400 Jewish Communal Influentials to Convene First Conference on Jewish Culture September 12 to 13

NEW YORK – More than 400 Jewish communal influentials including 50 prominent musicians, entertainers and leaders in a variety of fields, will convene the first international conference to examine the state of Jewish culture. The conference, named for Sidney Krum and supported by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), will be a two-day program held Tuesday and Wednesday, September 12th and 13th at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, New York.

In the past three years alone, the Oyhoo Festival has become a central clearinghouse for Jewish arts and culture featuring a cadre of musicians, performers, educators, and influencers, from showcasing the popular Matisyahu to unknown Klezmer stars. The addition of the Sidney Krum Conference will offer attendees an opportunity to explore the growth of the Jewish music and entertainment industry today, and to experience an exciting new chapter of American Jewish culture.

The Conference features a unique lineup of musicians, filmmakers, comedians and artists from around the world. Topics range from ‘The Jewish Identity in Music’ to ‘The Pros and Cons of Working in Jewish Arts and Entertainment’ to the ‘Da Vinci Code Kosher Style: Decoding Biblical Jewish Symbolism in Pop Culture and Contemporary Art.’

“This is one of the most vibrant times to celebrate the renewal of Jewish music and the Jewish culture scene,” said Michael Dorf, the Festival’s founder and executive producer. “We have seen an explosion of new record labels, new venues for Jewish music and others art forms that hasn’t existed before. The Conference was inspired by

‘The Conversation: Jewish in America,’ a project of the Jewish Week held in 2005, which clearly demonstrated the need and continued growth of this special Jewish music and entertainment industry. The Sidney Crum Conference will address the need for the future success of Jewish music and entertainment worldwide.”

The Conference will create a space for scholarly discussion between leading cultural visionaries. The ambiance of the Conference is intentionally designed to be more informal so the attendees can get clear and practical information from professionals from various genres. In the first day, photographer Frederic Brenner will explore how his own Jewish experiences permeate and dictate the direction of his photographic work. He will enter an open discussion with Sidra Dekoven-Ezrahi on how Jewish experiences affect their craft. On the second day, comedians Lewis Black and Judy Gold will talk about their Jewish identity and how being Jewish influences their work.

Musicians including Neshama Carlebach, Frank London, Basya Shechter, C Lanzbom, and Noah Soloman Chas of Soulfarm, will discuss the integration of ancient melodies, text, and Jewish values into their musical compositions. Other speakers will address the many aspects of their Jewish musical roots and identity.

The Conference is expected to sell-out given the limited capacity. People can pre-register for a 15% discount on conference registration before August 15th. The Festival also offers free admission into the Jewish Music Showcase on September 11th. The Two-day pass to the Conference includes lunches, cocktail receptions, and discounts to selected shows throughout the festival. The professional rate is $175 and a student rate is $75.

Founded in 2004, the Oyhoo Festival is produced through the Downtown Arts Development, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on development of festivals, musical presentations, and educational activities. Financial support for the Festival is provided by UJA-Federation of NY, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and a variety of Foundations including: Michael Steinhardt Foundation/Jewish Life Network, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Foundation, Andrea & Charles Bronfman Foundation, The Rudin Family Foundation, Russell Berrie Foundation, Natan, among other hopeful foundations to be announced. Media Sponsors include WCBS-TV Channel 2 and The Jewish Week. For additional information please visit us at www.oyhoo.com for complete show times, tickets and sponsorship opportunities.
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