan and Andy Farber
Corey Friedlander
Cantor Jonathan Gordon and Margot Serwer
Joel M. Hoffman
Judy and Barry Kessler
Harriet Levine
Riki Lippitz and John Schechter
June and Don Moskovitz
Rochelle Novins
The Polayes Family
Lisa Sacks and Jon Richer
The Selig Family
The Smith-Yarnold Family
List as of February 26, 2014
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The Jonah Maccabee Fund
celebrates the legacy of Jonah Maccabee Dreskin
by supporting three things he loved: music, Jewish camping,
and the Woodlands community. The Fund underwrites an annual
concert of Jewish contemporary music and uses the proceeds
to provide URJ summer camp scholarships for
Woodlands Community Temple members.
Our goals are to create an enduring showcase
for influential Jewish musicians and to ensure that every
Woodlands child and teen is afforded the opportunity to
enjoy a Reform Jewish summer experience.
Featured Artists at the Jonah Maccabee Concert
Josh Nelson and Dan Nichols, January 23, 2010
Craig Taubman, April 2, 2011
Josh Nelson and Dan Nichols, March 10, 2012
Chana Rothman, Michelle Citrin, and Elana Arian, April 13, 2013
Ken Chasen and Julie Silver, March 8, 2014
Billy Jonas and The Levins, March 7, 2015
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We gratefully acknowledge
the following for helping to
create tonight’s wonderful
concert:
Billy Jonas
Ira Levin
Julia Bordenaro Levin
Temple Israel of the City of
New York
Rabbi David and Kathy
Gelfand
Melanie Roher
Woodlands Community
Temple Board of Trustees
Michelle Fine
Liz Rauchwerger
Jonah Maccabee Concert
Committee
Lisa Linn, Chair
Karen Berlowitz
Lee Brickman
Lesli Cattan
Billy Dreskin
Ellen Dreskin
Katie Dreskin Boonshoft
Ross Glinkenhouse
Greg Linn
Phyllis Opochinsky
Doug Pell
Geri Pell
Steve Schwartz
Fran Smith
Michele Montague
Rabbi Mara Young
Cantor Jonathan Gordon
German Franco
Lance Rosenthal
Volunteer greeters, bakers,
concession workers, and
ushers
URJ Eisner and Crane Lake
Camps
URJ Kutz Camp
Camp Chazak
6 Points Sci-Tech Academy
6 Points Sports Academy
NFTY
This booklet and Jonah Maccabee
Fund promotional materials
were designed by
Melanie Roher
Roher/Sprague Partners
50 South Buckhout Street
Irvington, NY 10533.
914.591.2500
www.rohersprague.com
Jonah Maccabee Fund Logo design
by Robert Cattan
Special thanks to the Woodlands
youth and parents who provided
the summer photos on pages 9-11.
50 Worthington Road, White Plains, New York 10607
914.592.7070
www.wct.org www.jonahmac.org
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Epitaph
by Merritt Malloy
When I die Give what’s left of me away To children And old men that wait to die. And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother Walking the street beside you. And when you need me, Put your arms Around anyone And give them What you need to give to me. I want to leave you something, Something better Than words Or sounds. Look for me In the people I’ve known Or loved, And if you cannot give me away, At least let me live on your eyes And not on your mind. 18
You can love me most By letting Hands touch hands, By letting Bodies touch bodies, And by letting go Of children That need to be free. Love doesn’t die, People do. So, when all that’s left of me Is love, Give me away.
Photo Credits:
Page 4
University at Buffalo, November 2008
By Katie Dreskin
Page 18
Play Group Theatre, White Plains, NY
August 2008
Back Cover
Annual “Dreskin Family 9th Night
of Hanukkah” photograph, January 2009
In memory of
Jonah Maccabee Dreskin
February 14, 1990 - March 5, 2009