Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 5, 2022

In the final episode of what is hopefully only the first season of And Just Like That, the series stepped into strange and foreign territory: the realm of belief.

Sex and the City has touched on religion before. Charlotte had sex with a Chasidic folk artist and later converted to Judaism under the auspices of Rabbi Minsch. Miranda dated a lapsed Catholic who had to shower immediately after sex. Brady wasalbeit reluctantlybaptized, and Samantha tried to fuck her neighborhood priest.

In all such storylines, however, religion was merely a pretext for further exploration of the shows main themes: sex and relationships.

When Carrie cased Mr. Bigs church, for instance, she was decidedly uninterested in anything that might be deemed otherworldly. As I watched people leaving church, she narrated, I was amazed at how they looked. Valentino, Escada, Oscar de la Renta. What is it about God and fashion that go so well together?

In this weeks episode of And Just Like That, however, belief is put front and centernot as a pretext, but as a powerful theme in and of itself.

First, there is the matter of Carries reading lamp, which flickers on and off, prompting her to wonder if Big is trying to reach out to her from the hereafter.

Since when do you believe in the afterlife? Miranda asks. I thought we were on the same page about this.

Yes, we were, Carrie answers, but in light of recent events, Ive changed my vote to undecided.

She knows that it sounds absurd to Miranda, and she plays it off as though she doesnt believe too much in such things. Nonetheless, as the light above her bed continues to flicker, she struggles to deny a powerful intuition that Big is once again here with her.

Belief is also a key element in the story of Rocks They-Mitzvah.

Despite lavish festivities and a fantastic trans rabbi, Rock refuses to go up to the bima at the very last minute, sending Charlotte and Harry into a panic.

Im not doing it, Rock says. I dont believe in it.

As a future rabbi, I cant help but take such a scene a bit too seriously, reflecting on all the ways in which Rocks reaction is, while upsetting, perfectly understandable. After all, what are we (the Jewish world) really giving kids to believe in? If we think expensive parties, cash gifts, and cool, relatable rabbis are the answerwe are wrong. Thirteen-year-olds have strong convictions, and dont like empty rituals. Harrys attempt to bribe Rock into doing the ceremony with an Oculus shows just how deeply we misunderstand what would actually make a B-Mitzvah ceremony appealing to a principled, intelligent, and curious kid like Rock.

When strong-arming and bribery fail, Charlotte takes the opportunity to read from the Torah herself, having the Bat Mitzvah ceremony she never had. In doing so, she proves that Judaism is more than something that parents foist on children. Jewish identity, after all, cannot simply be passed on to ones children. It must be modeled. If it means nothing to the parents, it will mean nothing to the kids. When Charlotte shows her family just how much her Judaism means to her, Rocks attitude softens, and they join their mother on the bima.

Meanwhile, Miranda is giving up a prestigious internship to follow Che to Los Angeles for the shooting of a pilot, prompting a B-Mitzvah bathroom showdown between Carrie and Miranda that completes the Carriefication of Miranda and the Mirandafication of Carrie.

Their fight is a direct echo of the one they had years ago when Carrie was getting ready to follow Petrovsky to Paris. Now, however, the roles are reversed.

Miranda, Ive known you for a hundred years, Carrie says.

And? Miranda retorts. Am I not allowed to change a little bit? Or a lot? Or change back again if I feel like it? Do I have to follow my own rigid rules until the day that I die?

Its here, in this scene, that the shows many haters are revealed to be just thathaters. The constant sneering refrain that Miranda (and the other characters) had changed is revealed to be an utterly facile critique, one which confuses the shows central theme for an accident of bad writing. Yes, Miranda has changed. Yes, she has become insufferable. Yes, we miss the old Miranda and yes, we hate Che. This, however, is how we are supposed to feel. In the shows final episode, we see how very much the writers were in full control of this plotline.

And they stick the landing. Like the entire series, the finale is somber, beautiful, profound. This is not to say that it didnt have flaws. It did, but in a sea of lazy takes about Woke Moments and Che Diaz memes, I prefer to be an AJLT believer.

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Belief and the City - Jewcy.com

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Posted By admin on February 5, 2022

Puppet of Anne Frank in Compulsion or the House Behind by Rinne B. Groff. Photo by Stan Barouh.

Who "owns" a story? Who has the right to it? Do stories get their value intrinsically, or from the telling? After all, part of what makes stories resonate is how we connect with them - so who do they really belong to?

These are some of the questions raised by Theater J's latest production, Compulsion or the House Behind, the fictionalized telling of the American publication of Anne Frank's diary, the legal battles behind the story's stage adaptation, and the toll an obsession can take on a person and those around them. It follows Sid Silver (based on the real-life author, Meyer Levin) as he works to help Otto Frank publish an English-language edition of Anne Frank's diary in the United States and create a stage adaptation; unfortunately, Silver's vision and that of Otto Frank, publishers, and producers soon diverge, and Silver digs in to claim his right to Anne's story.

Playwright Rinne B. Groff imagines a fictionalized telling of Silver's struggle based in large part on Levin's own works. She draws the title and structure (as well as the character name) from Compulsion, which was a different project Levin worked on around the same time as his struggles with the diary's adaptation played out. Like Levin, Groff fills in dramatized conversations between the known facts, building out the details in between. Based on Levin's writings, those of his wife (writer Tereska Torres), legal documents, and public discourse, Groff pieces together the events surrounding the publication of the diary and the production of the award-winning stage show. We watch as Silver loses his place in this process, and obsessively clings to the project, observing the impact on his family and the lengths to which he is willing to go to tell Anne's story his way. Groff also adds a dreamy element to the production; drawing again from Levin's own puppetry background, the play includes a puppet version of Anne Frank, who interacts with the various characters as well as acts out excerpts from her own writing.

Compulsion is also, incidentally, the most, well, Jewish show I've seen at Theater J over the years. The bigger questions that are actually discussed are more about what it means to be a Jew, how we tell our stories, and who gets to tell them. Silver's objections initially stem from his objection to removing Anne's "Jewishness" from the story - first, by having former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt write the introduction (both because Ms. Roosevelt was not Jewish and because her husband's administration famously turned away the MS St. Louis, a boat of Jewish refugees who sought asylum), then later by removing references to Judaism that he puts in the early drafts of scripts. What makes this particularly interesting is the context - the Franks, despite their status as famous Jews today, were not exceptionally religious; indeed, their status as Jews only took the forefront of their identity when the Nazis deemed it so. Readers of Anne's diary are aware of her grapples with Judaism and faith, but they're notably quite different than those of a man like Levin/Silver, who authored numerous texts on Jewish identity. Furthermore, there is the inclusion of Miss Mermin, the savvy young editor at Doubleday who, amidst Silver's righteous rants, quietly reveals that she is not only Jewish, but exactly the same age as Anne would have been; her connection to Anne's diary and her own expression of Judaism are no less valid than Silver's, though he certainly doesn't see it that way when he accuses her of "passing." For readers who haven't experienced this firsthand, this is a common argument within the Jewish community, and has been for centuries - what is "Jewish enough" has been the source of many, many fights, including this one.

Philosophy aside, the pacing of the show does feel a bit off. Act I covers nearly a decade, from Silver's first meetings with Doubleday through his wife issuing an ultimatum for him to drop the lawsuits he filed against Otto Frank and producer Kermit Bloomgarden. In many ways, the act itself could be the full play, covering most of the notes necessary to tell the story itself. Although Act II covers the very real aftermath - an obsession that festers in secret, and the consequences of Silver achieving his ends - there isn't as much forward motion, and the two acts feel decidedly lopsided. Silver's descent from fan to fanatic in the first act feels abrupt and hurried - we don't see it build over time because we're only shown brief snapshots over the course of the decade, and the result is he comes off as angry, difficult, and hyperbolic almost from the start (it's hard to imagine Otto Frank putting his trust in a man who would, only a few scenes later, equate him with the Nazis). Likewise, we see his harsh treatment of the women around him - Miss Mermin at Doubleday and his wife at home - without any ascension, so it's difficult to buy into the relationships as established. In contrast, Act II almost feels empty, covering a longer period of time but significantly less of the story action; while it's given the room to breathe, it almost feels like a long epilogue rather than a continuation of the story from Act I. Though, in fairness, that space also allowed for more artistic elements to come forth: In the first act, the puppet version of Anne (created and performed by Matt Acheson) feels under-utilized, appearing in occasional scenes but often simply for repeating her well-known affirmation: "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." In Act II, though, we get to see deeper interactions between the puppet and the characters, building out their relationship to her and her story. I do want to note (especially for those who know I have a tenuous relationship with puppets) that Acheson's puppet was quite striking. In addition to period-appropriate clothing, Anne's marionette featured skin created by pages of her writing, showing that her puppet was the literal embodiment of her diary, and is noticeably small, emphasizing that she was, in fact, a child. Additionally, the puppet's range of movement and the emotionality expressed by the puppeteers (Acheson, along with Eirin Stevenson) was incredibly impressive.

Alongside the beautifully detailed puppet, the live actors hold their own as well. Marcus Kyd plays an array of characters, ranging from the eerily similar suits at Doubleday (Mr. Thomas, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Ferris) to the rougher Israeli Defense Forces representative, Mr. Matzliach (with an assist from Tonya Beckman's solid dialect coaching). Paul Morella serves as the driving force of the show as Sid Silver, perfectly conveying Silver's passion, obsession, and sense of loss. Kimberly Gilbert, as Miss Mermin and Mrs. Silver (also brought to life with the assistance of Beckman), is easily a standout, with two distinct characters showing off the actress's range; while Sid is the main driver of the story, it's Gilbert's characters who are the true forces - Miss Mermin, who pushes Anne's story forward despite his insistence that he has a claim on it, and Mrs. Silver, for showing the audience (if not Sid) the true price of his obsession. Indeed, the confrontation between Gilbert's Mrs. Silver and Anne is one of the show's best scenes. It's in moments like that where Director Johanna Gruenhut's skill shines as well, creating a balanced, engrossing stage. I'd also be remiss if I didn't express my absolute love for Sarah Cubbage's gorgeous costumes; as a fan of vintage clothing, I found myself wanting to steal Gilbert's entire wardrobe. In fact, the only technical element I was disappointed by was Nephelie Andonyadis' set design - I've come to greatly enjoy the elaborate, detailed sets Theater J has presented over the years, and found the decision to utilize a barer stage a bit disappointing and not fully necessary (unless it was due to Covid-related shortages, in which case I'll retract this critique).

While I enjoyed Compulsion, it still feels like it falls a bit short - and that it realizes it too. There are so many moments where it feels like we're on the brink of something, and the show shies away at the last second. Notably, when Mrs. Silver confronts Anne in her dreams and interrupts Anne's reminiscence of her father's experiences and feelings to ask about Anne's feelings, rather than acknowledge that the entire focus within Sid's obsession, the lawsuits, and even her own discomfort is less about the girl than about the story the men around her legacy are telling, the show brushes this aside with Anne insisting that some things are private. Which, while a valid point about Anne's experiences, feels like it misses the broader mark for a show that is not really about Anne Frank but about the men who speak for her.

In truth, this brink is often reached and surrendered when gender comes up within this production. While the show takes place primarily in the mid-20th century, it's still frustrating to see how women are regarded with little acknowledgement of that treatment. Sid is admonished by Williams (another of Kyd's characters) with a cutting, "You can't talk me the way you talk to women," and yet the line goes unremarked upon and isn't revisited. Likewise, we're shown at numerous points that Sid has a tendency to both admire and talk down to the women in his life, who are also, incidentally, significantly younger than him. Even his obsession with Anne is less about her and more about his projection of her; when Mrs. Silver threatens to leave Sid, it's not a divorce or separation she turns to, but suicide, as though she's also aware that he has a stronger affinity for a dead woman upon whom he can project his own ideals rather than a live one who can contradict him.

Compulsion or the House Behind is a good show, with a strong creative team and an immensely talented cast, but it's also a flawed one. With pacing issues and a shyness about fully facing the questions it raises, it's often a frustrating production. But it's a thought-provoking one for that same reason.

Compulsion or the House Behind is playing at Theater J at the Edlavitch DCJCC through February 20th. Run time is approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, with one intermission, and tickets are available for in-person (including socially-distanced seating on designated dates) as well as streaming experiences on the Theater J website. Trigger warnings for discussions of suicide, war, and the Holocaust.

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BWW Review: COMPULSION OR THE HOUSE BEHIND at Theater J - Broadway World

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Posted By admin on February 5, 2022

THIS is a landmark book charting and summarising the directions in which biblical studies have been moving in the past few decades. Its interest is less in traditional matters such as the form, contents, and social and theological contexts of the Bible, although those issues come in, and more in the process by which the Bible came together.

This is, first of all, in relation to the Bible as a canonical set of books the Book of Books but, second, how it became sacred scripture for two great world religions, Judaism and Christianity. The span of the book is to cover the making of both the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the New Testament, but visiting along the way the processes that led to the selection of certain books, but also the many books being left out of various different canons and how different worshipping communities evaluated and read texts in fresh and diverse ways.

The authors of The Making of the Bible Konrad Schmid and Jens Schrter are renowned experts in each of the Testaments, and so are well qualified to undertake what was clearly a mammoth task in bringing together this diverse material and the many scholarly views and disagreements that undergird the conclusions reached (mainly found in the footnotes). It is very readable, and makes excellent use of illustrations that helpfully bring to life the points made in the text. Harvard University Press have done a great service in getting this book translated into English so as to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Their treatment of the Hebrew Bible reflects the current preference for starting with the final form of the text (although even discerning that is proved to be slippery) and for pannng the lens in, so to speak, on the increasing antiquity of the traditions that lie behind it. So the interest lies in how a mass of oral traditions came to form the texts over many centuries and how they were in turn redacted, completed, read, and then canonised. Long and transformative journeys lie along the road that these texts and eventually books took to arrive in the canon and to be regarded as sacred scripture.

The authors argue that, contrary to popular conception, the New Testament did not emerge with an Old Testament that was already finalised. Rather, the two evolved in parallel and in conversation, one with another, such that Jewish and Christian traditions influenced each other. Christianity emerged from Judaism, but Judaism was also reshaped in competition with early Christianity.

This leads the authors on to charting early reception issues in both religions, to examining the formation of key translations of sacred scripture from the medieval period to the Reformation, and even to a sampling of cultural interpretation in the arts in the final chapter of the book. They show how the histories of Judaism and Christianity were intertwined by the sharing of scripture and how Western civilisation was shaped by this synthesis.

This is a rich book treating the historical traditions that lie within the texts, the oral traditions that transmitted them down the generations, the processes by which texts were formed and collected within scribal culture, and the way in which this gradually led to the formation of various canons, not just the Jewish Tanak, but also the Hebrew Bible, its key translations such as the Septuagint and Vulgate, and the validation of each within the faith communities that shaped the canons themselves.

Beyond this, the book looks at archaeological discoveries that have shed light on the historical and transmission processes, at how ancient manuscripts were written and preserved in many languages, and at how authoritative books were distinguished from those that formed not only apocrypha and pseudepigrapha in some circles but also those that fed different heresies and opposing interest groups.

This is a really fascinating book: if you have time to read only one book on the Bible this year, make sure that it is this one.

Dr Katharine J. Dell is Director of Studies in Theology and Religious Studies at St Catharines College, Cambridge.

The Making of the Bible: From the first fragments to sacred scriptureKonrad Schmid and Jens SchrterPeter Lewis, translatorHarvard University Press 28.95(978-0-674-24838-0)Church Times Bookshop 26.05

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The Making of the Bible by Konrad Schmid and Jens Schrter - Church Times

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Posted By admin on February 5, 2022

On Friday, December 31st, I was walking to a local Starbucks with an old high school friend when my phone buzzed from a caller I would never have expected to hear from. Coach Bethann Shapiro Ord and her coaching staff were calling to give me the opportunity to help the Binghamton Womens Basketball Team. I had already been assisting them as a manager, but due to multiple team member injuries and COVID precautions, they asked me to step into a new role.

Throughout high school, I was a committed and passionate basketball player; I played year-round for Berman Hebrew Academy, AAU, summer programs, and more! I prioritized basketball almost over everything else. When it came time to decide where I would attend university, I concluded that the only thing I valued over basketball was Jewish observance and a strong and supportive Jewish community. Ultimately, there were no college basketball programs flexible enough to accommodate my Shabbat observance, kashrut requirements, and Jewish communal needs, so I decided collegiate basketball would not be in the cards for me. I volunteered as a manager because I could not stay away from the game I loved. Being in that position was rewarding, but also paved the way to this new opportunity.

You can only imagine my initial reaction to Coach Ords phone call I was ecstatic! I finally felt like I would be able to live out my basketball dreams. However, as we began speaking more and more about the details, I couldnt help but wonder about the team and coaching staffs reaction to all my religious restrictions and the accommodations they would require.

Fast forward almost a month later I am still a frum Jew, AND I am living out my basketball dreams. The truth is I am even prouder of my Jewish identity now than ever before, and I am playing the game I love most. This past month has been filled with growth and learning opportunities. As Ive reflected on my journey to this point, there are five central life lessons that I have digested as I continue on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Everyone Has a Story

On my first Shabbat back at Binghamton, we had a game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. I had previously decided that for any home games scheduled on Shabbat, I would walk to the arena even in the freezing cold weather. Although I would be compromising my ideal Shabbat environment, I would be able to fully participate and contribute to my team.

However, not yet knowing the girls on the team, I was anxious about what it would look like spending a full day in the Events Center just hanging around waiting for the game to start. During the hours leading up to the game, I realized that everyone has a story.

Not just any story though. As I sat in the locker room, we asked each other questions, and listened intently to one another. Every girl on the team compromised certain aspects of their lives to get to where they are now: their family commitments, taking on financial burdens, juggling religious obstacles, social strains, and the list goes on and on It was truly incredible to hear the discipline in lifestyle and values in each and every girl that led to them deserving a spot on the roster. No matter the journey, it became extremely apparent that we all came together for one united purpose.

Being a Division I Athlete Isnt Easy

This is probably the biggest misconception of the game. Being a D1 athlete has become so romanticized that most people forget that the label is not as easy as it seems. There are daily physical, and mental strains that most people never see. Your body takes a beating, as you relentlessly work to maintain muscles and stamina for optimal performance. Simply put, the conditioning is thoroughly exhausting. Mentally, there is also a ton of pressure. Athletes are not given enough of a voice in the mental health world because, stereotypically, athletes are depicted as ideal mind-body specimens. Spoiler alert athletes are human, and humans are complicated.

Whoever said that being a D1 athlete is easy should try working a part-time job, going to school full time, and training for three hours a day, putting their mind, body and lifestyle on the line. The effort, time and physical/mental exertion cannot be ignored or brushed aside.

The Jewish Community Is the Strongest Fan Base

In the first game of the semester, who were the only fans in the student section? The Jewish community. (Granted, its an issue that at a school with 16,000 students there is a lack of student representation in attendance, but thats for a different reflection article).

One of the strongest attributes of the Jewish people is the unity and pride amongst the community. I believe that this is not only found at my basketball game, but there is a sense of communal pride and support for any member of the Jewish mishpacha (family) when he or she accomplishes something or represents the Jewish people in front of the rest of the world. A success story for one Jewish person is a success story for all Jewish people.

There is a song that goes, Wherever you go, theres always someone Jewish Youre never alone when you see theres a Jew. At the game on Wednesday, January 26th, I did not feel alone. Instead, I felt an overwhelming amount of support from the Binghamton Jewish community.

Judaism Is Only a Hurdle If You Make It One

During my gap year in Israel, one of my teachers taught me that aspects of Judaism are often viewed as rules and regulations, when really they are tools to living a meaningful lifestyle. I never thought that I would sit with Coach Ord and the other staff and give a detailed run-down about the laws of keeping kosher and Shabbat. I never thought that I would host the whole womens basketball team for a traditional Shabbat dinner at my off-campus apartment. I never thought that I could make it work past high school. Not only do I feel that in the past month that I have made it work, but I feel prouder, stronger, and more passionate about my Judaism than ever!

I would not feel this way if I had not been both welcomed and challenged by the team in the ways that I was. I have been asked some amazing questions over the course of the past four weeks that have helped me think through the reasons for why I do what I do. What I am most grateful for are my teammates for never being afraid to ask.

Everyone Has a Role That Is Necessary to Succeed

When I got the call from Coach Ord, I didnt really know what I was signing up for. I knew the girls names and faces from being one of their managers, but I didnt know what their reaction would be when they saw a random Jewish girl from Potomac, Maryland show up. I knew I was coming to play basketball and to be a part of something bigger, but I was not sure exactly where it would lead me.

I view a team as one big puzzle. Theres a spot for everyone, and its about finding where you fit in and what role you are going to fill. I believe the coaching staff and players truly epitomize this, and for good reason. Seven injuries later, a once 15 healthy-person roster turned into eight plus a winter break walk-on, and now everyone is finding their own unique way to contribute to the team despite the setbacks and unconventional circumstances. Whether its scoring or rebounding, cheering from the bench and motivating teammates during a time-out, every person is necessary and valued in order to succeed as a team. Phil Jackson, former head coach of the four-time NBA Finals Chicago Bulls team, said it best: The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. In a world that is so deeply divided, one common love of basketball can unite so many diverse people to respect and inspire each other to accomplish incredible things.

The game of basketball is more than just two teams trying to score more baskets with an orange ball its a lifestyle that bonds people. The values of this sport are as crucial to remember off the court and on the court. Everyone has a story and a way to contribute, and for me personally, my Jewish identity is my story. I hope to continue to share my love for the game with others, but also share my love for the Jewish people and the Torah. Basketball and Judaism are not irreconcilable. Rather, they are both equally important counterparts to my success and happiness. Both continue to push me in remarkable ways, both help me discover myself and make me feel the most accomplished. I feel that this opportunity to play for Binghamtons basketball team was not only for myself, but there is a higher purpose of being able to spread my Jewish culture and tradition, to break the bonds of unfortunate stereotypes, and to invite people to become more educated about my religious traditions.

At the end of the day, I dont know whats in store for me following this season and beyond. But what I do know is being a part of this Bearcat Womens Basketball team is something so incredibly special and I will never take it for granted. The friendships, challenges, accomplishments, and overall experiences are some that I will continue to cherish throughout my entire life.

Dont underestimate the Binghamton Bearcats because this squad is stacking bricks and building to achieve big things. The skys the limit, so come out and support, tune-in, and be a part of the experience with me!

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What I learned in my first month as an observant Jew on a Division I basketball team - The Times of Israel

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Often Diasporic . of or relating to the Diaspora, the scattering of the Jews to countries outside Palestine after the Babylonian captivity:The diasporic book of Daniel celebrates Daniel's refusal to assimilate to the pressures of the gentile court in Babylon.

Often Diasporic . of, being, or relating to the body of Jews living in countries other than Israel, or those countries collectively:The Encyclopedia of Jewish Cultures provides a picture that encompasses Diasporic forms of Jewish existence, including the shift from sacredly imbued patterns to more secular ones.

Often Diasporic . of, being, or relating to any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland, either involuntarily or by migration:In recent years large numbers of people have fled from Kurdistan, and Kurds now make up a broad range of diasporic communities around the world.

relating to, characterized by, or arising from the social phenomenon of dispersion, constant mobility, and rootlessness:His poems project the turmoil of this particular fractured and diasporic moment, where the unsettled is the norm and all is in continuous flux.

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Collegian | Kota Babcock

Joseph Adenowo portrays Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton on a small stage by the Lory Student Center Theatre along with two other students Jan. 28.

Ivy Secrest, Arts and Culture ReporterFebruary 2, 2022

On Jan. 28, the Black/African American Cultural Center kicked off Black History Month with an introduction of this years theme: Uniting the Diaspora. This opening event set the tone for what is shaping up to be an impactful series of events full of fun and educational functions (and the occasional free meal).

As explained byemcee and Colorado State University student Jasmine Retland, diaspora describes the dispersion of people from their homeland, such as Black people from Africa. Uniting the Diaspora is a celebration of Black people and all of the cultures they have impacted while still being united.

Introduced to the living statues of Fred Hampton and Maya Angelou, attendees were offered a piece of history, an artistic experience and an immersive performance all in one.

The poems, songs and other performances spoke to an aspect of history that is often left whitewashed and misunderstood, which performers communicated to their audience through every aspect imaginable.

I love Black History Month, said Bolu Folarin, an attendee of the program. Its a great way to celebrate the Black excellence and the struggles.

Opening with Lift Every Voice and Sing, performed by Retland, the tone was set for the evening. She even encouraged the crowd to join her in song, filling the theater with music.

Following Retland, Taya Woodard-Hancock performed a spoken-word performance titled The Party from The Colored Museum. This piece discussed being yourself proudly and taking pride in your culture and individuality.

This was followed by more incredible performances, such as What a Wonderful World, performed by Maya Johnson; the living statues of Hampton by Joseph Adenowo; Angelou by Breonna Abuya; and a spoken-word performance, The Color Black and Grandmas Recipe, performed by DeVon Washington.

The living statues transported viewers into the historical peoples worlds. Performers encouraged audience members to be revolutionaries like Hampton and recognize strong Black women like Angelou in all of their accomplishments.

This event seized the opportunity to showcase Black cultures, unite the diaspora and celebrate Black excellence.

This is the event that kicks off all the other events, said Andrew Brown, a third-year journalism student and employee of the B/AACC.

With the goal of encouraging people to continue attending Black History Month events, the kickoff brought a lot of variety and creativity to the stage. With an event-packed month to follow, this kickoff performance included food, drinks and educational value.

Dont be afraid to involve yourself in more events, Brown said.

The evening ended with We Are the World, performed by Retland, and the closing sentiment that, as a country, we need to do more than Black History Month there is Black history wherever there are Black people, and that history ought to be acknowledged year-round.

The rest of this month, the Black/African American Cultural Center will provide several opportunities to participate in Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence.

Reach Ivy Secrest atentertainment@collegian.comor on Twitter@IvySecrest.

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B/AACC kicks of 'Uniting the Diaspora' Black History Month - Rocky Mountain Collegian

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Members of the Scottish Chinese community take part in Edinburgh Chinese New Year Festival on Monday in Scotland. Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become one of the largest celebrations of its kind in Scotland. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images hide caption

Members of the Scottish Chinese community take part in Edinburgh Chinese New Year Festival on Monday in Scotland. Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become one of the largest celebrations of its kind in Scotland.

Jan. 1 is an opportunity to start fresh for many people around the world. Resolutions are made to eat better, become healthier or take control of finances. Unfortunately, many people around the world also abandon their resolutions by February. Luckily, it's around this time that I get a second chance to reflect on my year and set the tone for a new one by celebrating the Lunar New Year.

This year, Feb. 1 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It's one of the most important festivals in many Asian countries, including Vietnam, China, Korea, Mongolia as well as the Asian diaspora. The holiday prompts what is considered one of the world's largest annual human migrations as hundreds of millions of people travel back to their hometowns to spend the festivities, which last up to two weeks, with family. Certain foods are eaten only at this time of year, and often traditional costumes are worn. Celebrants gather to see parades and perform various rites and rituals with elders in order to guarantee a lucky year ahead.

This essay first appeared in the NPR Daily Newsletter. Subscribe here so you don't miss the next one. You'll get unique NPR stories in your inbox every weekday.

Here in the U.S., I've only celebrated each Lunar New Year or Tet, in Vietnamese for one day each year, as it's not a federally recognized holiday. Nevertheless, my parents made sure we spent our time wisely. The whole family would take the day off and we would wear our traditional ao dai to go visit my grandparents. We would receive red envelopes, called li xi, filled with "lucky" money, but only after giving well wishes to our elders. Leading up to the new year, we would clean the house up and down and spend days making banh chung, a sticky rice cake filled with pork belly and mung bean. Tet was a reflective holiday focused on mindfulness and setting ourselves up for another successful year.

It wasn't until my first Lunar New Year alone in college that I came to appreciate how grounding it can be to spend the first day of the year focused on joy and family.

Members of a family are busy making the traditional lunar new year banh chung, or rice cakes, for sale on the courtyard of their house in Chanh Khuc village in suburban Hanoi. Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Members of a family are busy making the traditional lunar new year banh chung, or rice cakes, for sale on the courtyard of their house in Chanh Khuc village in suburban Hanoi.

While Lunar New Year festivities have been carried on for hundreds of years in Asia, for members of the Asian diaspora, celebrations have evolved as people invite loved ones from other cultures to join in. Here's how some of us at NPR celebrate.

Hoang's parents are divorced, and she often splits her holiday between her mother, who is Korean, and her father, who is Chinese and Vietnamese. Her mother's family serves soju and Korean side dishes called banchan alongside photos of loved ones who have passed away. By moving the glasses and dishes around, it's as if her loved ones are enjoying a meal with her beyond the grave.

When she's with her father in D.C., Hoang's family does a deep clean the day before and wakes up early the next day to visit Vietnamese Buddhist temples in the area to pray and donate money. The family has a big meal in the evening. Food is laid out on an alter to honor and welcome ancestors. "New year is important to us because it's a fresh start for the year," her dad says. "Whatever we do on new year day sort of sets the tone for the rest of the year."

Kathleen Hoang, left, and her family celebrate the Lunar New Year in Fort Belvoir, Va., in 2020. Kathleen Hoang/NPR hide caption

Kathleen Hoang, left, and her family celebrate the Lunar New Year in Fort Belvoir, Va., in 2020.

That side of Hoang's family has always been close, and even during the pandemic they made efforts to stay in touch. For her, the Lunar New Year feels like any other regularly scheduled family gathering, albeit slightly more festive. "My dad's older sister makes sure we always meet together every month," she says. "I want to continue that tradition."

Zhang is from Beijing, but she hasn't been able to celebrate with her family in nearly 12 years. When she was living in China, her family would come together to make dumplings, hand out lucky money in red envelopes and watch the spring gala on China Central Television before enjoying fireworks at midnight. The Lunar New Year was one of the only times of year she could see her entire extended family. People usually get a week of vacation to celebrate. Special street markets are open all day and night for several weeks.

When Zhang moved to the U.S for college, she found a community of Chinese students to celebrate with, and was able to share the holiday with her non-Asian friends as well. "We built a new family," she said. "I sort of enjoyed it. We were doing something different." These days, it's become a tradition for her to invite a few friends over for a new year studio photo shoot with her boyfriend.

Wanyu Zhang, right, and her friends have a photo shoot to ring in the new year. Matailong Du/matailongdu.com hide caption

Wanyu Zhang, right, and her friends have a photo shoot to ring in the new year.

She keeps in touch with her family regularly, but the Lunar New Year is still a time for her to video chat with the whole family. They still watch the spring gala together virtually. "I want to keep that tradition no matter what," she said.

Zhang plans to stay in the U.S. for a long time, and she finds herself focusing more on the Western holidays that almost everyone celebrates, like Christmas. But she still finds small ways to celebrate and see her family. "It's a reminder that yes, this is still my holiday. But the definition is changing, and emotionally it's changing."

Gary Duong, left and his husband Rick. Duong calls his parents and family every year for the Lunar New Year, but says his relationship with the holiday is complicated. Gary Duong/NPR hide caption

Gary Duong, left and his husband Rick. Duong calls his parents and family every year for the Lunar New Year, but says his relationship with the holiday is complicated.

Duong's parents are ethnically Chinese, but were born and lived in Vietnam. They came to the U.S. during the Vietnam War as refugees. Duong grew up in the Little Saigon area of Orange County, Calif. He remembers paying tributes to his ancestors and eating the same traditional dishes every year, but his relationship with the holiday is complicated.

"My parents never really got me," said Duong, who is gay. "We've always had a distant relationship. The new year doesn't represent much to me," he said. "I sort of know when Chinese New Year is coming up, but I don't really celebrate it. I will call my parents and wish them a new year." He'll also get in touch with his younger brother and niece every year.

Though he doesn't celebrate, Lunar New Year for Duong is still a reset for what he's accomplished, a retrospective look at how far he has come and a celebration of the newness of life.

Pao grew up in South Carolina with her parents, who emigrated from Taiwan, and Lunar New Year for her was a "big fun holiday," akin to Christmas. Their celebrations usually included partying with the entire local Chinese association. Because there weren't many other Asians in her community, the association spanned several counties. "There was a feeling of community," she said. "Most of the stuff that I learned and practice came from that association." At home, her grandparents would send the family red envelopes, clothes and food from Taiwan.

Pao became much more immersed in the traditions after spending time in mainland China after college. "There was much more cleaning of the house and all the special foods," she said. "Many of my Chinese New Year memories center around the food."

Every Lunar New Year marks a different year in the Chinese zodiac based on 12 animals, and the upcoming year will be the year of the Tiger. It's an extra special year for Pao, because her son was born in the year of the Tiger. Her kids attend a Chinese immersion public charter school, where they get more exposure to the holiday. At home, she makes sure to decorate the house for the New Year.

Pao and her husband, who is white, were both keen on making sure their kids grew up familiar with their Chinese roots, and the Lunar New Year is a time to do just that. "It's a time to take stock of the past and to celebrate and get excited about what comes next," she said. "But to me it's especially about family and food. Even when it's just my kids and my husband and me, it still feels very special. It keeps us connected to each other and to Chinese traditions."

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Lunar New Year traditions evolve in the Asian diaspora - NPR

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Last years bicentennial celebrations of the Greek Revolution of 1821 spotlighted the passion of the Greek diaspora for their homeland. The celebrations revealed that the contemporary Greek diaspora has a global presence and an overarching international influence. The Greek diaspora radiates a geopolitical soft power that serves as a strategic tool for Greeces national causes and foreign policy. In modern times, they have also been benefactors to their homeland through their philanthropy, crisis relief, business mentorship, entrepreneurial empowerment and building economic bridges with Greece for international trade and economic development.

Greece is a small country, with an inquiring mind, an independent spirit and a global outreach. Its sparse population of slightly more than 10 million inhabitants is deceiving. Census reports from around the world estimate that the Greek diaspora, which includes first-generation Greek immigrants, and second or third generations of Greek ancestry not born in Greece, exceeds 7 million. In this regard, Greece stands out among the community of nations in exhibiting a significant population dualism where its total population is partitioned between those living in the homeland and the diaspora who are dispersed around the world.

The word diaspora has its roots in the ancient Greek language, meaning the scattering of seeds for future growth. Since time immemorial, the Greeks have embraced an adventurous spirit, a peripatetic nature and a global outreach. In ancient Greece, Homer recorded that the Greeks are wanderers and travelers venturing through foreign seas and lands, motivated by trade, science, intellectual curiosity, poverty, or war, and creating colonies and cities far and wide. As a result, the Greek diaspora has been recorded as one of the oldest and largest in the world.

I believe that Alexander the Great personifies the spirit of the Greek diaspora past and present. In effect, Alexander practiced globalization before the word was invented. The empire he built spanned from Macedonia to Asia and North Africa. His vision for administering the new lands that he conquered included establishing a Greek community to conduct the affairs of state after he had moved on to new conquests.

Furthermore, he embraced a prototype of a multicultural policy which accepted the cultures and traditions of the conquered peoples and integrated the ruling class of the Greeks in such a way that the host society did not feel victimized. I always feel a sense of national pride when my friends and colleagues from countries that Alexander conquered, such as present-day Iran, India and Egypt, speak fondly and with great respect regarding his accomplishments and legacy in their countries. In this regard, Alexander is not perceived as a malevolent conqueror but as a capable administrator and a cultural benefactor.

The most successful overseas Greek community that was established by Alexander the Great was in Egypt. Ptolemy I Soter, a trusted commander of Alexander, ruled Egypt from 305 BC, followed by his descendants for more than 300 years until the demise of Queen Cleopatra in 30 BC. During that time, the city of Alexandria, a Greek polis which was founded by Alexander, became the capital city and a major center of Greek culture, learning and trade for several centuries. It was a hub for world trade and the Library of Alexandria became a depository for the most valuable original manuscripts and acquired knowledge of those days. Alexandria also emerged as a center of scientific innovation and its iconic lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, served as a beacon to the world.

The contemporary Greek diaspora consists of Greek communities living outside the borders of their Greek homeland. In modern history, the Greek diaspora existed in the Balkans, southern Russia, Asia Minor, Eastern Anatolia, the Caucasus, Egypt and in Corsica. Since the 20th century, it has extended its reach to every corner of the world, including the USA, Canada, South America, Germany and Australia.

In my travels, I have encountered the Greeks of the diaspora across Canada, and overseas in the USA, in Australia and in Europe. At each destination, I witnessed a strong bonding and a fervent passion among the Greek diaspora for their homeland. As a result, I believe that you can take the Greeks out of Greece, but you cannot take Greece out of the Greeks.

Throughout history, Greeks have left an indelible footprint on Western civilization, and especially in culture, democracy, the visual arts, theater, literature, philosophy, politics, architecture, music, mathematics, medicine, science, technology, philanthropy, commerce, cuisine and sports. These significant contributions continue to the present day, thanks to the noteworthy contributions of contemporary Greeks of the diaspora through their contributions to their adopted countries and humanity at large.

During important milestones in Greek history, the Greek diaspora has extended a helping hand to their homeland. They played a foundational role in the struggle for Greek independence in the 19th century. Through them, Philhellenes around the world were energized to step up and support the ideals of the Greek Revolution. During the first and second world wars, the Greek diaspora sent young men to fight for their homeland. More recently they assisted with crisis relief, championed national causes, and served as an advocate for Greek foreign policy by energizing political and public opinion in their new homelands.

Greek Canadians can be found in every province and territory in Canada. However, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have the largest concentrations of Greek Canadians. The 2016 Canadian census recorded that 271,405 Canadians were Greek by ancestry and 62,715 people were born in Greece. A more recent publication, Greeks Around the Globe, records that the Greek-Canadian population totals about 450,000.

The largest Greek immigrant stream to Canada commenced after World War II. The first generation of Greek Canadians were mostly self-employed in the service sector. They established restaurants, retail outlets and small businesses. Having instilled the value of education in their children to improve their career opportunities, the second and third generations of Greek Canadians have joined the ranks of white-collar professionals such as lawyers, accountants, public servants, academics, scientists, engineers, nurses and medical practitioners.

A second generational change occurred among the Greek-Canadian diaspora with respect to their political engagement in their new homeland. The first generation of Greek immigrants to Canada were intimately aligned with Greek politics. In consequence, even in a new country, the Greek diaspora continued to fight the party-affiliated political battles of their homeland in a new milieu. This is no longer the case in the 21st century. The Greeks who were born in the host society and new immigrant arrivals from Greece have exhibited a tendency to embrace Canadian politics and integrate in the political landscape of their host country. The high numbers of candidates of Greek heritage who are nominated as candidates and elected to public office at the municipal, regional and federal levels serve as testimony to this reversal of political engagement.

The contemporary passion of the Greek diaspora for their homeland is reflected in The Hellenic Initiative (THI). THI is a global philanthropic initiative that is replicated in the USA, Canada and Australia and connects the diaspora and Philhellenes with Greece. More precisely, it serves as a catalyst for global fundraising, providing direct economic, social and environmental crisis relief, as well as opening doors for entrepreneurial initiatives, promoting job creation and economic development in Greece and raising global awareness about key issues of importance to Greece.

Dr Constantine Passaris is a professor of economics at the University of New Brunswick (Canada) and an Onassis Foundation fellow (Greece). He is the first Greek Canadian to be appointed to the Order of New Brunswick.

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The passion of the Greek diaspora for their homeland - Kathimerini English Edition

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Jamaicas Ministry of Tourism along with hoteliers in Jamaica have partnered to launch a Rediscover Jamaica campaign as an initiative to encourage domestic tourism.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told members of the diaspora on January 27 that this serves as one of several other innovative strategies that tourism stakeholders are implementing and which will keep the occupancy levels buoyant. The initiative provides staycation packages that allow locals to stay at various hotels at drastically reduced rates.

Addressing the monthly online program Lets Connect with Ambassador Marks, hosted by Jamaicas Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, Bartlett explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the most significant and sustained challenge to Jamaicas tourism product since the development of the sector in the 1950s.

He said the disruption to international travel as a result of reduced confidence among travelers within important source markets such as the U.S., Canada and the U.K., has required tourism stakeholders in Jamaica find innovative strategies to keep up occupancy levels.

As a complementary strategy to our efforts to promote domestic tourism, we have also increased our focus on another important group of Jamaicans to diversify our tourism product Jamaicans living overseas. To this end, we are hoping to leverage the collective powers of the diaspora, Bartlett said.

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Bartlett Targets Diaspora with 'Rediscover Jamaica' Campaign - The Washington Informer

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Posted By admin on February 3, 2022

Good morning,

Here are the top stories we're following today:

Year of the Tiger: Today is the beginning of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important festivals in many Asian countries and the Asian diaspora. Here's a look at how families celebrate.

Shots for the littlest ones: A COVID vaccine may be available much earlier than anticipated for kids 5 and younger. Pfizer-BioNTech is expected to seek emergency use authorization for a regimen designed for kids ages 6 months to 5 years, according to a person familiar with the plan.

Ukraine update: U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is facing mounting pressure to step down at home, is headed to Ukraine today. Here are the latest developments in the situation.

Also, on Up First, our daily podcast, the crisis in Ukraine could lead to an energy crisis in all of Europe.

The Morning Edition live blog team

(Rachel Treisman, Carol Ritchie, Nell Clark and Chris Hopkins)

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Start your day here: Lunar New Year in the Asian diaspora - NPR

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