• Workshop Session #1 (10am-11:30 am). $20.00 (pick one):

1. Music - Stu Brotman & Josh Horowitz of VERETSKI PASS will teach Old World Bandstand. Improvisation in the old style varying motivic cells in a tune through the "Simon Says" method.  Students will learn accompaniment lines, ornamentation, alto, tenor and bass lines, fills and turnarounds as well as techniques for combining tunes in suites to facilitate dances.  This class will actually contain many of the elements of VP's other classes Rocky Rhythms (an intense series of drills carefully designed to loosen the bond between the melody and the beat, recovering lost traditions of rhythmic flexibility), Grand Theft Ottoman (Klezmer tunes learned side by side with their cultural neighbors' renditions following analysis of rare historical recordings), etc. ...Cookie says, "It's Kind of the Costco of classes."  :-)
2. Dance - Avia Moore presents Zay Freylekh: Learn the building blocks of Yiddish dance through the traditional circle and line dances. We will focus on steps and style for freylekhs, bulgars, and zhoks.

• Workshop Session #2 (2:15-3:45 pm). Klezmer music OR dance $20.00 (pick one):

1. Dance - Avia Moore presents "Shine On": Yiddish dance celebrates both the community and the individual.  Learn style and steps that will help you improvising within the basic Yiddish Dance forms.
2. Music - Cookie - violin:  Violin class will be melody styles and this workshop is open to ALL melody players.
3. Music - Stu and Josh will teach accompaniment. Accompaniment is also open to ALL players who want to learn bass lines as well as rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment.

• Workshop Session #3 (4:00-5:30 pm). Klezmer music OR dance $20.00 (pick one):

1. Dance - Avia Moore presents Learning to Sher. This session will explore Yiddish Set Dances such as the sher as well as dances borrowed from neighboring cultures.
2. Stu and Cookie will teach Polish Potpourri. On their latest recording, Veretski Pass explores a forgotten element in Jewish Music, the Music of Poland. In this class, we will explore Jewish melodies of as well as a rural Polish dance tunes, Polkas, Mazurkas, Obereks, etc.
3. Josh will teach Structures of Improvisation. An exploration of new forms and uncharted modal territory using common modulation patterns, Turkish Ottoman Makamat and experimental progressions.

• 5:35- Everyone gathers for Zayt Gezints.

Wednesday, February 17, 6:30 pm. Make Your Own Paper Cut: Create A Visual Midrash [Torah interpretation]. Bayt B'racha. Taught by Diane Palley, this is a hands-on class using the traditional Jewish art forms of paper cutting. No experience in Hebrew or art required. It will include a brief history of the rich tradition of Jewish paper cutting and a discussion of how to find a meaningful passage as inspiration for your own personal visual midrash. This class is for adults; high school students are welcome. The cost for the 3 classes is $ 36, including materials. REGISTER by calling Diane at 681 8273 or emailing her at dianepalley@hotmail.com. Questions welcome. 

Thursday, February 18, 4:30 pm. Cheder. Cheder Building.

Friday, February 19

• 10:30am - 11:30 am. Learn to Read Hebrew. Rabbi's study. Taught by Rabbi Deborah J. Brin.

• 11:45 am - 1 pm. Beyond the Torah.  Front entry room. We are delving into the entire Bible, book by book.  Join us as we discern the literal, ethical and spiritual meaning of the great writings of our ancestors.  We are a self-led group and rely on assorted commentary as well as our own sensibilities.  No ongoing commitment is required.  Join us every week or as the spirit moves you.

• 1:15-2:30 pm. Torah Study with Rabbi Brin. Rabbi's Study.

• 6:00-7:30 pm. Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Deborah J. Brin. Bayt B'racha. Pot-luck Vegetarian/pescatarian Shabbat dinner from 6:00-6:30 pm. Services to follow.

Saturday, February 20, 10 am. This is WHoly Ground! Sanctuary. Connect with your inner Divinity and earth through Shabbat morning prayers, with chanting, healing body movements, and energizing G!d language. Led by SofieShefia Stephanie Cohen.

Sunday, February 21

• 1:30-3:30 pm. Caring for Ourselves and Our Loved Ones. Bayt B'racha.  Our monthly meeting is a time to share with each other while we care for loved ones who are ill, declining in health, or aging.  The Rabbi helps us listen to and support each other, while gently reminding us of the importance of taking time for ourselves. If you are caring for a loved one - of any age - and would like to have a place to come for supportive ears, please join us. You'll feel better when you leave!

• 2-4 pm. Klez Band and Rikud Dancers Rehearsal. Sanctuary and Gallery.

• 4:15-6:15 pm. Planetary Judaism: Bringing Down the Torah of the Future, led by Rabbi Miles Krassen. Rabbi's Study. This ongoing series of talks, updating the teachings of Hasidism and Kabbalah, explores ways in which Torah can support an emerging vision of planetary consciousness. The Torah of the Future is the Torah of the Whole Earth that reveals the inherent holiness and essential interconnectedness of all people and of the Earth itself and all that she contains. "The Whole Earth is full of Your Glory." (Isaiah 6:3). Classes are taught by Rabbi Miles Krassen, former Professor of Contemplative Judaism at Naropa University and author of significant works on Kabbalah and Hasidism.  Your generous donations will pay for these classes. Checks may be made out directly to Rabbi Miles Krassen.

Monday February 22, 5:30-7:30 pm. Va'ad Meeting. Bayt B'racha.