DCJCC Jewish Volunteers D25

The DC Jewish Community Center organizes a 1000-plus person volunteer effort every year at Christmas to reach out to the city's neediest citizens, raising their spirits and helping them enjoy their holiday. It is the largest interfaith event in the Washington DC area. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Baha'i's serve together in homeless shelters, nursing homes, food banks, and hospitals.

I have been covering it (pro-bono) for about 15 years. It's a blessing all around.

The DCJCC site for the effort is: http://www.washingtondcjcc.org/volunteer/events/d25.php

Klezmer - SoCalled & Golem

From a concert Dec. 23rd, 2006 at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue in DC.
Golem rocks... SoCalled conjures up iconoclastic hiphop electronica DJ klezmer performance kabbala... a rather unique ouevre.

Happy Chanukah!

A joyous family celebration- these pictures are from the party given by Ruth Stromberg's mother, Martha Katz.

A reminder to rededicate ourselves to bring light into the world

Hungry for Music

I was involved in putting together this year's Hungry for Music Chanukah compilation CD, 'A Chanukah Feast Volume II.'

Hungry for Music raises money to put musical instruments into the hands of needy kids and underfunded school arts programs. Good people, great cause.

I created the cover. Excellent bands contributed tunes this year - joyful noises from the Klezmatic, Deanna Bogart, Alexandria Kleztet, Mark Rubin, Alan Oresky, and others. Buy the CD, enjoy the music, and do a good deed for children at the same time.

Hungry for Music is at: http://hungryformusic.org
They also publish acclaimed Christmas and Baseball compilations. So... you know what to do! Cd's available online.

Waiting for a bus

A woman in New Orleans.

New Orleans Ninth Ward

My assignment (for Bnai Brith) took me briefly over to the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, devastated last year by Hurricane Katrina. While there was a lot of rebuilding in process, the area still evidences ragged scars of abandonment.
The new buildings are from a project called Musician's Village, which is creating a community of about 700 homes for New Orleans' hard-hit musicians.

New Orleans Musicians

I was just in New Orleans for the first time since 1977. These shots, done on assignment, are of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and of Ellis Marsalis. Lord have mercy, such sweet sounds.

Ladino Music

Flory Jagoda and Dr. Ramon Tasat are among the world's greatest Sephardic Jewish musicians, both masters of their art. Flory, originally from Bosnia, is included in my book "Jewish Mothers:Strength Wisdom Compassion" and was recognized for her contributions to American culture with a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. And Ramon- is amazing. Deep soul singer. These shots were from a concert sponsored by the Jewish Folk Arts Festival in Silver Spring Maryland.
Ramon's website: http://www.ramontasat.com

Good Junk

One of my favorite clients is ISRI- the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries.
Junkyards.
These images are culled from a muddy day in a yard near Sharpsburg, Maryland. A rich lode of form...