What’s Happening?

“So Is Life” CD Benefits JMF!

November 10, 2015 Billy Thank You, What's Happening? 4 comments

Rosalie Boxt, Ellen Dreskin, Josh Nelson and Dan Nichols — all great singer-performers in their own right — have come together and created a beautiful synergy with their first CD, “So Is Life.” Filled with exquisite tunes and instrumentations, “So Is Life” will delight the ears and inspire the heart.

And this righteous foursome is giving every penny from the sales of “So Is Life” to The Jonah Maccabee Foundation!

You can order the recording as a digital download here ($15 per copy). Or (for $18 per copy that includes shipping) you can order a physical CD here).

SoIsLife_V4b It’s a really beautiful CD, for a beautiful cause.

Thanks!

Jacob Spike Kraus Rocks the House!

November 10, 2015 Billy Thank You, What's Happening? No comments

Jacob Spike Kraus, URJ summer camp songleader and newly-acclaimed recording artist, lifted hearts and the roof at Woodlands Community Temple (White Plains, NY) during their annual Jonah Maccabee Family Concert. Held during special religious school programming to introduce children and their parents to the wonders of the Union for Reform Judaism summer camps, Jacob showed them all just how it’s done. His spirit, his energy, his warmth and, of course, his boundless talent all contributed to a wonderful morning.

And then, a couple of weeks later, he presented me, Billy Dreskin, with a check to which I responded, “What’s this?” Jacob replied, “It’s your share of the money from selling CDs after the concert.”

Once I realized he didn’t really mean it was for me (I get hungry, you know, and Dunkin’ Donuts don’t grow on trees. Well, maybe they do), I understood that Jacob also wanted to participate in the work that Woodlands does in Jonah’s name (Jonah grew up at Woodlands … and at the URJ summer camps!) to fund scholarships for temple kids to attend URJ summer programs whose families can’t otherwise afford to send them.

So thank you, Jacob. You are hereby inducted into the Order of Stalwart Friends of The Jonah Maccabee Foundation. Go forth and do good as often as you can for as many as you can. You’re off to a great start!

One more thing. Some of you will remember Jonah’s performance of “Makin’ a Motzi” during the “Stars of David” performance at Eisner Camp in the summer of 2004. Jacob was in the band that backed him up that night, launching Jonah’s brief but meteoric rap career!

Billy

P.S. You can listen to Jacob Spike Kraus’ “Shake Off the Dust” on Amazon and Spotify. Then buy it. ‘Cuz it’s good music and ‘cuz he’s a good boy!

Thank you … to those who, in 2015, have provided funds so we can make a difference in young people’s lives

August 28, 2015 Billy Thank You No comments

Jonah.2008.04.#008a.NFTY-NAR.SpringKallah

Matthew and Jenna Berger Bottiglieri.

Rabbi Bernard Mehlman.

Rabbi Julie Danan.

Leona Paul. In memory of Susan Sirkman.

Rabbi Steven Lowenstein.

Debbie’s Treasure Chest. In memory of Susan Sirkman.

Danielle Rodnizki. In honor of Debra Winter on her birthday!

Robert and Patti Mittelman.

Myron Katz. In memory of Rina Katz.

Jo and Frank Hariton.

Cantor Sharon Kohn. In honor of Cantor Ellen Dreskin.

Rabbi Rick Sarason.

Adrian Durlester.

Lisa Ann Green.

Jennifer and Harry Soto. In memory of Shel Silverstein.

Julie Newman.

Marcia Green.

Aryell Cohen.

Liz Kanter Groskind and Eric Groskind.

Cantor Sarah Sager. In honor of my colleague, teacher, friend and roommate (!) Ellen Dreskin.

Ellen and Billy Dreskin. In honor of David Crane’s birthday.

Justine Berkowicz.

Thank you for your donation to our “Summer Camp ’15” campaign!

August 2, 2015 Billy Thank You No comments

2015.06.SummerCamp We’re so deeply grateful to all of you who donated to our “Summer Camp ’15” campaign to benefit Kutz Camp. We are ever-blessed to have your support!

Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden

Jared Turell. In celebration of his becoming a Bar Mitzvah.

Jonathan and Shari Turell. In honor of their son, Jared, becoming a Bar Mitzvah.

Karen Golden.

Beth Sher. In memory of Susan Sirkman.

Ellen, Katie, Aiden and Billy Dreskin. As always, with eternal love for our Jonah.

Milly Richter. In memory of Paul Richter.

Adrian Shanker.

Richard Agler. For Jonah and the work done in his memory.

Mindy Gelbart. In honor of Cantor Ellen Dreskin on the occasion of Taylor Hoffman’s Bat Mitzvah.

David Cohen. In memory of Jonah Dreskin.

Bill and Gloria Falk.

Al and Sara Dreskin.

Rabbi Simcha Bob.

Bob and Bobbie Kraus. In honor of the wedding of Jessie Sher and Davey Marcus.

Rabbi Marci Bloch.

Judy Mann.

Gail Nalven.

Rabbi Steve Altarescu.

Robin Slater-Sherman.

Iris Bildstein.

Rabbi Avi Magid.

Char and Larry Grossman.

Sheldon Low.

Rick Lupert. 5 people paid $5 extra at Hava Nashira for my new book with the intention of that amount going to the Jonah Maccabee fund. So voila!

Marc Maxwell. This donation in made in remembrance of the anniversary of David Passer’s birth on what would have been his 57th birthday.

Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro.

Peter Levy and Amy Dattner-Levy.

Aliza Burton.

Danielle Rodnizki. In honor of Ellen Dreskin, who inspires me every day to do this work.

Rabbi Marc Margolius.

Jason Lichtman.

Mimi Jefferson.

Shelley Halman. In memory of Tracy Michelle Fisher, another beautiful Kutz soul lost too soon.

David and Carol Sank.

Martine Klein.

Gregg Alpert. In honor of my passionate and caring colleague, Ellen Dreskin.

Nancy Goodman.

Jeanne and Murray Bodin.

Roberta Grossman.

Tom Schaeffer.

Patti Mittelman.

Todd Herzog.

Charles Fishman. In memory of Melvin and Alice Fishman.

Roberta, Roger and Allison Wetherbee.

Bobbi and Jeffrey Tornheim.

Lloyd and Roberta Roos.

Dr. Alan Mason and Robert Glazier.

Don Jones.

Bernie and Judi Kimberg. In honor of Ellen and Billy Dreskin.

Larry Grossman.

Corey and Suzanne Newhouse.

Marcia Streussand Green.

Craig Taubman.

Dan Pliskin.

Rabbi Shelly Zimmerman.

Barry and Gloria Meisel.

Allison Pincus.

Scott and Lisa Stone.

Corey Friedlander.

Rabbi Donna Kleiner-Lichtman.

Julie Newman.

Faye Roth. In honor of Gabe and Chelsea’s nuptials.

Marilyn and Roger Price.

David Cohen.

Mary Ann Shamis. In honor of Ellen Dreskin, who helped to form my Kutz memories.

Ari Jaffess.

Edith Magnus. In memory of my brother and sister, both of whom passed away this week — in 2006 and 2013. From Cat Stevens: “The patches make the goodbye harder still.” Thanks to Jonah for the work that lives on.

Rabbi Steven Kaye.

Isabel Frankel Rachlin.

Harriet Lewis.

David and Vivian Singer.

Sally Winter.

Rabbi Rick Sarason.

Mark and Marjory Selig.

Cantor Marcy Kadin.

Barry Tenenholtz.

Abbey Funk.

Dr. Jonathan Slater.

Nicole Roos.

Todd Kipnis.

Al and Sara Dreskin.

Steve Brodsky.

Cantor Rollin Simmons.

Jeffrey Nakrin.

Nina Luban and Scott Bonci.

Virginia Lupi.

Lisa Zbar Mohamed.

Cantor Donn Rosensweig.

Eric Saidel.

Robbie and Nellie Harris. In memory of Jonah.

Beth Sher. Keep up the holy work. Love to all.

Rabbi Paul Kipnes.

Fran and Dick Pursell.

Yaakov Chaitovsky.

Joy Firshein. In celebration of Jess Firshein and Kerry Wallach’s three-year wedding anniversary.

Rabbi Michael Comins.

Dr. Gary Zola.

Rabbi Renni Altman.

Diana Asher. In memory of Cantor Kerry Ben-David.

Jeffrey Rinkoff and Janis Rosenthal.

Rabbi Rob Nosanchuk.

Madelyn Katz. Because seeing Ellen at Kutz brought a bright light to my life!! Love you, Ellen!

Rabbi Laura Harari.

Barbara Gordon. In appreciation of the wonderful Ellen Dreskin!

Harriet Levine.

Anonymous. In memory of Jonah Maccabee Dreskin.

Kathy Tuchman Glass.

Rabbi Robert Loewy.

JMF Gives Shakespeare a Hand

July 31, 2015 Billy Grants, What's Happening? No comments

The Jonah Maccabee Foundation is thrilled to provide a grant to Mainestage Shakespeare of Kennebunk, Maine. MaineStage Shakespeare is a nonprofit theater company made up of young, passionate theater artists from around the country who believe in the benefits of the resident repertory theater company, actors who can develop their craft together to produce a creative nucleus that enriches their community-at-large.

“The Comedy of Errors,” 2011

The JMF believes passionately in the arts and their potential to help minds and spirits grow. We’re delighted to assist Mainestage Shakespeare in bringing repertory theatre to the 23rd state.

Visit Mainestage Shakespeare to learn more.

Time to Pony Up! Our “Summer Camp!” Campaign Has Begun!

June 1, 2015 Billy Jonah, What's Happening? No comments

If summer is approaching, then it’s time for us to ask you for some bucks. And this summer, we’re trying something different. With your help, we’d like to make one big gift at the end of the campaign. The recipient we’ve selected is Kutz Camp in Warwick, NY. We’ve got a whole bunch of reasons for choosing Kutz so, since we’re counting on your support, you’d best read on.

Kutz Camp is the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) center for teen leadership training. High school students from across North America (across the whole world, really) are there not only during the summer but in the autumn and spring as well, and soon (with the support of good folks like you and us who help them winterize the campgrounds) during the snowy months too. Kutz offers leadership training in the arts, social justice, digital media, songleading, Jewish studies and Hebrew studies. Like all summer camps, it’s a remarkable environment in which young people can truly blossom in areas that interest them.

Back in the 70s, Ellen attended Kutz as a teenager. She not only loved it, but she chose a life in Jewish music and teaching as a result. Me, I’m a Goldman Camp alum (5 summers, 1973-77). So I’m no stranger to Reform Jewish camping. Later, during our rabbinical and cantorial seminary years, we also spent a summer at Camp Coleman in Cleveland, GA.

Eventually, we settled on Kutz as the place we would lay down some serious roots. The conversation went something like this. Me: “So, how ’bout we volunteer at Goldman Camp each summer? After all, I was there for five years and it means a lot to me.” Ellen: “I signed us up for Kutz.”

I’m still not sure how that discussion ended so quickly, but beginning in the summer of 1991 either Ellen or I, or both of us, served on faculty at Kutz. Sometimes Ellen would be there the entire summer (I would commute up from NYC on weekends) and sometimes I would spend two weeks on faculty with her. All told, we racked up about 24 years on faculty there. Needless to say, we’re very fond of the place.

Jonah took this photo at Kutz in 2007. Pretty dreamy place!

Katie, Jonah and Aiden were all fac brats at Kutz. Jonah first toddled across Kutz’s vast lawns when he was only a year old! He later became a program participants during the summers of 2005 and 2007, and he worked on staff in the summer of 2008.

Jonah loved Kutz. Eventually. For that story, take a look at Kutz: A Human Symphony in Three Movements.

Because of this great love that we Dreskins shared, we’re thrilled to support Kutz’s next chapter. Read on!

Kutz Camp has now embarked upon a major capital improvement campaign. It needs it. Badly. As much as we’ve loved Kutz Camp, we’ve always wished it would find the money to at least make horribly-needed repairs. So the opportunity to help them spruce up the place is something our family really believes in. And since the work they do there is very much in line with what the Jonah Maccabee Foundation is all about, we’re inviting you to join us in supporting this effort.

The five of us at Kutz in 2007

Throughout June and July, we’ll be bothering you in our usual way. We’ll share stories about Kutz Campm some coming from our family (okay, by “family” we mean Billy), but most will come from those who knew Jonah at Kutz: fellow campers, fellow staff, fellow “fac brats,” and even from the adults who looked after Jonah while he was at Kutz. Hopefully, you’ll love the stories so much that you’ll send us lots of money.

Stay tuned. Much more to come. If you’d like to donate right now, hop right over to jonahmac.org/donate. But read the stories, anyway. We’ll be in touch!

Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden

6th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert is Coming!

February 3, 2015 Billy What's Happening? No comments

If you can make your way to White Plains, NY, on Saturday, March 7 @ 8:00 pm, you’ll find a wonderful concert for a wonderful cause waiting for you. A mash-up of The Levins and Billy Jonas will be filling every available acoustic space at Woodlands Community Temple in Greenburgh, NY. This concert was established in Jonah’s memory and raises needed funds to help kids of temple families participate in Union for Reform Judaism summer programs who might otherwise not be able to afford to do so.

The Levins are masters of a spectacular form of contemporary folk music that’s fun, smart and expertly presented. Billy Jonas is a musical jack (white? black? johnson?)-of-all-trades. He plays a zillion instruments and writes songs that lift and propel. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Together, The Levins and Billy Jonas should be a fantastic night of music to remember. Consider yourself personally invited.

For ticket information (and just because you can’t attend doesn’t mean you shouldn’t donate), visit wct.org/jonah.

Thank you for your donation to our “Winter Music ’14” campaign!

December 29, 2014 Billy Thank You No comments

"Winter Music '14" A million thanks to everybody who donated to our “Winter Music ’14” campaign. We feel so incredibly blessed to have you with us!

Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden

The Gaber family. In memory of Jonah Dreskin and Brad Gaber.

Frank Squillante.

Alice Passer. In memory of David F. Passer and Jonah “Mac” Dreskin.

Jessica and Chuck Myers.

Charlene Smerdon. In honor of the amazing Dreskin family. In memory of Maccabee, and Thora and Emory Smerdon.

Rabbi Jen Gubitz.

Elizabeth Sher.

Liz Kanter Groskind.

Harold and Ellen Rubin.

Shari and Jonathan Turell.

Don Jones.

Wendy Jennis and Douglas Mishkin.

Rabbi Jan and Cantor Lanie Katzew.

Joan Funk. To honor Jonah’s memory. With love from aunt/sister Joan.

Matthew Grob.

Rabbi Les Bronstein and Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller. In honor of Aiden, Katie and Boonie … Jonah’s incredible sibs.

Fran and Dick Pursell.

Rabbi Ramie and Merri Arian.

Dr. Daniel Lucas.

Cantor Richard Cohn.

Sharyn Henry. In Honor of Yael Eads, Youth Director, Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh.

Cantor Tracey Scher. In memory of Jonah Dreskin.

Mildred Hart.

Morris Kramer.

Martine Klein and family.

Marilyn and Roger Price.

Rabbi Michael White.

Craig Taubman.

Danny Siegel.

Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl.

Dale Glasser. In honor of Maya and Zachary Glasser.

Beth Sperber Richie.

Julie Silver.

Alyth Synagogue, London.

Tara Abrams. Happy birthday to Lisa Goodman!

Rachel Kalmowitz.

Peter Allard. Much love to you both and bless you in this vital work!

Cantor Mo Glazman.

Rabbi Peter Rubinstein.

Abby Leibman.

Helen Meltzer-Krim.

Rabbi Shira Milgrom.

Rabbi Nancy Flam. May Jonah’s memory always be a blessing.

Rabbi Victor Appell.

Julie and Scott Stein.

Rabbi Yoni Regev and Lara Pullan Regev.

Tina Liebling.

Rabbi Glynis Conyer.

Harriet Lewis. In memory of Jean Lovinger, mother of Merri Arian.

Rabbi Joshua Caruso.

Jane Golub.

Rick Calvert.

Joshua Block.

Rabbi Joan and Andy Farber.

June and Steve Dreskin.

Cantor Roslyn Barak.

Harriet M. Levine.

Elliot and Melissa Regenbogen.

Rabbi Daniel and Lu Geffen. In love and appreciation for the entire Dreskin clan!

Jeanne and Murray Bodin.

Lisa Stone.

Martha Rosen. In memory of David Rosen.

Rabbi Andy Klein.

Mark Bloom.

Louis Bordman.

Rabbi Michael Weinberg.

Robin Slater-Sherman and Howard Sherman.

Myron Katz. In memory of Rina Katz.

Bill and Gloria Falk. In memory of Jonah.

Cantor Hayley Koblinsky. In memory of Jonah.

Cantor Stephen and Marjorie Richards.

Donna Goldstein.

Char and Larry Grossman.

Gloria and Barry Meisel.

Cantor Steven Weiss.

Elliot and Melissa Regenbogen.

Herbert Friedman. In honor of my rabbi and his wife.

Sharon Rich and Nancy Reed.

Rich and Madelyn Silverstein. In memory of Karen D’Amico.

Norman Sider.

Ken Levin. In honor of Rabbi Billy Dreskin, the best friend a guy could ever have!

Dr. Jonathan Slater.

Madelyn Mishkin Katz.

Ira and Julia Levin.

Barbara and Stuart Rayvid.

Jeffrey Nakrin.

Janet Elam.

Ariana Kaminskas. In honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah.

Rabbi Monique Mayer.

Fran and Don Putnoi. In honor of Rabbi Bernard Mehlman’s birthday.

Aliza Burton.

Cantor Zoe Jacobs.

George Markley.

Beth Schafer.

Nicole Matusow.

Jeremy Wolfe.

Gail Nalven.

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel.

Iris Greene.

Cantor Sarah Sager.

Douglas Passon.

Rabbi Marc Margolius.

Jamie, Andrew, Meredith and Jordan Fox.

Neil Weinstein.

Roberta Grossman.

John Kalter.

Elliott Rosen.

David Berliner.

Joyce Rosenzweig.

Danielle Rodnizki.

Fran Avni.

Kathy Glass.

Cantor Wally and Tammy Schachet-Briskin.

Nicole Roos.

Ron and Fran Moss.

Seth Kroll.

Howard and Wendy Albert.

Rabbi Hillel Cohn.

Rabbi Jon Haddon.

Dan and Joy Firshein. With regards and happy holiday!

Susan and David Berger.

Rabbi Marc Rosenstein.

Steve Brodsky.

Rabbi Robbie Harris.

Thank you to all who’ve donated to our “Summer Music” campaign!

August 25, 2014 Billy Thank You No comments

Hi, everybody. Here are the names of all who have donated (so far) to our “Summer Music!” campaign. Your name missing? There’s still time to join in, and we’d be honored to have you. Stop by jonahmac.org/donate today!

Harriet Levine.

David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik.

Bruce Ginsberg. In memory of Jonah Mac and a musical icon he was lucky to have performed with: Pete Seeger.

Gwynne and Alan Ross. In memory of Brad Gaber.

Craig Taubman.

Lois and Bernie Bacharach. In honor of the marriage of Katie Dreskin and Mark Boonshoft.

Yvette Shandel. In memory of Rachel Chafetz.

Rabbi Bernard Mehlman. In memory of Jonah.

Danielle Rodnizki. In honor of Katie’s and Mark’s recent marriage. Mazal tov!

Alan Mason.

Rabbi Sheldon and Judith Zimmerman.

Judy Mann.

Roberta, Roger and Allison Wetherbee. In honor of the marriage of Katie Dreskin and Mark Boonshoft. Mazal tov!

Susan Salidor.

Faye Roth.

Aiden, Katie, Ellen and Billy Dreskin. In celebration of Tracy Questel finding her brother, and how happy Mac would be to know that such a boon had come to his good friend.

Kathy Tuchman Glass.

Rabbi Rachel Maimin.

Eric Larson and Rabbi Marcus Burstein.

Matt Stamm.

Aiden, Katie, Ellen and Billy Dreskin. In loving memory of Jonah Maccabee and the sweet music you brought into our lives.

Abby and Michael Gostein.

Maddie Hendricks.

George and Chris Markley.

Bill and Gloria Falk. In honor of Katie’s and Boonie’s marriage, Aiden’s talent, and in memory of Jonah.

Jeanne and Murray Bodin.

Rabbi Ken Kanter.

The Clergy of Temple Israel – Boston: Rabbi Ronne Friedman, Cantor Roy Einhorn, Rabbi Elaine Zecher, Rabbi Jeremy Morrison, Rabbi Matthew Soffer and Rabbi Bernard Mehlman.

Martine Klein and family.

Rabbi Joel and Michelle Abraham. In honor of the time spent by Rabbi Billy Dreskin at the URJ 6 Points SciTech camp.

Kurt Eschbach.

Joan Funk.

Carol Scheffler.

Michael Dreskin.

Julie DeWinter Stein.

Ellen Berman. For everyone who knows what it is to lose a loved one way too soon.

Rabbi Lucy Dinner.

Cantor Jill Abramson. With much love to all the Dreskins!

Cantor Julie Yugend-Green.

Rabbi Jan and Cantor Alane Katzew. In memory of Dr. Amy Katzew.

Roberta Grossman.

Dassi Citron. In honor of the Cattans, who are committed to helping others, quietly and selflessly.

Corey Friedlander.

Rabbi Norman and Terry Cohen.

Dr. Gary P. Zola and your friends at the Hebrew Union College American Jewish Archives.

Rona Oberman and Deborah Franzblau. In loving memory of Jon Franzblau.

Robert Berliner.

David and Karen Frank.

Rachel Kalmowitz.

Julie Newman.

Lisa Stone and Scott Cantor.

Rabbi Michael Mellen.

Daniel Pliskin.

Doug and Geri Pell.

Matt, Jenna, Gabby, Baby X and Baby Y Bottiglieri.

Adam Kohn and Jason Murray and family.

Tom and Sue Schaeffer.

Beverly Lerner.

Sally Winter. In honor of Cantor Anna Zhar.

Cantor Lori Corrsin.

Bob and Bobbie Kraus.

Lloyd and Roberta Roos.

Robin Slater-Sherman and Howard Sherman.

Dr. Morty and Marilyn Berman.

Thoughts on the 5th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert

July 17, 2014 Billy Jonah, What's Happening? No comments

Somehow, this never got published. I wrote it shortly after our March 2014 concert, but life must have gotten away from me and this just sat in the bullpen. Well, here it is now. I hope it’s still got some resonance.

Billy

This year’s 5th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert has come and gone. 200 attendees were giddy with spirit as Julie Silver and Ken Chasen (joined by violinist Elana Arian, percussionist Yuval Lion and bassist Dave Phillips) filled the room and our hearts with two hours of great music. The money raised from the concert will provide scholarships to help young people at Woodlands Community Temple participate in URJ summer programs whose families would otherwise be unable to send them.

Here’s the letter we included in the evening’s program:

Dear friends,

It’s been five years since the night Jonah died. In that time, our family has walked often along the broken road that runs through the valley of the shadow. But we never walked it alone. How fortunate and grateful we are for you, our family and friends, who never left us to find our own way without your compassion and love alongside. You’ve mourned with us, cried with us and, when we were ready, helped us rebuild the joy in our lives. Thank you.

You’ve also joined us in celebrating Jonah’s life through this now annual Jonah Maccabee Concert. Not for nothing did Jonah love music. After all, he wasn’t born with that ukulele in his hands. Music is dear to our entire family. And whether we’re singing around the piano or just listening to iTunes, Jonah’s love was our love too. We’re so pleased to share the music of Julie Silver and Ken Chasen with you this evening – two super musicians and wonderful friends whom we’ve wanted you to meet for a long time.

In one of his college applications, Jonah wrote: Although school made its own contribution to my musical career, a bigger influence still was the time I’ve spent at Jewish summer camps. Every summer of my life was spent at either Kutz Camp in Warwick, NY, or Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA. A little known fact in this day and age is that Jewish summer camps give birth to incredibly talented musicians. As I developed, the big thing was guitar. Either you knew how to play it, or you loved someone who did. The first 12 years I just got to watch. At the end of my 12th summer, I bought my first guitar.

Jonah’s story is a common one. His dad fell in love with Jewish music at the URJ camp in Indiana. His mom fell in love with it at Kutz. It happened to Julie Silver at Camp Pembroke in Massachusetts. And to Ken Chasen also at the URJ camp in Indiana. Our summer camps offer so many gifts to our kids. For a lot of them, the music will accompany them home and shape their journeys across their entire lives. The melodies may change, the back-beats shift, but the accompaniment plays on forever. And life is better for it.

Jonah loved making music. In doing so, he reflected one of humankind’s greatest loves. As Plato taught, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?

Thanks for coming tonight. Enjoy the music … always!

Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden Dreskin

5th Annual Jonah Concert
Julie Silver & Ken Chasen
March 2014

As always, the evening opened with Havdalah. We bring Shabbat to a close with this ceremony, and also think a bit about Jonah. Here are the words that Ellen and I shared:

The Rubik’s Cube appears to be one of life’s great mysteries. The fifty-four colored squares on its six faces can be arranged in something like forty-three quintillion possible configurations. And all but one of those configurations are wrong. Jonah knew how to solve the Cube. It’s an awesome experience watching someone do that. It makes you think they’re some kind of genius. But of course, anyone can do it if you study the solution, follow the directions, and you’re really patient. The thing about Jonah is that he didn’t just enjoy solving the Cube, he loved teaching others to solve it. He did the same thing with his guitar and his ukulele. Jonah had no interest in keeping secrets. If he knew something, and you were curious about it, he’d teach it to you.

They say the Rubik’s Cube can be solved in a hundred moves. If you’re really good, in as few as twenty. Some can solve it blindfolded. Some with one hand. And some even with their feet. But the solutions all require knowledge of the path forward. It’s nearly impossible to solve the Cube without learning how. URJ summer camps teach. They teach curious kids about the value of a strong Jewish identity, the support of a caring community, the knowledge of ethical precepts that can help guide their lives and, possibly, the solution to the Rubik’s Cube. We believe that no child who wants to attend a URJ summer program should be prevented from doing so just because their family can’t afford it. With your help, we’re raising the money that can make the difference for these kids.

Life is sort of like a Rubik’s Cube. There are billions of choices. And while there’s more than one solution and you don’t have to learn yours from someone else, it can really help. The musicians who entertain us at the Jonah Maccabee Concerts are all steeped in the traditions and values of our people and, through their music, they share Jewish wisdom. The URJ summer programs, like our guest artists, can help guide young people toward wonderful, wise and compassionate answers to the great questions about how to live life.

This ceremony of Havdalah, of separation between Shabbat and the new week, is a curious thing. It envisions a time when there won’t be a separation – not between days of the week, and not between you and me. It encourages us to cultivate the holy in our lives, to share with others without hesitation, and not withhold from those who are curious to learn. This concert embraces the vision of Havdalah, sharing the knowledge of goodness with those who want to learn, and laboring to end all separation between our brothers and sisters in the human family.

So whether you can solve the Rubik’s Cube or you’re just impressed by someone who can, we’re so grateful to share lights, spices, wine … and great music with you tonight. The world is full of good answers to most of our questions. Sometimes we’re the student, and sometimes the teacher. And sometimes we’re the one to enable others on their journeys. That’s what Jonah loved to do. He had a genius for it. And that’s what we’re all doing tonight.

Havdalah with Ken and Julie
March 2014

It was a wonderful night. Jonah, of course, would have love it: the music, the gift of summer wonder, and the fuss made over him.

Click on the concert logo above to see this year’s program booklet.

Billy

What’s Happening?

“So Is Life” CD Benefits JMF!

Jacob Spike Kraus Rocks the House!

Thank you … to those who, in 2015, have provided funds so we can make a difference in young people’s lives

Thank you for your donation to our “Summer Camp ’15” campaign!

JMF Gives Shakespeare a Hand

Time to Pony Up! Our “Summer Camp!” Campaign Has Begun!

6th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert is Coming!

Thank you for your donation to our “Winter Music ’14” campaign!

Thank you to all who’ve donated to our “Summer Music” campaign!

Hi, everybody. Here are the names of all who have donated (so far) to our “Summer Music!” campaign. Your name missing? There’s still time to join in, and we’d be honored to have you. Stop by jonahmac.org/donate today!

Thoughts on the 5th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert

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