RIMONartifacts nourishing Jewish life through the arts

Summer 5777/2017

Announcing A New Artist Salon Season

Mission Statement: Rimon promotes and enhances Jewish identity through arts and culture, supports artists who broadly explore Jewish themes, and assists the Minnesota Jewish

community in developing a collaborative involvement with the arts.

“Salon Season” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE.

support to produce a one-man play about Simon Wiesenthal at the Illusion Theater. The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra received funding to present performances of important and rarely heard works of Jewish composers murdered in or displaced by the Holocaust. Craig Harris was awarded funding to tour his acclaimed multimedia

Rimon awarded a record number of ten Project Support grants in 2016-17. The grants provide financial, marketing, and production support to projects that explore Jewish identity, history, or values through the arts. Alan Berks received funding to stage a public reading at the Playwrights’ Center of his newest play, a farce that takes place during the seven days of shiva. Tolerance Minnesota, a program of the JCRC, was awarded financial “Ten Grants” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Rimon opens its 2017-18 Artist Salon series on November 5 at the Tek Box in the Cowles Center for Dance. The Salon features virtuosic break dancer Lisa

“MonaLisa” Berman in dialogue with singer-songwriter Adam Levy, best known for his work with The Honeydogs. Berman is a 2016 McKnight Dancer Fellow and founder of the dance company BRKFST. The Salon will feature a live performance by the dancers of BRKFST.

Performance poet Talia Young, a recent Macalester graduate, is a well-known figure on the poetry slam circuit and on YouTube. On January 21 she will perform in

P’Chotchka--Rimon’s signature benefit event--returned for its sixth year, bringing inspiration and delight to the nearly 200 people who attended on June 5th at Golden Valley’s Metropolitan Ballroom. Rimon supports artists working in all art forms, and a rich sampling of them were on display at P’Chotchka. Where else could one find in a single evening a window into puppetry, film, painting, theater, fused glass, photography, and the intersection of food and community development?

Seven artists (all of whom had received support or recognition from Rimon) provided the evening’s itinerary, each selecting 18 images that had moved or inspired them. Their blend of personal narrative, ideas, and evocative images carried the audience on a journey that reached from a childhood in Israel to the kitchens of Appetite for Change in north Minneapolis.

P’Chotchka fittingly takes place in the spring. Just as we rejoice in nature’s newest leaf, P’Chotchka offers the community a chance to celebrate Minnesota’s Jewish artists and the limitless possibilities of the creative act. Art changes lives. Every day.

Art Changes Lives. Every Day.

Photo by Mordecai Specktor, American Jewish World

l to r: Rachel Bohnsack, Anna Zirkes, Michael Forstein, Avigail Manneberg, Bonnie Rubinstein, Chris Griffith, Michelle Horovitz, David Harris

Photo by Tim Rummelhoff

Lisa Berman

Ten Project Suppor t Grants Awarded in 2015 -16

Photo coutesy of Illusion Theater

Tom Dugan as Simon Wiesenthal

Rimon’s second Artist Salon and join Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman for lively conversation on ways in which spoken word has become an effective vehicle for social change and on the role of new media in advancing activism. The venue will be Studio Z in St. Paul’s Lowertown.

While Jewish identity may pulse quietly under the work of many Jewish artists, painter and writer Susan Weinberg finds herself preoccupied with what attaches her as a secular Jew to the Jewish community of the present and the past. The third Salon, which features Weinberg, will take place on March 18 at the Sabes JCC, where an exhibit of her work will be on display.

The final Salon in the season features an artist whose life and work have been deeply imprinted by medieval Spain’s persecution of the Jews. Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon comes from a crypto-Jewish background and has created an uncanny visual and performance vocabulary to explore the hybrid reality of his family’s deep past. Visual artist Michal Sagar is the moderator of this Salon which will take place at Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art in downtown Minneapolis.

If you think all the Salons look great, you can buy a Salon season pass--four Salons for the price of three. Contact the Rimon office at 952-381-3449 to purchase a pass ($36) or to give one as a gift.

“Salon Season” FROM PAGE 1

“Ten Grants” FROM PAGE 1

work Elijah in the Wadi, which focuses on the prophet Elijah and his meaning in the contemporary world. The Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company received financial support to produce The Whipping Man, which examines the role of American Jews in the institution of slavery. The Bakken Trio was awarded funding to collaborate with klezmer superstar clarinetist David Krakauer. World Without Genocide received

funding to use film and personal written narrative to explore the causes and consequences of xenophobia in Minnesota and throughout the country. Max Sparber was awarded funding to produce an original play, Shaina, inspired by the heyday of Yiddish theater. The Baroque Room received financial support to produce a concert by the Sephardic music ensemble, Me La Amargates Tu. St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts

was awarded funding to produce a

concert that brings together Jewish

and African-American musicians to

celebrate the unity and diversity

within St. Louis Park.

A Festival of Artist Workshops at Sholom Rimon initiated a new partnership with Sholom in 2016-17 as part of an ongoing effort to make the arts available to all age groups. Billed as a festival of artists-in-residence, Rimon’s workshops encompassed creative writing, music, watercolor painting, and book fabrication. The 24 workshops were offered to residents at Sholom’s Knollwood Place Apartments and Menorah Plaza between December and May.

Each of the instructors--Judy Brier (writing), Lucy Rose Fischer (visual arts), and Mark Bloom (music)--have extensive experience teaching their art form and working with older adults. The outcomes were a delight to behold and to read.

Staff at Sholom waxed enthusiastic about the impact of the workshops. Participating in the arts inspired the elders and broadened their outlook. It re-invigorated their aptitude for learning and in some cases sharpened their verbal skills. An equally valuable side-effect was that the programming built rapport between the participants, often reducing a sense of isolation.

Watch for a new series of workshops in 2018.

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WWW.RIMONMN.ORG

Photo by David Jordan Harris

Mark Bloom at the Piano

An Artful Way to Remember a Friend

Rimon has a gorgeous new donor card featuring original art by Minnesotan Aarah Aizman. The colorful oil painting, from the artist’s Pomegranate: 7 Species of Israel series, was inspired by the beauty of the fruit (rimon is Hebrew for pomegranate) and the Kabbalistic interpretation of its myriad seeds. The donor cards, 100% tax deductible, are $10 apiece and are a perfect way to acknowledge a birthday, anniversary, congratulations, condolence, or simply to convey thanks.

Place your order by contacting the Rimon office at rimon@sabesjcc.org.

Thank you to our generous donors!

Rimon Advisory Board Members & Staff

$1000+ Adath Jeshurun Congregation Anonymous (in memory of David Tychman) Beverly & Richard Fink Janet and Herb Fisher Family Fund Mimi & Steve Fisher Linda & Mike Fiterman Mike & Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin Bruce Goodman Janet Kampf Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Minneapolis Jewish Federation RBC Wealth Management Sholom Foundation Eileen & Gerald Siegel (z’’l) Oren & Sharron Steinfeldt Foundation Katherine & Jeff Tane Lawrence & Barbara Yost $500-999 Gail Bernstein & Tom Davis Judy & Arnie Brier Joel Carter Renae & Phil Goldman Debra & Harvey Goldstein Jonathan Gross David Jordan Harris Joan & Melvin Harris (z’’l) Darla Kashian Lerner Publishing Rockler Woodworking & Hardware Phil & Tammie Rosenbloom Andrea Lubov & Allan Schultz Tzedaka Fund/Fredrikson & Byron, PA Randi Winston & Barry Wolfish Yachad $100-499 Frank & Barbara Abramson Rabbi Morris Allen & Phyllis Gorin Allied Parking Robyn & Josh Awend Roz Baker Ward Bauman Judith Belzer Beth Jacob Congregation Beth El Synagogue Iris & Steve Borowsky Carol & Michael Bromer Shelli Chase & John Feldman Lili & Sheldon Chester Chestnut Cambronne PA Joan & Vincent Cobb Rabbi Alexander Davis & Esther Goldberg-Davis Jo Devlin & Linda Crawford Lucy Rose & Mark Fischer Laura French Judy Gaviser Getty Foundation

Leah Golberstein Siana Goodwin Arlis & Erv Grossman Rani Halpern & Joel Green Judy & Jon Harris Bonnie & Steve Heller Gay & Mark Herzberg Hodroff-Epstein Memorial Chapels Susan Horovitz Ann Jackson Jewish Community Relations Council of MN & the Dakotas Merle & Mort Kane Justin & Mamie Kanfer Stewart Miriam Kelen Reva Kibort Jean King & Stuart Applebaum Andrea Kircher Helen Kivnick & Gary Gardner Kathryn Klibanoff & Jeremy Pierotti Julie & Maury Landsman Beth & Todd Leonard Jane Levin & Judy Reisman Stephanie Levine Sheila & Steve Lieberman Lunds & Byerlys Don & Rhoda Mains Esther Malabel & Stuart Kaufman Judi & Todd Marshall Jim Miller & Tony Anastasia Neil Moses-Zirkes Mount Zion Temple Phil Oxman & Harvey Zuckman Park Tavern Lounge & Lanes Paula & Michael Pergament Marvin Pertzik Jason Rose Lydia Roth-Laube Ellen & Martin Sampson Marsha Schoenkin & Stuart Bear Marsha & Joel Seltz David Siegel Dianne & Leighton (z’’l) Siegel Artice & Mort Silverman Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker & Rabbi Adam Spilker Sharron Steinfeldt Sherry Stern & Steve Snyder Judith & Bruce Tennebaum Mary Ann & David Wark David Weinberg Miriam Weinstein Barbra Wiener Al & Sue Zelickson Liba Zweigbaum Herman & Jeff Herman $18-99 Joyce & David Abramson Barbara Amram Jane Bassuk Lois Berman

Rebecca Biderman & David Fraher Mark Bloom Jane & Gene Borochoff Judith Brin Ingber Sheila & David Brod Barbara Brooks Nancy Brown Barbara Camm Perci Chester & Mitch Bender Marilyn Chiat Gloria Cooper Corky & Mitch Einzig Mark Fellman Tamar Fenton Sheila Field Nancy Fisher Noreen Fisher Barbara & Norm Fishman Barbara Frank Nancy Fushan Penny Galinson Eunice Gelb Elaine Gingold Meri Golden Bobbie Goldfarb Cynthia & Harold Goldfine Pam & Robert Goldman Joy Gordon Ina & Larry Gravitz Susan & Doug Greenberg Allie Hage Leslie Hahn & Merrill Biel Craig Harris Jay Isenberg & Lynda Monick-Isenberg Phyllis Kahn Carole & Martin Kaplan Shana Kaplow Markle Karlen Tasya Kelen Miriam Kieffer Barry Kleider Gary Klein Ellen Kleinbaum Harriet Kohen Bette & Lou Kotlarz Shirley Kulevsky Linda & Bill Lapp Cynthia Launer Susan Lazar Steven Levy Brendalee Litman Rabbi David Locketz Sue Lund Joyce Lyon Laura McMahon Dory & Larry Machtinger Alexandra Markman Ruth Markowitz John Mast Minneapolis Jewish Federation staff Susan & Michael Minsberg

Lory Mullis Mary Ellen Murphy Tamara Nadel Mickey & Mort Naiman Rosanne Nathanson Margie Newman Charlotte Nudell Joyce & Martin Orbuch Debra & John Orenstein Marjorie & Charles Ostrov Sandy Pappas & Neal Gosman Linda Passon-McNally Dorothy & Norm Pink Suzanne Prass Riv-Ellen Prell & Steven Foldes Michael Robins Holly Ross Sarah Routman Andrea & Jim Rubenstein Ryan Companies Mimi Sanders Connie Sandler Sue & Larry Savett Linda & Len Schloff Heidi Schneider & Joel Mintzer Wendy Schwartz Kate Searls & Dan Rybeck Michelle Shapiro Amy Sheldon Jim Sherman Jeff Sherman Marjorie Sigel & Dick Van Deusen Delores & Mel Sigel Kent Simon Terry Simon Bonnie Sipkins Harold Smith Larry Solomon Shellie Specter & Robert Davidson Batya Spector Suzanne & David Spitzer Susan Spray Andrea Stern Joni & Peter Sussman Denise Tennen Bill Torodor Susan Weinberg Freddie Weisberg Jon Weiss Joan & Paul Wernick Jody Winger & Bill Rosenfeld Harvey Winthrop Debby & Bob Wolk Sharon Zweigbaum

(As of July 1, 2016 - July 20, 2017)

Board Officers Debra Fisher Goldstein, Chair Maury Landsman, Vice Chair Linda Passon-McNally, Secretary/Treasurer

Advisory Board Frank Abramson Robyn Awend Judy Brier Joel Carter Michael Forstein Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin Phil Goldman Siana Goodwin

Janet Kampf Darla Kashian Ryan Lohr Kären Nemer Lisa Pogoff Jason Rose Todd Sandler Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker Peter Sussman Katherine Tane D. Marcos Vital

Honorary Board Judith Brin Ingber

Barbara Camm Mimi Fisher Penny Galinson Rani Halpern Bonnie Heller Jay Isenberg Andrea Lubov Evan Maurer Reva Rosenbloom RuthAnn Weiss z’’l

Staff David Jordan Harris, Executive Director Jordyn Bomberg, Communications Assoc.

Rimon: The MN Jewish Arts Council Barry Family Campus 4330 S Cedar Lake Road Minneapolis, MN 55416

www.rimonmn.org

rimon@sabesjcc.org

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Did you know…?

“Rimon stands out on the national stage for its unique style of community engagement, offering lifelong, daily, creative engagement with Jewish identity through arts and culture.” Adapted from Leading Congregations and Nonprofits in a Connected World: Platforms, People and Purpose (Hayim Herring and Terri Elton) The Rimon Arts Fund, supported by the generosity of hundreds of community donors, has awarded over $157,000 to 82 projects since 2005. The next deadline for submitting grant applications is September 15. Rimon continues to expand the Keren Or creative arts contest for teens. A record number of 182 poems, photographs, and pieces of creative prose were submitted by 60 students from all streams of Jewish life representing 13 schools.

PLEASE SUPPORT RIMON WITH A GENEROUS DONATION!