BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//WordPress - MECv7.29.0//EN
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/
X-WR-CALNAME:KlezCalifornia
X-WR-CALDESC:Yiddish Culture, Dance and Music
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Los_Angeles
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Los_Angeles
X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Los_Angeles
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20260308T030000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=03;BYDAY=2SU
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20261101T010000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=11;BYDAY=1SU
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
X-MS-OLK-FORCEINSPECTOROPEN:TRUE
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-3a61ed715ee66c48bacf237fa7bb5289@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260513T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260513T180000
DTSTAMP:20200621T173537Z
RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;BYDAY=WE
CREATED:20200621
LAST-MODIFIED:20260110
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:9
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:KAILA online Wednesday Klezmer Workshops
DESCRIPTION:\nIf you have ever been to a Jewish wedding or bar/bas mitsve party and wished you could play the traditional Eastern European Jewish Music known as klezmer, then KAILA is for you! KAILA is the Klezmer Arts Institute of Los Angeles.\n\n\n\nLed by Gustavo Bulgach (leader of  the band “Klezmer Juice”), we are musicians of differing abilities and instruments, drawn together to play and learn the history, rhythms, scales and modes of klezmer music. \n\n\n\nCome join KAILA for the weekly Zoom workshops Wednesdays at 5pm Pacific Time (8 pm Eastern Time). \n\n\n\nClick on the link below to register. You will receive a confirmation in your email. Music will change every workshop and can be seen on the link in your registration confirmation email.  The room opens at 4:45pm Pacific Time.\n\n\n\nThere is no charge for this workshop, however in this time of economic uncertainty, especially for the arts, any contribution will be appreciated.\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/kaila-workshops-wednesdays/
CATEGORIES:Music,Workshops
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/KAILAlogo-600x338-72dpi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-94e70705efae423efda1088614128d0b@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260515T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260515T170000
DTSTAMP:20260511T121540Z
RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20260620T000000Z
CREATED:20260511
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:10
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Reading Yiddish Texts: The Yiddish Stage
DESCRIPTION:\nSix Fridays: May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12 & 19, 4–5pm Pacific Time, Online\n\n\n\nA Deep Dive into the History, Dramaturgy, and Culture of Yiddish Theater with Robby Adler Peckerar\n\n\n\nStep into the world of Yiddish theater—one of the most vital and transformative cultural movements in modern Jewish history. This six-session online Yiddish course offered by New Lehrhaus allows you to advance your Yiddish language skills through a sophisticated exploration of primary sources and dramatic criticism.\n\n\n\nFrom Eastern European Borderlands to Second Avenue\n\n\n\nWe will trace the evolution of the Yiddish stage from its raw origins among roving players in the Eastern European borderlands to its glittering Golden Age on New York’s Second Avenue. This course doesn’t just look at scripts; it examines the enduring legacy of the theater within the global Jewish diaspora and its profound influence on modern Jewish identity.\n\n\n\nA Multidimensional Reading Experience\n\n\n\nEach session pairs close readings of authentic Yiddish-language sources with guided discussion. We go beyond the dialogue on the page to explore:\n\n\n\n\nTheatrical Texts: Plays and dramatic works from key eras.\n\n\n\nCritical Context: Reviews, manifestos, and memoirs that defined the movement.\n\n\n\nIntellectual History: Theatrical criticism that shaped the cultural landscape of Jewish modernity.\n\n\n\n\nLanguage Immersion & Skill Building\n\n\n\nConducted in a mix of Yiddish and English, this course is designed to bridge the gap between intermediate study and true fluency.\n\n\n\n\nExpand Your Register: Gain comfort with both formal and colloquial Yiddish, from the elevated language of the stage to the gritty prose of a newspaper review.\n\n\n\nStructural Mastery: Deepen your understanding of Yiddish language structure through direct contact with diverse text types.\n\n\n\nAuthentic Materials: Practice reading Yiddish in the original using high-quality primary source documents.\n\n\n\n\nWho this is for:\n\n\n\n\nIntermediate to advanced learners who have completed at least two years of Yiddish study (or the equivalent).\n\n\n\nRequirements: Students should be comfortable reading Yiddish in the alef-beys.\n\n\n\nIdeal for: Anyone looking to combine language acquisition with a serious study of Jewish performing arts and history.\n\n\n\n\nWhat You’ll Leave With:\n\n\n\n\nImproved Reading Fluency: Greater confidence navigating multiple Yiddish text types and genres.\n\n\n\nSpecialized Vocabulary: A robust lexicon covering theater, dramaturgy, and cultural critique.\n\n\n\nHistorical Perspective: A rich understanding of how Yiddish theater functioned as a laboratory for modern Jewish life and performance.\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/reading-yiddish-texts-the-yiddish-stage/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Classes,Theater
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/yiddish-stage.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-219ece62fae865562d4510ea501cf349@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260630T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260630T210000
DTSTAMP:20260511T100707Z
CREATED:20260511
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:7
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Yiddish House Concert – Oakland
DESCRIPTION:\nNear Marcom Rose Park, Oakland. Please register for exact address.\n\n\n\nYiddish Favorites with Cindy Paley and her amazing quartet\n\n\n\nJoin Cindy Paley’s Klezmer Quartet for a rich and rousing evening of Yiddish Favorites. These seasonal concerts have been too much fun, and we’re back with new songs!Come ready to learn and sing along to the vibrant and colorful songbook of Eastern European Jewry’s unique cultural history. The popular Yiddish folk songs of Itzik Manger and Mordechai Gebirtig, among others, are sure to stir your nostalgia. Newer melodies by Michael Alpert, Leonard Cohen, Chava Alberstein and Arkady Gendler will remind you that Yiddish is timeless, thriving and meaningful. Guitarist/vocalist Cindy Paley will be joined by accordionist Dan Cantrell, clarinetist Asaf Ophir, and violinist Nathan Ladyzhensky. Song sheets in transliteration with English translations will be provided.​​PerformersCindy Paley: vocals and guitarDan Cantrell: accordionAsaf Ophir: clarinetNathan Ladyzhensky: violin\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGet Tickets\n\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/yiddish-house-concert-oakland/
CATEGORIES:Featured,Music
LOCATION:Alameda County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cindy-Paley-quartet.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-274e6fcf4a583de4a81c6376f17673e7@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260514T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260514T203000
DTSTAMP:20260511T095921Z
CREATED:20260511
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:5
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:UNVEILED: New Works for Klezmer Clarinet, with Nat Seelen
DESCRIPTION:\nThe Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco. Freegarage parking ( https://goo.gl/maps/h11asWbpMhssBkMq6 ) at 1227 Pierce Street between Ellis and Eddy. \n\n\n\nJoin Nat Seelen, artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music and clarinetist with Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band, for the San Francisco premiere of two new works for solo klezmer clarinet and an informal talkback session to discuss the music, learn about composing new klezmer music, and explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in Jewish culture.\n\n\n\nWatch clips of Seelen performing with the Ezeklel’s Wheels Klezmer Trio here, and with Improbable Beasts here.\n\n\n\nNat Seelen is a Boston-based clarinetist, composer, and educator whose work explores the intersections of tradition, innovation, and community in klezmer music and beyond. He is the founder and artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, a concert series that has presented more than 180 artists since its inception in 2021. Seelen is a founding member of the award-winning Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band, who have performed at the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood Music Center, and internationally. Seelen is also the creator of New Klezmer Studios, an innovative remote learning initiative that has taught klezmer music to students on five continents, including musicians from Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Berklee, and Oberlin. In 2025, Seelen joined the faculty at New England Conservatory, where he began his own musical training. He holds an AB with honors in music from Brown University and studied philosophy and music at King’s College London.\n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/unveiled-new-works-for-klezmer-clarinet-with-nat-seelen/
CATEGORIES:Featured,Music
LOCATION:San Francisco
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/nat-seelen.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-f62f37c43535b2178316a7f9b9533b10@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260519T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260519T210000
DTSTAMP:20260501T181656Z
CREATED:20260501
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:5
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Concert: Veretski Pass and the Gaskin-Boden duo
DESCRIPTION:\nJoin us for a very special evening of klezmer music, featuring some of the leading musicians on the global klezmer scene today. This concert breathes new life into old music: both groups represent a continuity of the long lineage of Eastern European Jewish folk music, and the concert reflects a gradual passing of the torch from the stalwarts of Veretski Pass to the upstarts of the Gaskin-Boden duo.\n\n\n\nThe Gaskin-Boden duo (Dmitri Gaskin, accordion, and Raffi Boden, cello) presents an original vision of klezmer music within the stripped down instrumentation of cello and accordion. Their unique approach and creative arrangements blur the lines between melody and accompaniment, seamlessly weaving together old country shtetl fiddle repertoire, Yiddish song, and the classic New York klezmer sound. Boden and Gaskin draw melodies from historical archives as well as present their own original compositions.\n\n\n\nTaking its name from the mountain pass through which Magyar tribes crossed into the Carpathian basin to settle what later became the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Veretski Pass offers a unique and exciting combination of virtuosic musicianship and raw energy that has excited concertgoers across the world. The trio plays Old Country Music with origins in the Ottoman Empire, once fabled as the borderlands of the East and the West. In a true collage of Carpathian, Jewish, Rumanian and Ottoman styles, typical suites contain dances from Moldavia and Bessarabia; Jewish melodies from Poland and Rumania; Hutzul wedding music from Carpathian-Ruthenia; and haunting Rebetic aires from Smyrna, seamlessly integrated with original compositions. Their CDs have repeatedly been on the 10-best recording lists of journalists since 2002.\n\n\n\nAt the Back Room ( https://backroommusic.com/ ) in Berkeley.\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/veretski-pass-and-the-gaskin-boden-duo/
CATEGORIES:Music
LOCATION:Alameda County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gaskin-boden-veteski-pass.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-acfe22eeddf82266e32f8f17912d59fe@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260629T000000
DTSTAMP:20260428T183221Z
CREATED:20260428
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:10
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:The Lost Princess, with Yiddish wall texts
DESCRIPTION:\nTaube Center for Jewish Peoplehood, Issacs Gallery & Kurland Lounge, at the Osher Marin JCC\n\n\n\nArtist Jessica Tamar Deutsch invites viewers into a storybook walk of The Lost Princess, where whimsical framed illustrations and large-scale canvases trace a path through spiritual dislocation and the longing to return. This exhibit will be up through June 28.\n\n\n\nThe Lost Princess is a Hasidic folktale first told by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. It is an allegory of spiritual exile, searching, and the return of what has been lost. When a princess vanishes, a faithful Viceroy sets out on a long and uncertain journey to bring her home. Rebbe Nachman’s tale speaks across generations to the human experience of longing, disconnection, and the hope of return.\n\n\n\nIn her adaptation, artist Jessica Tamar Deutsch brings this mystical narrative into the present, illuminating its themes of grief, resilience and the pursuit of justice with 41 framed pages from Deutsch’s acclaimed book alongside six original large-scale canvases. Through expressive illustrations and layered meaning, she invites us to travel with the story’s seeker, moving through emotional and spiritual landscapes shaped by loss, repair and the deep desire for wholeness.\n\n\n\nRebbe Nachman first told The Lost Princess in Yiddish in the 18th century. Artist Jessica Tamar Deutsch reimagined the tale through a modern English translation and now, in a full-circle moment, translator Arun “Arele” Schaechter Viswanath has crafted new Yiddish wall texts; Viswanath is best known for having translated Harry Potter into Yiddish.\n\n\n\nMore Information »\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/the-lost-princess-with-yiddish-wall-texts-2/
LOCATION:Marin County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/princess.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-c4bf1e24f3e6f92ca9dfd9a7a1a1049c@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260515T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260515T203000
DTSTAMP:20260424T153853Z
CREATED:20260424
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:7
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Klezmer Shabes (Shabbat) with Nat Seelen
DESCRIPTION:\nIn-person and Online\n\n\n\nTemple Beth El3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos, CA 95003\n\n\n\nA lively Shabes service led by Rabbi Shifra and Peter Weiss-Penzias and other special musical guests, followed by an interactive musical presentation by Nat Seelen, founder and artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music. Klezmer Shabbat is co-presented by KlezCA. Please RSVP ( https://www.tbeaptos.org/event/klezmer-shabbat.html )» ( https://www.tbeaptos.org/event/klezmer-shabbat.html )\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/klezmer-shabbat-with-nat-seelen/
LOCATION:Santa Cruz County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/nat-seelen.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-ab49b208848abe14418090d95df0d590@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260517T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260517T150000
DTSTAMP:20260424T151651Z
CREATED:20260424
LAST-MODIFIED:20260424
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:219
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Flisik Yidish Salon, May 17, 2026
DESCRIPTION:\nA conversation Salon for fluent (flisik) Yiddish speakers.\n\n\n\nTayere Fraynt,Mir hofn az ir mit ayer gantser mishpokhe blaybn gezunt un shtark. Zuntik, dem zibetset may fun 2 biz 3 nokh mitog in Kalifornye veln mir hobn a Salon af Zoom. Bloyz di mentshn vos registirn az zey veln kumen veln bakumen dem veb adres. Look up your local time HERE ( https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html ).\n\n\n\nװען איר װאָלט געקענט עסן װעטשערע מיט װעלכע סע זאָל נישט זײַן מענטשן (טױטע אָדער לעבעדיקע), װער װאָלטן זײ געװען? פֿאַר װאָס האָט איר זײ אױסגעקליבן און װעגן װאָס װאָלט איר גערעדט?\n\n\n\nVen ir volt gekent esn vetshere mit velkhe se zol nisht zayn mentshn (toyte oder lebedike), ver voltn zey geven? Far vos hot ir zey oysgeklibn un vegn vos volt ir geredt?\n\n\n\n If you could have dinner with any three people (dead or alive), who would they be? Why did you choose them and what might you talk about?\n\n\n\nREGISTRATION – ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY, 5/15, AT NOON.\n\n\n\nTo reserve a space, scroll down and complete the registration form. As soon as you register, you will receive a confirmation. You will then receive sign-in information the morning of the Sunday of the Salon. Please let us know ( mailto:flisik@klezcalifornia.org ) in advance if you will be unable to participate.\n\n\n\nIf you are a potential new participant in the Flisik Salon, please contact co-host Rosie Kaplan ( mailto:flisik@klezcalifornia.org ) for a conversation in Yiddish to ensure your level of fluency is appropriate.\n\n\n\nFor general information about Salons, see https://klezcalifornia.org/yiddish-conversation-salons/.\n\n\n\nFill out my LGL Form! ( https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/YYJN14RpvwmvHSqNrClJpQ )\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/flisik-yidish-salon-may-17-2026/
CATEGORIES:Featured,Yiddish Conversation Salons,Yiddish Language
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Yiddish-Salon.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-b742027da6f65c2b92a85d76e41464e4@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260607T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260607T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T175859Z
CREATED:20260407
LAST-MODIFIED:20260503
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:10
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:The Klezmatics
DESCRIPTION:\nJewish Community Center of San Francisco3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118\n\n\n\nWe Were Made For These Times: 40th-Anniversary and New Album Release Tour\n\n\n\nFollowing their European run, The Klezmatics return to North America with a new series of shows across the USA this May and June. They will bring their new album, We Were Made for These Times, to the stage — alongside fan favorites, special collaborations, and moments that only happen live.We Were Made for These Times marks The Klezmatics’ 40th anniversary with songs of protest, resilience, and hope. Produced by Danny Blume, the album features Sofía Rei, Joshua Nelson, Lavender Light Gospel Choir, Enver Izmaylov, William Parker, James Brandon Lewis, Janis Siegel, and La Manga.\n\n\n\nMore information and Tickets » ( https://www.bandsintown.com/e/108205085?came_from=162&utm_medium=email&utm_source=just_announced&utm_campaign=event )\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/the-klezmatics-2/
CATEGORIES:Featured,Music
LOCATION:San Francisco
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/klezmatics.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-123650dd0560587918b3d771cf0c0171@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260609T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260610T000000
DTSTAMP:20260224T190544Z
CREATED:20260224
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:20
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:KLEZCADIA – A Safer Shtetl for Klezmer Music & Yiddish Culture
DESCRIPTION:\nKLEZCADIA – A Safer Shtetl for Klezmer Music & Yiddish Culture – is a fully-hybrid festival and learning retreat that prioritizes the safe experience of immuno-compromised and high-risk participants. Its 9-14 June 2026 third season in the beautiful Cascadian city of Victoria, British Columbia will feature outstanding artists from both sides of the border.\n\n\n\nFREE registration is available for in-person (limited capacity) and virtual participation. \n\n\n\nKLEZCADIA is a program of Emanu-El of Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada.\n\n\n\nMore Information and Registration »\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/klezcadia-a-safer-shtetl-2026/
CATEGORIES:Comedy,Featured,Festivals,Lectures & Classes,Music,Singing,Workshops,Yiddish Language
LOCATION:Hybrid
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Klezcadia.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-0527b1b41d984cd95100beff3605d26e@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260517T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260517T170000
DTSTAMP:20251119T172717Z
CREATED:20251119
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:59
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance
DESCRIPTION:With Nat Seelen and Bruce BiermanNEW LOCATION: Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA		\n					\n									Register\n					 ( #register )\n		Subscribe to Joy’s mailing list »\n\n \n\nJoin the October-May monthly series celebrating The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance! Great for musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts to meet, learn, play, shmooze, or simply to take in the beauty of these rich traditions. Bring your instruments and dancing shoes.\nFor the May 17, 2026 session, music will be taught by Nat Seelen and dance will be taught by Bruce Bierman.\n\nSession format: During the first 90 minutes, participants choose between instruction in music or dance corresponding to the music. Then after a short break, musicians and dancers are brought together to perform what they’ve learned. Extra time after that continues the dance party or shifts into informal jam or instruction.\n\nBasic instrumental proficiency is recommended for musicians. All instruments, singers, and dancers are welcome.\n\nTickets are $25 – $54 sliding scale. Online ticket sales will end on Friday, May 15 at noon. If not sold out, tickets may be purchased at the door.\n\nKids 18 and under can attend free.\n\nNo one turned away for lack of funds. Arrange volunteer/trade or reduced price entry in advance, or with the person at the door.\n\nAdditional donations are welcome to help sustain, grow, and cover the cost of this series. Additional donations would help cover travel costs of out of town instructors and many costs that are currently offset by donations.\n\nThe series is made possible by volunteer time and expertise of organizers Mike Perlmutter, Zina Pozen, and Bruce Bierman, as well as the financial support of Noah Youngs, Amos Lans, and other generous individuals, fiscal sponsorship and support by KlezCalifornia. We are grateful to our past host Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud and the JCC East Bay, and to our new hosts at Congregation Netivot Shalom.\n\nDirect questions about the series to: JOY@KlezCalifornia.org\n\nJoin Joy’s mailing list »\n		\n					\n									Register\n					 ( #register )\n					Instructor Bios				\n																														\n		Bruce Bierman is a celebrated Jewish dance leader and maven known for his joyful, inclusive, and whimsical approach to teaching. With warmth, humor, and a deep love of tradition, Bruce gets everyone on the dance floor—circling, spiraling, and connecting through dances rooted in Yemenite, Mizrachi, Chasidic, Sephardic, Klezmer and classic Israeli traditions. His transformative dance workshops have brought communities together across the West Coast, inviting dancers of all backgrounds to rediscover the ecstasy and soul at the heart of Jewish culture. Where there is Bruce, there is truly a party—and an unforgettable experience of movement, music, and connection.		\n																														\n		Nat Seelen – Clarinetist, Composer, and Artistic DirectorNat Seelen is a Boston-based clarinetist, composer, and educator whose work explores the intersections of tradition, innovation, and community in klezmer music and beyond. A dynamic performer and creator, he is the founder and artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, a concert series that has presented over 180 artists and reached thousands of audience members with original, culturally rooted music since its inception in 2021.\nAs a performer, Seelen is a founding member of the internationally recognized Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band, winners of awards at the International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam, Brazil’s Bubbe Awards, and more. With Ezekiel’s Wheels and other ensembles, he has performed at major venues including the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood Music Center, and Jordan Hall, and internationally in China, Denmark, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain, and Canada.\nSeelen is also the creator of New Klezmer Studios, an innovative remote learning initiative that has taught klezmer music to students on five continents, including musicians from top institutions like Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Berklee, and Oberlin. He is a teaching artist with Arts for Learning Massachusetts and has given workshops, masterclasses, and lectures at the Society for Ethnomusicology  Annual Meeting, University of Connecticut, Tufts University, and many more. In 2025, Seelen joined the faculty at New England Conservatory teaching klezmer music.\nAs a composer, Seelen’s recent works include 56 New Klezmer Tunes for Dancing (2023), Gathering Sparks (2022), and Di Khassene (2021), a multimedia song cycle created during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a recipient of grants and fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, CJP Arts & Culture Fund, NEFA, and the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.\nSeelen began his musical training at the New England Conservatory. He holds an AB with honors in Music from Brown University and studied philosophy and music at King’s College London.\nWatch “Kale Bazetsn / Der Heyser Bulgar / Fun der Heyser” live with Improbable Beasts – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-NSjfIlyZw\n“December Suite” live with Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Trio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td3bEI6ZjmA\nListen “Suite 1973” from Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band’s “The Thread | Di Fodem” – Suite 1973, by Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band		\n					Fill out my LGL Form! ( https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/F2zHGmWsxN9MoUVw0nr4nA )				\n					Series Dates				\n		October 19, 2025 – Mike Perlmutter, Kehilla Klezmer, and Bruce Bierman\nNovember 16, 2025 – Achi Ben Shalom, Asaf Ophir, Katja Cooper and Bruce Bierman\nDecember 14, 2025 – Klezmatics and Bruce Bierman\nJanuary 25, 2026 – Qadim and Miriam Peretz\nFebruary 22, 2026 – Ilya Shneveys and Sarah Myerson\nMarch 15, 2026 – Veretski Pass\nApril 12, 2026 – Polina Shepherd and Bruce Bierman\nMay 17, 2026 – Nat Seelen and Bruce Bierman\n\n 
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/the-joy-of-jewish-music-and-dance-3/
CATEGORIES:Dancing,Featured,The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance
LOCATION:Alameda County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nat-bruce.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-f1f485b532be392dd7964f94dbd0562a@klezcalifornia.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260628T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260628T170000
DTSTAMP:20250519T145132Z
CREATED:20250519
LAST-MODIFIED:20250801
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:15
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:No Dots – No Problem: Workshop and Acoustic Jam, led by Cookie Segelstein & Mike Thompson
DESCRIPTION:\nViolinist and klezmer veteran Cookie Segelstein and mandolinist Mike Thompson present a workshop: how do you jam? Learn from the pros! The second half of the session will be pure jamming. ALL levels of musicians are welcome!\n\n\n\nIn person and livestream options.\n\n\n\nPresented by Calliope: East Bay Music and Arts. Tickets $20 – $30. Click on “Read More” below.\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://klezcalifornia.org/events/no-dots/
CATEGORIES:Music,Workshops
LOCATION:Alameda County
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://klezcalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/No-Dots-No-Problem.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR