To provide students and community members the opportunity to experience positive, vibrant Jewish culture, the Jewish Community of Louisville’s Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Studies Committee of the University of Louisville’s Division of Humanities are teaming up to offer a Jewish Cultural Diversity Week called Shavua Tov!
(Shavua tov is the traditional greeting for “a good week” Jews exchange at the conclusion of the Havdallah ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the new week.)
The public is invited to participate in four free events to mark the week.
On Monday, November 14, Prof. Eran Kaplan, the Rhoda and Richard Goldman Chair in Israeli Studies at San Francisco State University, will speak on “Tel Aviv’s Tent City and the Future(s) of Zionism.” This program will be presented at the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law in the Allen Court Room at 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, November 17, two episodes of popular Israel HBO TV comedy series “Arab Worker” will be screened at the University of Louisville’s Ekstrom Library in the Chao Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi David Ariel-Joel of The Temple will facilitate a discussion afterwards. The series explores how members of Israel’s Arab minority cope with work and life.
On Saturday, November 19, the Montreal based Klezmer band, Shtreiml, will perform at the University of Louisville School of Music’s Comstock Hall at 8 p.m. A kosher desserts reception will follow the concert.
On Sunday, November 20, the community is invited to hear Shtreiml again at the Shavua Tov! Kosher for a Day Café at Smokey’s Bean, located at the corner of First and Burnett. From 12-5, there will be a series of readings and musical presentations. Shtreiml will perform, along with several local groups. Local creative writers will also offer readings.
U of L music students and faculty have also been encouraged to perform, and displays by Old Louisville and Jewish Community organizations are being sought.
The café will serve only kosher food for the entire day, cooked and supervised by members of Chabad of Kentucky. Heidi Howe will facilitate free sessions of Weerock music for kids, and a Bouncy Castle and arts and crafts and games will also be provided.
Dr. Natalie Polzer from U of L’s Division of Humanities is coordinating the program.
