The Jewish Center of the Hamptons has announced the return of Summer Institute, a collection of musical, cinematic, and celebratory programming delivered through a Jewish lens to the East End of Long Island.
“An important part of Judaism is creating community, and we strive to create it here in the Hamptons,” says Rabbi Debra Stein. Programming is through Labor Day, and includes panels of speakers, concerts and adult education given by educators. Shabbat on the Beach, which fuses the experience of summer at the beach with traditional Jewish Shabbat rituals, will be at East Hampton’s Main Beach at 6 p.m. on Fridays through September 2.
As Juneteenth approaches, founders of the Plain Sight Project — David Rattray, editor and publisher of The East Hampton Star and Donnamarie Barnes, director of History & Heritage at Sylvester Manor Education Farm — will speak to the Project’s initiative to locate and restore the presence of enslaved and free Blacks to their critical place in South Fork history.
From historical accounts to present-day matters, Jonathan Orenstein, executive director of the JCC in Krakow, will speak to the current Ukrainian refugee crisis with Rabbi Joshua Franklin while they discuss their time spent together in Poland and the JCC’s role in supporting those fleeing from war-torn Ukraine. A tradition that began over 15 years ago by late member Ken Bialkin will continue with the hosting of a discussion in his name as panelists examine present-day Israeli politics, antisemitism, and Jewish identity.
Other historical programs include a screening of “No Place on Earth,” followed by a discussion with cave explorer Chris Nicola. Nominated for Best Documentary Screenplay by the Writers Guild of America, the film follows a riveting firsthand account of Holocaust history after Nicola’s cave expedition led to the unearthing of remnants from Holocaust survivors who hid there to avoid capture.
Several concerts will be performed at the Center, starting with Tutti Suonare, featuring young artists and faculty of the Perlman Music Program with a special performance by founder Itzhak Perlman. Two additional concerts will include an evening with Israeli singer Dudu Fisher and “Songs and Suppression: A Musical Journey out of Exile,” featuring works of Jewish-German composers Braunfels, Eisler and Brahms, performed by winner of the International Steinway Competition, Constanze Beckman and one of CBC’s top 30 Canadian Classical Musicians under 30, Samuel Chan.
Rabbi Franklin and Rabbi Stein will be leading several adult-learning classes that will be offered in person as well as virtually.
For more details on these classes and Summer Institute programming dates and times, visit jcoh.org or call 631-324-9858.
Staff Writer on May 30, 2022