Yiddish celebration at Theatre on the Square

Shane Baker and Caely-Jo Levy will present A Celebration of the Wit and Wisdom of Sholem Aleichem in Word and Song at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square on 4 September from 5pm to 7.30.

Baker comes to the stage from New York as part of the New Yiddish Repertory Company and the Folksbiene Theater Group.

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He is currently on a world tour to celebrate Yiddish author and playwright, Sholem Aleichem’s 100th yahrzeit, or the anniversary of his death-day.

Levy appeared in the annual Yiddish Song Festival in Cape Town in 2009 which was said to have awakened her yearning to return to her yerushe, her inheritance. Earlier this year, she produced a show, Yid Dish, which used Yiddish songs to trace history back to Jewish roots.

Philip Todres, producer of the Annual Yiddish Song Festivals from 2001 to 2011, said the performance is, “… indeed proof that we, as a people, and the Yiddish language, mame loshen, have survived. It needs to be understood that the Holocaust also destroyed a language with a rich cultural heritage. We must acknowledge and celebrate the triumph of the human spirit that has persevered despite that enormous loss of life and culture.”

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All proceeds from the performance will benefit the Cape Jewish Seniors Association and the Union of Jewish Women. The Cape Jewish Seniors Association provides infrastructure and support to seniors who wish to be part of the community in which they live by providing daily Yiddish classes, guest speakers, different forms of exercises and outings, among other activities. The Union of Jewish Women serves Jewish and broader communities alike through activities such as Kosher Mobile Meals for the elderly, Friendship Club lunches, soup kitchens and empowerment projects.

Details: For more info on how to purchase tickets contact 011 883 8606.

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