Come Into the Circle

Come into the Circle is a new learning series designed to educate, celebrate and activate. The series connects WC/AR members to their cultural and progressive identity through intimate talks, musical celebrations, movie screenings, literary discussions, and lectures on subjects from politics to Yiddishkeit..

Come into the Circle programs begin Monday, February 6th and are throughout the week, so you’ll have a full selection of programs, dates, and times. All activities take place in our heimish new headquarters in the Garment District, 247 West 37th Street, 5th floor, near Eighth Avenue.

You’ll also find new events added each month, so keep checking this space for updates! See you in the Circle!

PRICING:
All programs, except where otherwise indicated - $12 Non-member Single Admission; WC Members Single Admission: $5
Any 5 or more programs booked in advance – 30% discount.
Monday Movie Club – Free Admission for WC Members, $5 for non-members

PROGRAMS

Lullabies and Legacy Sing the little ones to sleep with a sweet Yiddish lullaby. Join acclaimed klezmer vocalist Lorin Sklamberg as he brings to life the wonderful world of Yiddish children’s songs.  Share this beautiful legacy with your own kinder.

Literary Circles with Shane Baker Enjoy the unique expressiveness of the Yiddish language, its beautiful idioms, ironies, and inherent wisdom through the writings of its literary giants. Led by our Yiddish mevinim, the group will read aloud from and discuss both classic and neglected Yiddish texts. Co-sponsored by the Congress for Jewish Culture. Two sessions weekly - one (Tuesdays at 3AM)  for Yiddish speakers, one ( Mondays at 6PM)  for discussions in English.

Shabbes in the Circle Join your engaging and distinguished hosts Barney Zumoff, Maida Feingold, Lawrence Bush, and Bryna Wasserman for weekly talks, sing-alongs, performances, and community:

Sunday Lectures :  Talks in the Circle Four Trials That Rocked the Jewish World, with Ben Nelson

Monday Movie Matinees Enjoy films with a social-justice theme in comfortable seating at the WC/AR headquarters.  Then, linger over coffee for stimulating discussion with your WC/AR friends.

Democracy in America A series of discussions on Jewish progressive activism in America, led by J.J. Goldberg.

Kavehoyz
Catch these freylekhe monthly concerts with cutting-edge Yiddish entertainers from around the world.  Co- Sponsored by the Congress for Jewish Culture.

A Day in Yiddishland
Master instructors, including our own Nikolai Borodulin, will take you through a day of mameloshn, films, games, music and theater.  All levels welcome.

COME INTO THE CIRCLE 2012 FACULTY

J.J. Goldberg, Workmen's Circle Activist-In-Residence and editor-at-large of the Jewish Daily Forward, has covered the politics and culture of American Jewry for a quarter-century in a variety of American and Israeli publications.

Lorin Sklamberg is a founder and the lead vocalist for the world-renowned Klezmatics. He composes, records, and performs for film, dance, stage… and circus. By day he works as the sound archivist for the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

Shane Baker is executive director of the Congress for Jewish Culture and CYCO, and holds an MA in Yiddish Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He received critical acclaim for his one man show The Big Bupkis! A Complete Gentile's Guide to Yiddish Vaudeville.

Barnett Zumoff, the prolific Yiddish translator, has been a leader of The Workmen’s Circe/Arbeter-Ring, the Forward Association, and many other national Jewish organizations. Barney is a also a renowned teacher and researcher in the field of endocrinology.

Maida Feingold is beloved for her many appearances on radio’s popular Sunday Yiddish SingAlong series with Zalmen Mlotek, as well as guest spots on WEVD’s Sunday Forward Hour.

Lawrence Bush has been a creative force as a writer, artist and editor for nearly three decades. He edits Jewish Currents, the progressive secular magazine, and Jewdayo, a daily Jewish-history blog. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Village Voice, Tikkun, and other publications.

Bryna Wasserman is the acclaimed Executive Director of the National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene. For many years she headed the Segal Center for the Arts in Montreal, where she directed dozens of successful stage productions in English and Yiddish.

Benjamin Nelson is Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also lectures widely on Jewish and Israeli literature and film. More speakers to be announced.

Contact Us:

Phone: 212.889.6800 x234

Email: Events@circle.org