KlezKanada and L’Annexe: the Ometz Centre for Young Adults Hosted Kultur-krayzl: a New Yiddish Arts and Cultural Workshop Series for Young Adults
KlezKanada and L’Annexe: the Ometz Centre for Young Adults was thrilled to host Kultur-krayzl (Culture Circle), a series of Yiddish arts and cultural workshops hosted at L’Annexe Spring-Fall 2024.
Aimed at engaging L’Annexe’s young adult community (16-35) through Yiddish culture, the series comprised of three distinct sets of workshops: Introduction to Klezmer (April 2024), Intergenerational Stories (May 2024), and Jewish Food (September and October 2024). This project offered young adults in Montreal unique and fun opportunities to connect with Jewish arts and culture, tap into their creativity, and discover a diverse, intergenerational community.
This project also gave four young adults from the L’Annexe community the opportunity to fully participate in KlezKanada's annual Summer Retreat (August 20-26, 2024) through the world-renowned Azrieli Scholarship program, giving them an immersive and rich week-long experience in Yiddish arts and culture.
Introduction to Klezmer
Tuesdays, April 2, 9, & 16
Join Josh Dolgin (Socalled) for a hands-on introduction to klezmer music! In this workshop participants created a mini-ensemble, playfully covering basic genres and repertoire while learning cultural context along the way. This workshop was for musicians at an intermediate level or above, but no prior experience playing klezmer music necessary. All instruments welcome!
Roots & Stems: Intergenerational Storytelling
Thursdays, May 9, 16, & 30
Participants joined Rach Klein for a three-part workshop series designed to bring different generations together through art, storytelling, and shared experiences! This workshop welcomed folks aged 16-35 and 50+ to share and learn from each other, open to all - no previous art experience needed!
Each session began with a guided art activity to spark conversation and offer space for personal storytelling. From exploring life rituals to delving into creative memoirs, participants explored topics that resonate across ages and cultivated multigenerational friendships and connections.
Jewish Food Series
Sept 29, Oct 8, Oct 22
This workshop series was presented in partnership with L’Annexe: the Ometz Centre for Young Adults, the Cummings Centre, and the Museum of Jewish Montreal and with the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation. It was also a beneficiary of Federation Combined Jewish Appeal.
Illustration by Ava Berkson.
