NYC Jewish-y Events, October 19 – October 29

Editor’s top picks:

OBSERVANCE

Gabby Goldblum is a hard-partying college student with anger-management issues. When she transfers her studies to Jerusalem, Gabby finds new meaning in Judaism and transitions full-throttle into a ba’al teshuvah, a non-religious Jewish person who becomes traditionally observant, returning to the faith, so to speak. Her new lifestyle creates a painful rift with her parents and boyfriend back home. Part of the NYC Fringe Festival. — Through Sunday, Oct. 21, 9:15 p.m., The FringeHUB, 685 Washington St. (corner of Charles Street; audience meets there before it is taken on a walk to the venue), observancetheplay.com.

ONE ANGRY VEGAN

Tal is the leader of a movement that, for a three-year stretch, turned Israel into one of the world’s most vegan countries. Her radical journey begins when she meets Tsvi, a neurotic, reclusive man who dreams of a worldwide vegan revolution and uses Tal as his charismatic, operational extension. Surprisingly, violent events and arrests turn them into cultural icons in the Jewish state.

The film documents the crucial points in the evolution of the vegan movement in Israel between 2011-2014. Followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Gil Golan. Part of The Chelsea Film Festival. — Sunday, Oct. 21, 2:30 p.m.  AMC Loews 34th Street 14, 312 W. 34th St., chelseafilm.org.

ISLE OF KLEZBOS

Dubbed a “paradigm-shifting, brilliantly tuneful klezmer group” by New York Music Daily and a “super-group” by The Jewish Week, the swinging all-women’s klezmer sextet marks its 20th anniversary with a special concert featuring guest artist Natalia Zukerman. Daughter of the classical violinist Pinchas Zukerman — himself the son of a Polish-born klezmer player — and flutist and CBS “Sunday Morning” correspondent Eugenia Zukerman, singer/songwriter Zukerman will present stories and tunes from her multimedia performance, “The Women Who Rode Away,” including arrangements with backing Klezbos bandmates. Isle of Klezbos’ latest repertoire also features original klezmer bugalu, lesser-known bawdy traditional tunes, along with luscious retakes on Eastern European swing and tangos. — Thursday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., (212) 539-8778, joespub.com.

Theater

HOME

An Israeli reservist gets an emergency recruitment phone call, and he returns home two weeks later, but the war returns with him. A true story about Israel’s particular brand of PTSD, written and performed in Hebrew by reservist Asi Tzobel. —  Sunday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m., Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St., (212) 239-6200, telecharge.

GLORIA: A LIFE

Five decades after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice for equality and championing those of others, her vision is as urgent as ever. The first act of this new show chronicles Steinem’s story, the second revolves around the making of the play about her and the third is a Talking Circle where audience members discuss the play’s themes. — Through January 2019, The Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 E. 15th St., (800) 745-3000, gloriatheplay.com. (See story here.)

HARVEY FIERSTEIN’S TORCH SONG

Condensed to 2 ½ hours, Harvey Fierstein’s original four-hour, semi-autobiographical 1982 “Torch Song” follows the ups and downs of Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish gay drag queen and torch singer. This Broadway revival, directed by Moisés Kaufman and starring Michael Urie as Arnold and Tony-winner Mercedes Ruehl as his mom, had a hit run Off Broadway at Second Stage Theater. — In previews (opens Thursday, Nov. 1), Hayes Theater, 240 W. 44 St. (212) 239-6200, torchsongbroadway.com.

Music

MICHAËL ATTIAS TRIO

The avant-garde Israeli-American saxophonist/composer/bandleader and his trio come together to play some new and old pieces. — Friday, Oct. 26, 8:30 and 10 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St., (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com.

Film

THE PODKAMIENERS

Filmmaker Sarah Kamaras tells the stories of Holocaust survivors who were forced to flee their small Polish town of Podkamien and explores the history of her own family. Following the screening, Kamaras will be joined by Noah Lederman (author of “A World Erased: A Grandson’s Search for His Family’s Holocaust Secrets”) for a conversation about the “third generation.” — Monday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m., Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, (646) 437-4202, mjhnyc.org.

KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEGINNING

Co-founded by pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian-born author, literature professor and activist Edward Said, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra — based in Seville, Spain — consists of 80 Arab and Israeli musicians, ages 13 to 26. The film follows the formation of the group and illustrates how prejudices are overcome during rehearsals, concerts and after-concert celebrations. — Wednesday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m., West End Synagogue, 190 Amsterdam Ave., (212) 579-0777, westendsynagogue.org.

THE CAKEMAKER

In this tender debut, Ofir Raul Graizer explores the connection formed by a gay German baker, Thomas (Tim Kalkhof), and Anat (Sarah Adler), the Israeli widow of the man whom they both loved, Oren (Roy Miller). — Saturday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21, 4:45 p.m., Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, (212) 864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

Talk

BILL MOYERS ON HISTORY, MEMORY AND DEMOCRACY

As democratic institutions around the world reel from the eroding forces of inequality and intolerance, prize-winning journalist Bill Moyers reflects on the role of history and memory in preserving democracy and democratic institutions. — Monday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m., Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., (800) 838-3006, cjh.org.

THE MAN WHO MADE THE MOVIES

Author Vanda Kreft celebrates the publication of “The Man Who Made the Movies: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of William Fox,” a story of ambition, greed and genius unfolding at the dawn of modern America. — Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., (800) 838-3006, cjh.org.

FIRST PERSON: JAMIE BERNSTEIN

Leonard Bernstein’s eldest daughter, Jamie Bernstein, shares a rare and intimate look at her father on the centennial of his birth in her new memoir, “Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein.” Join her and Broadway performer Alexandra Silber (“Fiddler on the Roof”) for a conversation and a selection of the Maestro’s most famous songs. A book signing and reception follow. — Oct. 28, 2 p.m., Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., (800) 838-3006, cjh.org.

GOD IS IN THE CROWD

Social activist and business leader Tal Keinan’s new book, “God Is in the Crowd: Twenty-First Century Judaism,” is the jumping-off point for a conversation about Israel, America and the future of Judaism. With Keinan, author and literary critic Daphne Merkin, Israeli author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi and Times op-ed editor and writer Bari Weiss. — Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., 92y.org.

Exhibitions

NOSOTROS 2.0

Latin American artistry is rich with Sephardi and Crypto-Jewish allusions and symbols. “Nosotros: Connecting the Latino and Jewish Communities,” now in its second edition, is a group show composed of pieces by Latino artists celebrating the shared history and culture of Jewish and Latino communities. — Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., (212) 294-8301, cjh.org.

CHAGALL, LISSITZKY, MALEVICH

Kicking off the fall season and exploring a little-known chapter in the history of modernity and the Russian avant-garde, The Jewish Museum’s new exhibit focuses on the People’s Art School (1918-1922), founded by Marc Chagall in his native city of Vitebsk (present-day Belarus). Featuring the works of three iconic figures — Marc Chagall, El Lissitzky and Kazimir Malevich — as well as works by lesser-known students and teachers of the Vitebsk school. — The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. (at 92nd Street), (212) 423-3200, thejm.org.

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