For the first time ever, Congregation Beth Torah will play host to an American Library Association touring exhibit. “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs,” will be on display for six weeks from Wednesday, Jan. 11, through Thursday, Feb. 23, in the congregation’s foyer. The exhibit highlights the lives and works of Jewish American popular music composers from 1910-1965. It is free and open to the public.
To launch the exhibit, the community is invited to Beth Torah for a concert, “What Makes it Jewish: A Musical Revue,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. This evening of song will celebrate the work of the composers highlighted in the exhibit. The concert will feature Beth Torah Music Director Linda Matorin Sweenie, the Beth Torah choirs, ensembles and soloists performing American classics from Gershwin, Berlin, Bernstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein and many more. There is no charge for the concert.
Sweenie said Beth Torah learned about the exhibit about a year and a half ago. The Reform congregation discovered that organizations were being given the opportunity to host the traveling exhibit, which is underwritten by grants from numerous sources including the Charles H. Revson Foundation, The Righteous Persons Foundation and The David Berg Foundation.
“The Beth Torah Adult Education Committee approached me about working with them to submit a proposal, and we were one of 55 organizations nationwide chosen to host it. Most of these 55 locations are either libraries, universities or Jewish community centers. Beth Torah was the only synagogue that was selected as a host venue,” Sweenie said.
Along with hosting the exhibit and the concert, Beth Torah will offer three adult education sessions associated with the exhibit. Sweenie will lead these sessions.
The first will be a walk-through of the exhibit the day after the kick-off concert, on Sunday, Jan. 15. The second is Wednesday evening, Jan. 25, and will be about how traditional Jewish melodies influenced the composers’ music. She said the last session on Wednesday evening, Feb. 15, will cover how Jewish ethical teachings were infused into the lyrics of the songs.
Sweenie said the exhibit itself will showcase both photos and information.
“It will feature information about composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. It will include information about their backgrounds and how their Jewish heritage informed their music and changed the face of popular music in America,” Sweenie said.
Sweenie is very excited about the Jan. 14 concert.
“It will feature great music from the composers featured in the exhibit, performed by the Beth Torah choirs, instrumental ensemble and soloists. We’ll also include some fun surprises,” she said.
A Fine Romance
The American Library Association’s traveling exhibit, “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs,” will be on display at Congregation Beth Torah from Wednesday, Jan. 11, through Thursday, Feb. 23. The exhibit will be open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be closed Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A concert to kick off the exhibit, “What Makes it Jewish: A Musical Revue,” will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday evening, Jan. 14, in Beth Torah’s sanctuary.
Beth Torah Music Director Linda Matorin Sweenie will lead “The Insider’s Tour,” at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15. She will treat visitors to inside information and little known facts about the composers and music highlighted in the exhibit.
“Jewish Musical Influences on American Popular Music,” scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, will answer the question: What makes that music sound Jewish? Sweenie will explain how melodies and music from traditional Jewish music and holidays influenced Jewish American composers and songwriters highlighted in the exhibit.
The final special event associated with the exhibit is “Jewish Themes in American Popular Music.” Sweenie will explore how Jewish themes and values are reflected in the work of the composers highlighted at the exhibit and how Jewish experience informs the lyrics and subject matter of so many of their songs. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Beth Torah’s website, www.beth-torah.org or contact Linda Matorin Sweenie at 913-498-2212 or .
