NYC’s Top Jewish Events This Week

SHARABI
https://youtu.be/OTTOLaBVsYk
Klezmer has been a particularly malleable music. In the hands of the great mandolinist/clarinetist Andy Statman, the frenzied Old-World wedding music has been yoked to both bluegrass and free jazz, to thrilling effect. The New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars have spiced klezmer with Cajun sounds and R&B. The Klezmatics covered Woody Guthrie songs (and won a Grammy). For the last few years, Klezmatics’ trumpeter Frank London has been exploring the klez-Indian connection. Together with tabla player Deep Singh, he formed Sharabi, a band that takes its name from the Hindi word meaning something like ecstasy. The grooves are deep and funky, mixing traditional Jewish music and the Punjabi bhangra sound, itself a joining of Indian folk and Western pop. What defines the sound are drone-like guitar lines and Singh’s insistent tabla. The effect is something like a meditative chant, with London’s trumpet dancing above the steady rhythm. — Friday, April 14, 10 p.m., Mona’s Bar, Avenue B and 13th Street, East Village. Free. (212) 353-3780.

ISRAELI JAZZ SPOTLIGHT
Curated by Israeli-American bassist Or Bareket, Cornelia’s monthly “Israeli Jazz Spotlight” showcases guitarist Nadav Remez and pianist Eden Ladin. Remez intriguingly fuses modern jazz, Jewish folk and alt rock. Jazztimes says that he “has fashioned an auspicious debut of poignant melodies, rich harmonies and stirring improvisations that ring out with clarity and emotion.” Ladin and his trio will play his originals, which straddle mainstream jazz, funk and fusion. — Sunday, April 16, 8:30 (Remez) and 10 p.m. (Ladin), Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St., (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com. $20, drinks included.

THE BAND’S VISIT
“The Band’s Visit,” David Yazbek’s Off-Broadway adaptation of the similarly titled award-winning Israeli film starring Ronit Elkabetz, was a hit during its recent run. Now, Yazbek presents a one-night-only performance featuring the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, the group featured in the musical. These Arab music masters will play scores from the show, classical and popular Middle Eastern pieces and songs from other Yazbek’s albums. The Times described the show’s music as having a “transcendent harmonic shimmer that stops the heart.” Also featuring the musical’s stars, Katrina Lenk and Ari’el Satchel. — Monday, April 10, 7 p.m., 54 Below, 254 W. 54th St., (646) 476-3551, 54below.com. $55-$105.

Theater

OSLO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70bAEAk6Olo
One of 2016’s best-reviewed plays, J. T. Rogers’ “Oslo” moves to Broadway. A complex tale of political intrigue and back-door negotiations, this darkly funny play centers on the months of talks between Israel and Palestine that led to the historic 1993 Oslo Peace Accords. Directed by Tony Award-winning Barlett Sher (“Fiddler on the Roof”). — Through June 18, Lincoln Center Theatre, 150 W. 65th St., (212) 375-3708. For the schedule and tickets visit lct.org.

HELLO, DOLLY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsgVIr3LNbU
The Broadway hit that became an even more famous Barbra Streisand movie is now returning to its Broadway roots. The widowed, brassy matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers to find a match for the miserly “well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire” Horace Vandergelder. She convinces his niece, his niece’s intended and Horace’s two clerks to travel with them to New York City to find the match, and … (we won’t spoil the ending for you). Played on film by the legendary Barbra Streisand, this Broadway revival features the no-less-legendary Bette Midler as Dolly. Directed by four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks. — Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., (212) 239-6200, hellodollyonbroadway.com. $59-$189.

IF I FORGET
In the final months before 9/11, liberal (to say the least; he’s publishing a book about forgetting the Holocaust) Jewish studies Professor Michael Fischer has reunited with his two sisters to celebrate their father’s 75th birthday. Each deeply invested in their own version of family history, destructive secrets and long-held resentments bubble to the surface — with biting humor and razor-sharp insight — in this powerful tale of a family, and culture, at odds with itself. — Through April 30, The Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., (212) 719-1300, roundabouttheatre.org. $79.

NOT THAT JEWISH
Written by and starring the Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe nominated writer, actress and comedian Monica Piper, this has been lauded as a hilarious and heartfelt autobiographical tale of a Jew-“ish” woman’s life. — Through April 30, New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., (212) 239-6200, notthatjewish.com. From $49.

DAN LEVY
Stand-up comedian and writer Dan Levy tweeted that his show is “A Jewish version of the movie ‘Spotlight’ that exposes rabbis who do too much schtick during High Holidays.” Levy has worked on four MTV shows including “MTV Spring Break,” and his own talk show for College Humor. — Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, 8 and 10 p.m., Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St., (212) 367-9000, gothamcomedyclub.com, $26 + two drink minimum.

Music

ROY NATHANSON – STILL LIFE WITH TROUBLE
An evening of music, spoken-word poetry and conversation with the saxophonist and Jazz Passengers co-founder Roy Nathanson, an eclectic, big-eared musician. — Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m., NYU’s Avery Fisher Center for Music and Media, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, 7th floor. RSVP: lib-rsvp.nyu.edu.

YOTAM SILBERSTEIN & LA FAMILIA QUARTET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5d_0zcjx4Q
Since his move here a decade ago, guitarist and Tel Aviv native Yotam Silberstein has released three albums and collaborated with the likes of bassist Avishai Cohen, James Moody and Roy Hargrove. About Jazz summed up Silberstein’s 2009 release, “Next Page,” as an “unadorned hollow-body guitar work [that] freely invites comparison to releases from the heyday of Blue Note Records.” This gig has Vitor Goncalves on piano, Rick Rosato on bass and Daniel Dor on drums. – Saturday, April 8, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St., (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com. $20, drinks included.

ISRAELI CHAMBER PROJECT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw6re_5mmgk
The award-winning Israeli Chamber Project joins forces with noted violist Paul Neubauer for a program of classics, including Mozart’s lyrical “Piano Quartet No. 2” and Richard Strauss’ impassioned and rarely played “Piano Quartet in C minor.”— Saturday, April 8, 7:30 p.m., Baruch Performing Arts Center, Engelman Recital Hall, 55 Lexington Ave, (212) 352-3101. $35/$15 Student.

THE EHUD ASHERIE TRIO
With a “sprightly dancing style on the keyboard” (Jazz Notes), New York-based, Israeli-born jazz pianist Ehud Asherie plays a straightforward, classy jazz repertoire which All About Jazz magazine described as “a wonder and more than a joy to hear.” With drummer Aaron Kimmel and bassist Neal Miner. — Tuesday, April 11, 7:30-10 p.m., Smalls Jazz Club, 183 W. 10th St., (646) 476-4346, smallslive.com.

ANAT FORT
Combining jazz and classical elements with subtle hints of her Middle Eastern background, Israeli pianist Anat Fort has been hailed for her “reflective yet probing style” (New York Times) and her “deceptively simple-sounding tunes, that are usually elegant and frequently exquisite” (The Guardian). Along with her long-time collaborator Gary Wang on bass, Chris Cheek on saxophone and Francisco Mela on drums, she will be playing music from her latest ECM release, “Birdwatching,” named one of the best jazz CDs in 2016 by the NY Observer. — Thursday, April 13, 8:30 and 10 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St., (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com. $20, drinks included.

DANIEL MERON
Israeli-American jazz pianist and composer Daniel Meron presents music from his recently released album, “Sky Begin.” Meron’s songs are influenced by jazz, folk and world music, and shift between intimate moments and energetic improvisation. — Friday, April 14, 6 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St., (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com. $20, drinks included.

MUSICAL MAVERICKS
In a benefit concert for the ACLU, some of New York City’s leading musical mavericks join forces in a wild, boundary-pushing, genre-bending concert. Headliners include klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer, violin maverick Todd Reynolds and chamber jazz supergroup 9 Horses. — Saturday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St., (212) 864-5400, symphonyspace.org, $42/$35 members, children and seniors.

Film

STREIT’S MATZO AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
In the heart of New York’s rapidly gentrifying Lower East Side stand four tenement buildings that housed the Streit’s matzah factory since 1925. Their story is one of tradition, resistance and resilience — a family whose commitment to their heritage and their employees is proof that the family that bakes together, stays together. A Q&A with director Neil A. Friedman will follow. — Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m., Center for Jewish History, 15 W.16th St., (212) 294-8301, cjh.org. $10/$5 members, seniors and students.

GERMANS & JEWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg4anJNqvgk
Tal Recanati, an American Jewish filmmaker, visited Germany and took a tour entitled “Jewish Berlin.” She was astonished to find that the Germans had dug so deeply and thoughtfully into their past, that in the 70 years since the Holocaust there was a growing, vibrant Jewish community. Through personal stories from Germans, German-Jews, American-Jews and Israelis, “Germans & Jews” explores Germany’s transformation as a society. – Sunday, April 16, 6 p.m., Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St., (212) 864-5400, symphonyspace.org. $25.

13 MINUTES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a-rnFq1FjQ
During Hitler’s anniversary speech on Nov. 8, 1939, Georg Elser (Christian Friedel) is arrested on the Swiss border for possession of suspicious objects. Just minutes later, a bomb explodes in the Munich Bürgerbräukeller right behind the Führer’s lectern, killing eight people. Elser is held and cruelly questioned by the Gestappo, and from them he learns that his attempt has failed — the man he wanted to kill in order to stop the bloodshed of World War II had left 13 minutes before the explosion. — Lincoln Plaza Cinema, 1886 Broadway, (212) 757-0359. For tickets and show times visit lincolnplazacinema.com.

THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE
https://youtu.be/eiEfrA6MWs4
“The Zookeeper’s Wife,” starring Jessica Chastain, tells the account of the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the German invasion. — In wide release.

Exhibitions

JESSICA DE VREEZE

 

Photographer Jessica de Vreeze was born in Paris to parents from New York and Tunisia; she has lived in Paris, Luxembourg and New York City. She says her photos are a conversation between these cities she loves: she is drawn to the different light and movement, and plays with reflections and imagery, capturing the emotional resonance. Although her Jewish family is scattered, she has always felt anchored where she lives, which is felt in her work. Her show, “Portrait d’Atmosphere,” is on view until April 13 and then from May 23-June 27. — Luxembourg House (the stately townhouse is the former home of Irving Berlin), 17 Beekman Place (50th Street); gallery is open Monday-Friday, 9:30-6 p.m., but call ahead, (212) 888-6664, or email laurence.pierron@mae.etat.lu.

LOST SYNAGOGUES OF EUROPE
The Museum at Eldridge Street presents an exhibition of vintage postcards of Central and Eastern European synagogues from Prague-based collector Frantisek Bányai. The postcards depict a range of Jewish architecture, culture and community that were all but destroyed during WWII. — Through June 8, Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge St., (212) 219-0302, eldridgestreet.org.

HEROES OF THE KNISH
The lowly staple gets the high-brow treatment with a month-long museum show at The City Reliquary. The chronicler-queen of the knish, Laura Silver, author of 2014’s “Knish: In Search of the Jewish Soul Food” (Brandeis), curates the exhibition, whose aptly stuffed title is “Heroes of the Knish: Making a Living and Making a Life.” It features a history of the potato pie, from the Old Country to the sidewalk carts of the Lower East Side to the pricey delis of Midtown, and documents the lives of the men and women who made the crusty-chewy delicacy. — Through May 7, City Reliquary Museum, 370 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, cityreliquary.org. $5.

UNCOMMON THREADS
Our ancestors used clothing and textiles to beautify their synagogues, their tables and themselves on Shabbat and holidays as well as important lifecycle events. Many of these were preserved, with highlights including a sumptuous 18th-century lectern cover that belonged to a former chief rabbi of Izmir, a 19th-century dress and a 1950 custom-made lace wedding gown. — Through April 29, Yeshiva University Museum, 15 W. 16th St., (212) 294-8330, info@yum.cjh.org. For hours and admission rates: yumuseum.org/visit.

To publish events, submit them to jewishweekcalendar@gmail.com two weeks or more in advance, or post them online at JWCalendar.com. In the print edition, we cannot guarantee inclusion due to space limitations. Since scheduling changes may occur, we recommend contacting the venue before heading out to an event.