We are delighted to announce Elan’s engagement to Sarah Silverman (no, not that Sarah Silverman!).
Sarah, the oldest daughter of Jeff and Liz Silverman of Westport, CT, is a senior at McGill University in Montreal. She has two younger brothers, Matthew and David.
We have really enjoyed getting to know the Silvermans recently. And anyone who has seen Elan and Sarah together over the past two years knows what a great couple they make. We’re so happy for them!
The wedding date will be announced as soon as it is set. Thanks to everyone for your good wishes!
On March 23, 2011, the Ramaz Chamber chorus, in an SRO appearance at Barnes and Noble on E 86th St on NYC’s Upper East Side, performed Daphna Weinstock’s arrangement of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow”.
Ghettopella, based at Montreal’s McGill University, has just released their first video on YouTube. No specific Jewish content here – in fact that is not really their type of thing – but with strong ties to the Jewish student community at McGill, they have a natural audience. Here’s their first effort – of course, the video is not professionally produced so there is no choreography and the audio isn’t good either – but the group has potential. Keep a watch out for more! (search YouTube for ‘ghettopella’ for additional versions of varying quality)
The Maccabeats, Yeshiva University (YU) students’ a capella sensation, released a Purim video last week, and has had extensive exposure in the NY Jewish world and beyond. Here’s their Purim entry (400K hits to date):
Finally, I just came across Ein Prat / Fountainhead’s ‘Raise Your Mask’ Purim video. I hadn’t come across this group before. They are pretty polished, and I liked their script, videography and choreography better than the Maccabeats (I particularly liked the Elvis Presley reference). 65K hits to date.
What do you think – who is the worthy a capella group of the future – Ghettopella, Maccabeats, or Ein Prat?
We started Menchot today, having finished Zevachim yesterday (Siyum and BBQ Sunday at our house!). I’ll take this opportunity to plug Rav Dov Linzer‘s fine shiur, which is now available via live video, as well as audio and video archives. The shiur takes place at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale at 7:30am Sun-Fri, and after mincha on Shabbat. Rav Dov (Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah) gives a clear and lucid shiur, combining his wonderful scholarship with a liberal sprinkling of his trademark common sense and wit.
The best part is, if you can’t be there in person, there is live audio and recorded audio and video! Details:
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest, at the Roundabout Theater – with the simply wonderful Brian Bedford.
And, last night, The Merchant of Venice at the Pace University theater. The show starred F. Murray Abraham (did you know he is Syrian, not Jewish?) as Shylock, but while he gave a fine performance, the production was more notable for the way it set the piece in the present – with the characters as Wall Street Yuppies, using Apples and iPhones – as well as the suggestion of a sexual attraction between Bassanio and Antonio, making the lost ring theme at the end of the play a most believable test staged by Portia, rather than the exceedingly silly farce that it appears to be on the page (and, I suppose, in many productions). Jacob Ming-Trent also put in an inspired performance as Launcelot.
