Patrons of the Arts brochure - Jewish Community Center

E V E L Y N R U B E N S T E I N J E W I S H C O M M U N I T Y C E N T E R O F H O U S T O N
2013–2014
ON THE COVER: CAROLYN DORFMAN DANCE COMPANY

E V E L Y N R U B E N S T E I N J E W I S H C O M M U N I T Y C E N T E R O F H O U S T O N
Celebrating 41 years
of supporting
Arts, Culture and
Education for the
Jewish Community
and Beyond

Dear Friends and Supporters,
For over 40 years, our Patrons of the Arts have
demonstrated support for a diversity of programs that
stimulate the mind, strengthen our community and
showcase our Jewish culture. The annual campaign
provides resources, enabling the J to continue the
rich tradition of bringing dynamic performances,
contemporary art exhibits, captivating literary and
film events to our audiences.
Peruse this brochure and see just how much there is to entertain,
enlighten and educate you. Enjoy a concert. See a film. View an art exhibit.
Take a class. Experience the best of Houston’s Jewish cultural arts at
the ERJCC.
We are most grateful for your support and invite you to participate
in this exciting celebration of culture throughout the year. Join us in
enriching ourselves and our community by becoming a Patron for the
2013-2014 season.
With appreciation,
Bunny Radoff
Patrons Campaign Chair

Jewish Book & Arts Fair
November 2—17, 2013
Inspiring and entertaining — The ERJCC Jewish Book & Arts Fair annually delivers a
variety of opportunities for the community to learn and experience Jewish literary,
culture and performing arts. The Book Fair is one of the largest events of its kind in the
U.S., attracting established and emerging writers from around the world, representing
a myriad of themes. Patrons have an opportunity to get up close and personal with
the authors during Q&A sessions and book signings that follow the presentations. Not
just for book lovers, Book Fair also includes films, concerts and Oliver Lapin Family Day
featuring authors, interactive performances and activities for children ages 2-11.
highlights include
An Evening with Peter Sagal — Opening Night
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00 PM
Author, humorist, commentator, and host of National Public
Radio’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” will speak on Why Satire Is
the Only Reasonable Response to the Times in Which We Live.
IN HONOR OF MARILYN HASSID
Underwritten by Janet and Elton Lipnick
Letty Cottin Pogrebin
Monday, November 4 | 8:00 PM
How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick
Pogrebin has distilled collective stories, insights, opinions, and ideas
into this wide-ranging compendium of concrete guidance and usable
wisdom. Her advice is infused with sensitivity, warmth, and humor.
Marion Grodin
Monday, November 11 | 6:15 PM
Standing Up: A Memoir of a Funny (Not Always) Life
Long-time comedian and even longer-time screenwriter Marion
Grodin shares intimate and always comedic details of her life —
the good, bad and the ugly — in her new book.
David Berg
Sunday, November 17 | 7:30 PM
Run, Brother, Run: A Memoir of a Murder in my Family
In his dramatic memoir, renowned trial lawyer David Berg writes
about the 1968 murder of his brother, Alan, and subsequent trial
of notorious hit man Charles Harrison.

Dance Month at
the Kaplan Theatre
January 10—February 9, 2014
Dance Month celebrates 34 years of presenting concerts, master classes, dance
parties and Tirkedu Houston! — an Israeli Dance Workshop weekend, this year led
by the legendary Yaron Carmel.
This season will feature the Union, New Jersey based Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company.
Known as a creator of provocative dances that reflect her concerns about the human
condition, Dorfman is interested in creating “worlds” into which the audience can enter.
CDDC’s high energy and technically demanding repertory uses movement as metaphor
to take audiences on what one reviewer described as “intellectual and emotional
journeys.” Since founding her Company in 1982, Carolyn Dorfman has created more
than 50 works for her ten-member ensemble which appears at major theaters, dance
festivals, universities and schools regionally, nationally and internationally.
Carolyn Dorfman
Dance Company
in Legacy
Photo by: Tom Caravaglia
Houston Choreographers X6 returns featuring six local professionals — Rebekah
Chappell, Randall Flinn, Ashley Horn, Kristina Koutsoudas, Cori Miller and Heather Nabors.
Four in the Mix, another Houston favorite, will present four Houston pre-professional
groups in concert. For the third year, dance on film will be shown through Motion
Captured, films devoted to choreography created solely for video as a pre-show
presentation to Houston Choreographers X6.

Film
Houston Jewish Film Festival
March 8—23, 2014
1 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y
New, promising, entertaining and exceptional award-winning films are featured in
this annual festival. Presented with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Festival
brings Jewish lives and stories to the big screen by covering a diverse range of
social, religious, and historical topics. The films of the HJFF have won Oscars, Ophirs
(Israel), Ariels (Mexico) and other prestigious awards from around the world. Many
of the films have screened at Sundance, Cannes, Berlin and Toronto International Film
Festivals. With venues across town, the Festival shines the spotlight on Jewish and
Israeli culture, art and history.
Film Still: Life in Stills, Houston Jewish Film Festival 2013 Audience Choice Winner
The film will be re-screened at the Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration
in conjunction with the art exhibit in the Deutser Art Gallery,
Your Fortunate Eyes – Photographs by Rudi Weissenstein.
Summer Israeil Film Series
June-August 2014
This 3-part series offers film-goers an opportunity to enjoy the latest and greatest
feature films from the booming Israeli film industry.
Family Programming
Winter Break Bash Featuring Billy Jonas
Wednesday, December 25, 2013 | 10:00 AM
Musician Billy Jonas will engage us all, big and small, when Billy proves
that almost any object can become a musical instrument — especially
the audience! Grab the grandkids and join us for this winter treat and
shake your booty to the beat.
Hanukkah Balloon Blast!
Sunday, December 1, 2013 | 4:30 PM — Community Candle Lighting | 5:30 PM
We had such great colorful fun with Katie Balloons last year that
we have invited her back for Hanukkah! Join us as we celebrate the
holiday of lights (and balloons). Stay for latkes and a special candle
lighting after the show.

Deutser Art Gallery
The Deutser Art Gallery is a non-profit exhibition and education space created to
promote awareness, appreciation and interest in visual arts, reflecting the diversity of
the Jewish people.
Timed to coincide with the beginning of the Jewish New Year, A Stitch in Jewish
Time creates a backdrop for an Introduction to Knitting class where participants
will make knitted heirloom challah covers. Additional programming has been built
into the Deutser Art Gallery Season, including family programs, art openings, and
CJLL learning opportunities.
Nahalat Binyamin Street (corner of Grusenberg Street), Tel Aviv,
1954 featured in Your Fortunate Eyes exhibit from the Pri-Or
PhotoHouse in Israel.
A Stitch in Jewish Time: Provocative Textiles from the Permanent Collection
of Hebrew Union College Museum
August 25-October 18
Hassidic Courts: Photography by Gil Cohen-Magen
October 25-November 29
My Tree House: Paintings by Neta Levi
December 6-January 20
Forgotten Notes: Selected Paintings and Poems by Saùl Balagura
December 6-January in the Joe Frank Theatre of the Arts
J Teen Art Scene
January 26-February 10
Ketubahs by Anna Abramzon
February 12-March 24
A Visual Diary: Saba & Savta Photography Exhibit by Talya Arbisser Part of
FotoFest 2014
March 28-April 20
Your Fortunate Eyes: Photographs by Rudi Weissenstein from the Pri-Or
PhotoHouse in Israel
April 27-June 6

Center for Jewish Living
& Learning
The Jewish Art of War: A Historical Survey
Examine war and violence in three chapters of Jewish
history—Biblical, Roman, and Modern—to explore how Jews
have used armed conflict to accomplish political and
religious objectives.
The Covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9: What to do with Biblical
Violence Sunday, October 6, 2013 | 7:00 PM
Dr. Matthias Henze, Watt J. and Lilly G. Jackson Chair of Biblical Studies, Rice University
Dual Loyalty or Treachery Jews on Both Sides of the Great
Revolt Against Rome Sunday, October 13, 2013 | 7:00 PM
Dr. Shira Lander, Anna Smith Fine Senior Lecturer of Jewish Studies, Rice University
Jews and War: From the French Revolution to the State of Israel
Sunday, October 20, 2013 | 7:00 PM
Dr. Daniel Cohen, Associate Professor of History, Rice University
3rd Annual CJLL Scholar Series: People of the Image: Jews and Art
Jewish art is more than just an attractive, superfluous ornament, a footnote or an
afterthought for the more important aspects of Jewish culture and history. In this
compelling series of lectures, Professor Marc Michael Epstein of Vassar College
shows how one has a unique chance to access the Jewish soul through the study
of Jewish art.
Esther Hidden and Revealed in Jewish Art
Thursday, March 20, 2014 | 7:30 PM
The Mystery of the Golden Haggadah
Thursday, April 10, 2014 | 7:30 PM
Imaging the Future: Jewish Art and its Role in the Future of the
Jewish People Thursday, May 15, 2014 | 7:30 PM
25th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar in Residence Program
The Undisclosed Country: The Talmud and Modern Life
Sunday, January 19, 2014—Wednesday, February 6, 2014
Dr. Rabbi Jeffery Woolf, Bar Ilan University
This year’s lectures will take you on a voyage of exploration to see what the Talmud
is, what it does, and how through the ages it has defined and reflected the dizzying
kaleidoscope of Jewish Life and History.

Music
Alicia Svigals and The Yellow Ticket
Thursday, November 7, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Presented by the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston,
the Houston Cinema Arts Society and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
The Yellow Ticket is a live multimedia event featuring a new score by violinist Alicia
Svigals, reanimating this 1918 silent cinema classic that stars legendary actress Pola Negri.
Svigals performs her lush composition live with jazz piano virtuoso, Marilyn Lerner.
Photo by: Tina Chaden
The Yellow Ticket production was commissioned by the Foundation for Jewish Culture’s New Jewish Culture
Network (NJCN), a league of North American performing arts presenters committed to the creation and touring
of innovative projects. NJCN has received major support from the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family
Foundation. Additional support is provided by Sylvia M. Neil, the Milken Family Foundation and other donors.
Omer Avital and Suite of the East
Saturday, November 16, 2013 | 8:00 PM
The Maurice Amado Foundation Music Residency
Hailed by the LA Times as “a pioneer in combining jazz with myriad
world music elements,” Omer Avital is a composer, a virtuosic bassist,
an oud player and an active force on the world music scene. Born
and raised in Israel to parents of Yemenite and Moroccan descent, Avital was
surrounded from an early age by the diverse musical and cultural landscape of his
native land. His quintet combines Israeli folk tunes, North African influences and jazz
traditions to create a unique sound described as “the essence of Israel with all its
contradictions and beauty. The New York Times wrote: “Mr. Avital and his group are
producing some of the most original music being heard in New York.”
Marc Garvin with Guillermo Serpas
Sunday February 23, 2014 | 4:00 PM
Latin, Jazz and Middle Eastern music fuse for a lively afternoon of music
with two of Houston’s guitar virtuoso’s. Marc Garvin and Guillermo Serpas
will be joined by a quartet of outstanding Latin musicians in a concert
complete with a summary of the connectedness of Latin music and its
roots in Sephardic culture.

EMERALD
$3,600
DIAMOND PLUS
$1,800
PLATINUM
$1,000
GOLD
$500
BRONZE
$360
2013–2014 PATRONS OF THE ARTS
E R JC C ART S, CULT UR E & E DUCAT ION SE AS ON B E NE FI T S
Arts & Culture Season Pass admits 2 to Book & Arts Fair, Film Festival,
Music Concerts, Dance Month and CJLL programs.
Program member pricing for ERJCC classes Melton, Israeli Film Series,
Symposium, Dance, Mind /Body and Lifelong Learning
Patrons Brunch invitation for two
Reserved Seating Book Fair Opening and Closing Nights
Premium Reserved Seating Book Fair Opening and Closing Nights
Reserved Parking throughout the Book & Arts Fair
Exclusive author meet & greet invitation for two
Sponsorship of program, lecture or performance
All Patron Benefits are non-transferable.
P A T R O N L E V E L S

2013-2014 Patrons of the Arts
S T E E R I N G C O M M I T T E E
CHAIR: Bunny Radoff
Susie Askanase
Sarah Braham
Janet Frost
Ella Hamberger
Leora Kahn
Barbara Kalmans
Maxine Lapin
Libby Marvins
Esther Polland
Paula Pozmantier
Ruth Rabie
Ellen Trachtenberg
ARTS & CULTURE STEERING COMMITTEE
Deborah Kaplan, Chair
ART COMMITTEE
Lea Weingarten, Chair
DANCE COMMITTEE
Terry Cominsky, Chair
Hilda Frank, Honorary Chair
HOUSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Diane Lee, Chair
Doreen Joffe & Sharon Kagan,
Founding Chairs
JEWISH BOOK & ARTS FAIR
Joe Epstein, Chair
Maxine Goodman, Co-Chair
MUSIC COMMITEE
Adrianne Lavis, Chair
JEWISH EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Wendy Lerman, Chair
ERJCC LEADERSHIP
Bobbi Samuels, President, Board of Directors
Joel Dinkin, Executive Vice President
Marilyn Hassid, Assistant Executive Director
Nomi Barancik, CJLL Family Program Coordinator
Melissa Gordon, Director of Special Events
Barbara Lindenberg, Manager, Book Fair Bookstore
Larissa Potiomkin, Director of Development
Amy Rahmani, Program Coordinator, Arts & Culture
Rabbi Samantha Safran, Assistant Director,
Center for Jewish Living & Learning
Maxine Silberstein, Dance Director
Judy Weil, Arts & Culture Assistant
Official Hotel of the ERJCC

We’d like to thank our partners for their generous
support of the arts, culture and education
programs at the ERJCC
The Maurice Amado Foundation
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation
Houston Arts Alliance
Houston Endowment, Inc.
Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation
Radoff Family Foundation
Janet and Elton Lipnick
EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
5601 S. Braeswood | Houston, Texas 77096
erjcchouston .org