The Jewish Student Association and the James Farmer Multicultural Center are proud to present a two-week celebration of the many facets of Jewish identity to the University of Mary Washington community. Through a series of events, we hope to bring awareness to the various aspects of Jewish culture around the world. Participants willbe able to experience traditions through lectures, discussions, feasts, and more. We will journey together to explore the importance of the roles that tradition and history play in Judaism today. It is our hope that these events will inspire discussion, tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance.
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Monday, Nov. 8
Jewish Heritage Kickoff Celebration
5 – 8 p.m. Dome Room, Seacobeck Hall
and Ball Circle
Join us for JSA week’s kickoff celebration! We’ll be in the Dome Room at Seacobeck from 5 – 7 p.m., serving traditional and delicious Jewish food. Then at 7:15 p.m., join us for the Puzzle Piece Scavenger Hunt. There will be a competition to find glow-in-the-dark puzzle pieces and see how they all “fit together.” Prizes included.
Wednesday, Nov. 10
Colliding Identities: Understanding The Chosen
6 – 8:30 p.m. Lee Hall, Room 411
Join us as we’ll be watching The Chosen, a classic movie based on Chaim Potok’s book titled the same. This movie displays the cultural differences between various facets of Judaism in America. There will be a discussion led by Dr. Mary Beth Mathews following the film.
Food will be provided.
Friday, Nov. 12
Shabbat Dinner: A Family Meal
5 – 7 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room, Seacobeck Hall
Price: $10 individual or 1 Meal Plan + $6 Flex
The Sabbath is the day of rest for the Jewish people that begins at sundown on Friday and continues until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday night. During this time Jewish people abstain from labor of any kind and spend the day with families and friends. Traditionally, Jewish families commence the Sabbath with Shabbat dinner on Friday night. Come and enjoy a traditional Shabbat dinner and learn about this weekly tradition.
Monday, Nov. 15
The Jewish Diaspora
6 – 7:30 p.m. Lee Hall, Room 411
Jewish people live across the globe. Whether they’re from the Netherlands, India, Argentina, Spain, America, or Israel, they still share a Jewish identity. We will discuss the Jewish diaspora with the help of other multicultural organizations on campus. Join us as we learn how Jewish tradition and culture have transformed while spanning the course of generations and continents. Food will be provided.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
The Black Jew Dialogues
7 – 9 p.m. Great Hall, Woodard Campus Center
What’s so funny about two American minorities that have slavery, the KKK, and chicken livers in common? Find out in this extraordinary two-actor play on the history and absurdity of prejudice and racism within the context of the American Black-Jew experience. The Black Jew Dialogues combines fast-paced sketches, improvisations, and multi-media to create a show that has gained praise across the U.S. and the U.K. The show premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in August 2006. In September 2007, it was the only American play invited to perform at the Leeds Jewish Performing Arts Festival in England. More recently, The Black Jew Dialogues has been touring universities, high schools, synagogues, and theaters throughout the U.S. with great success.
Thursday, Nov. 18
Getting the “J”ist of It
8 – 9:30 p.m. The Underground
It’s Jewish Trivia Night! Come armed with your newfound knowledge of the Jewish culture and win some cool prizes at the Underground. This event is co-sponsored by the Underground Programming Council.
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.For more information, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at ; Lee Hall, 211
