Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on March 29, 2017

Think Bette Midler. Carrie Fisher. Oprah Winfrey. Maya Angelou.

What do all of these women have in common? They are Jewish and African-American icons who helped forge the path for other women in the cultural arts field.

They were the focus of a special womens event Monday at Coastal Coffee Roasters in recognition of March as Womens History Month. It served as part of the Summerville Community Artists' Heritage Series, a monthly series which started nearly a year ago and centers on varying topics.

Sponsored by the Summerville/North Area Jewish Community, Jewish Community Center Without Walls and the Summerville Community Resource Center, the event dubbed Whos That Lady?" not only celebrated a history of famous women but also local women, who were encouraged to take the mic and sing, play an instrument, dance or read a poem. Local artist Rosalyn Kramer Monat-Haller had her colorful handmade paintings on display.

But it was 17-year-old Amanda Rachel who set the tone by singing a cover of popular recording-artist Adeles To Make You Feel My Love.

The teen is a Faith Christian School senior who hopes to minor in music in college. Rachel said she she chose the song because of the strong emotions behind it.

She loves music. Its one of the ways she expresses herself, said her mom Gail Rachel. The song To Make You Feel My Love is just a song of love.

And it seemed love, as well as unity, were the evenings prevailing themes.

All of us here in Summerville are working towards unity, said Louis Smith, founder of the Community Resource Center.

Jewish community member Robyn Wittenberg Dudley agreed.

Were all about unity; were all about fellowship; were all about justice; were all about healing, she said, noting how the series sparked from last years election turmoil in the community.

Dudley said the Jewish community first partnered with the Resource Center in December for a celebration of faith and culturerecognizing Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkahat Oscars restaurant.

When Robyn came to us and said, Can we partner with yall? I said, Yes, Smith said. In fact, we said, Yes, rather enthusiastically. Little did we know this would grow to where it is today; Summerville has an incredible history, and what were passing on is unity. We have a very good feeling...we are working together.

But Mondays event was all about women, not only recognizing women who impacted the arts but also a few political leaders.

Ladies are in politics, too, said Amy Tabak.

Tabak told the inspirational story of Russian-born Golda Meir, Israeli prime minister elected to office in 1969. She was the first female to hold that countrys title and only the third female to become prime minister in the world at that time.

"She's right up there with Florence Nightingale," Dudley said.

In closing, Tabak urged all women to make themselves known, whether by art, politics or another passion.

Find a voice and...raise it, she said. God created us for a reason. Look inside and find out that reason."

Like Rachel, Ukrainian-born Ulyana Machneva, a Summerville resident and instructor at the Charleston Academy of Music, showed off her musical talent, strumming the strings of her artistic medium: the classical guitar.

"Its just part of my life," Machneva said of her music. "I can't imagine myself without music. It's so creative and gives you so much energy...and inspires (others) to do the same. We should need more of that."

Linda Saylor-Marchant spoke about some of historys most well-known African-American womenones who also shaped her own lifeincluding Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress.

She inspired me to take a chance and run for community school board at age 23 and at age 27 to run for state office, Saylor-Marchant said.

But her most meaningful female influence has always been her mom.

The first woman who came into my life...to inspire me to become an author, a writer, and just to be a womanwho is concerned about her communityand that is my mother Violet Smith-Saylor, Saylor-Marchant said.

Though not as appreciative as she said she should have been at the time, Saylor-Marchant's now thankful for the time her mother took during her daughter's formative years to teach her to sew and crochet.

(My mom) would sit me down at the sewing machine when I wanted to go out to a hip-hop party, she said.

The instructional time motivated her as an adult to do the same for others, prompting her to share information with others...to change their lives.

And though her mom is now 81, Saylor-Marchant said her maternal influence has yet to fade.

Shes 18 turned around and still inspiring others.

Saylor-Marchant concluded her speech Monday by urging all women, regardless of ethnicity or race, to recognize their historical impact.

You might be in the backyard raking your yard...you might be a teacher, she said. You are making a contribution in whatever title you are in. You are making history.

More:
Heritage series celebrates African-American, Jewish women - Journalscene.com

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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