A calendar of events throughout Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts.

Local Jewish community organizations are invited to submit events to the calendar. Events must be received one week prior to the bi-weekly publication of the Ledger. Send submissions to Ledger editor Judie Jacobson at judiej@jewishledger.com. We reserve the right to edit calendar items.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23

Southbury, CT– Larry Garneau Quartet returns to the Federation for a celebration of the 53rd anniversary of the famous Woodstock Music and Art Fair that took place in 1969 in Bethel, N.Y. and is widely regarded as an pivotal moment in music history as well as a defining event for the counterculture generation. At 6 p.m. Jewish Federation of Western CT, 444 Main St., N. For tickets or information, visit: jfed.net. $10

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24

New Haven, Conn. (virtual)—“From Justification to Justice: Jewish Perspectives and Experiences of Abortion,” a conversation with Michal Raucher, associate professor of Jewish studies at Rutgers University and the author of Conceiving Agency: Reproductive Authority among Haredi Women, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Rancher’s book is part of a research team interviewing women of faith who have had abortions. Presented by Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel. For Zoom link: office@BEKI.org, (203) 389-2108 x114.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

New Haven, Conn.—Elm City Winds, a woodwind quintet that performs both classical and popular music, will present a courtyard concert at Beth El–Keser Israel (BEKI), 85 Harrison St. at the corner of Whalley Ave., at 4 p.m. In case of rain, the concert will move indoors. Light refreshments to follow. FREE, but donations will be accepted to support the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). For more information: office@BEKI.org, (203) 389-2108 x114.

Southbury, Conn.— Senator Richard Blumenthal will be guest speaker at the Annual Campaign Kickoff Breakfast hosted by Jewish Federation of Western CT; breakfast at 9:30 a.m.; program at 10:15 a.m. To be held at the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus, 444 Main Street North. The Kickoff will also honor the Builders (Habonim) of Jewish life throughout Western and Northwestern CT with the Burton Albert Habonim Award. Each synagogue, school, and other Jewish organization will have the opportunity to designate an individual to be honored for his or her unwavering support of that institution over the year. RSVP to cconti@jfed.net by August 26. $18

Springfield, Mass. —Temple Beth El presents the Crystal Concert Celebration honoring Rabbi Amy S. Wallk for her 15 years of commitment to the community, 4-7 p.m., 979 Dickinson St. The cocktail reception will feature entertainment from the Shalom Orchestra and a concert featuring Cantor Magda Fishman, followed by a dessert buffet. RSVP. by August 14. Virtual Link: office@tbespringfield.org; (413) 733-4149; www.tbespringfield.org

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Madison, Conn. – Western Massachusetts families with kids under the age of 8 are invited by the Jewish Federation of Western Mass. and Camp Laurelwood for an all-inclusive weekend to meet new friends, celebrate Shabbat, and enjoy activities planned just for you. Arrive at Camp Laurelwood, 463 Summer Hill Road, in Madison, Conn., at 3 p.m. on Friday and depart 11 a.m. on Monday; RSVP by Aug. 24:www.camplaurelwood.org/programs/jfam/  or contact Elizabeth Kaplan at elizabeth@camplaurelwood.org or call (203) 816-2005.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Northampton, Mass – Mak’hela, the award-winning Jewish Chorus of Western MA, begins rehearsals for the 2022-2023 season. New members are welcome to join at this time. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7:15 – 9 p.m. and are located at the Lander-Grinspoon Academy, 257 Prospect St, in Northampton, MA.  For more information, please contact MakhelaWMA@gmail.com or go to https://makhela.org. Note: vaccinations and masks required.

Statewide (Zoom) —Inside the Middle East: Entering A New Era,” a briefing with Avi Melamed, foundation and CEO of Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspective; 7-8:15 p.m. Presented by the Jewish Community Relations Councils of the Jewish Federations of Greater New Haven and Greater Hartford.FREE, advance registration required at bit.ly/AviMelamed96.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Sherman, Conn.— From This Broken Hill I Sing to You: God, Sex and Politics in the Work of Leonard Cohen,” a conversation with Prof. Marcia Pally, New York University and Humbolt University in Berlin, and Rabbi Ari Rosenberg, Rutgers University and Hebrew Union College, at the JCC in Sherman, 9 Rte 39 South, at 7 p.m. With live music performed by local artists. In her 2021 book of the same name, Pally traces a consistent theology of covenant in Cohen’s work and in his provocative songs on women and politics, making both his Jewish heritage and his (our) struggles with it transparent. Cohen’s commitment to covenant–and his anger at the God who made us so prone to disregard it–provide the basis for Cohen’s faith, frustration, and sardonic wisdom from his earliest writing to his final theology, You Want It Darker. Prof. Marcia Pally is author of 14 books, including From This Broken Hill I Sing to You: God, Sex, and Politics in the Work of Leonard Cohen,  published in 2021. Rabbi Ari Rosenberg served as rabbi of Temple Sholom from 2015-2020. A ewaiswnr od New Milford, he is now executive director of the Association of Religious Communities,. For information or to purchase tickets: jccinsherman.org, info@jccinsherman.org., (860) 355-8050 to purchase your tickets.     

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11

Easthampton, Mass. – Get ready for Rosh HaShanah with fall activities and apple picking. Learn to blow the shofar, hear a story, do a craft, and pick apples. This free event is a program of Lander-Grinspoon Academy and PJ Library, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., at Park Hill Orchard, 82 Park Hill Road, (Families who want to pick apples will need to purchase a bag.) For more information, contact Deborah at dseltzer@LanderGrinspoon.org or call (413) 584-6622.

West Hartford, CT – Descendants of Shoah Conference, sponsored by Voices of Hope, at Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Ave., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; To register and for additional information about sessions, go to www.ctvoicesofhope.org or call (860) 470-5591.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Orange, Conn. (virtual)—A new book club presented by Congregation Or Shalom  at 7 p.m. will feature a discussion of Old New York, a new, beautifully laid-out edition of Edith Wharton’s classic 1924 tetralogy of novellas, revolving around upper-class New York society in the 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s, and published under one title. This collection includes all four Old New York novellas: False Dawn, The Old Maid, The Spark, and New Year’s Day. Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist and short story writer. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, The Age of Innocence. The discussion will be led by Rachel Ranis. Call for Zoom information: (203) 799-2341.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Greenwich, Conn. (virtual)—Davis Film Festival: “Forgiveness.” At 5 p.m. through Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. Presented by the Greenwich UJA-JCC. 104 minutes. Synopsis: In the south of Israel near the Gaza border, a place where the beleaguered citizens live with incoming rocket fire, longtime pals Shaul and Nissan attempt to pull off a heist. But they bungle the job and Shaul ends up behind bars. Years later, upon his release, Shaul is less than pleased to be greeted by the newly religious Nissan seeking his forgiveness during the Days of Awe. A warm-hearted and slightly zany buddy caper. $9. For information: ujajcc.org.

Holden, Mass. – The Greater Worcester Chapter of Hadassah’s annual Donor Event at 11 a.m. at Val’s Restaurant in Holden, 75 Reservoir St., with guest speaker Scott E. Casper, president of the American Antiquarian Society, who will speak on “Rebellious Immigrant: A Jewish Woman Writer of The Early 20th Century.” Jody Fredman, Organizational Vice President of the Southern New England Region of Hadassah, will provide an update on Hadassah’s life-saving work in medicine and child rescue. For more information, contact Barbara Patashnik, Donor Chair, at bbpatashnik1346@gmail.com.

Southbury, Conn.  Author Marc Gellman will discuss his book, Seven Days of Shiva.about his experience dealing with grief in the aftermath of the loss of his wife, Barbara, after a thirty-year battle with breast cancer. This unique memoir is much more than a tribute to a departed love. Their story shows how a cancer journey seamlessly entwines through a four decades-long love story. At 1 p.m. Jewish Federation of Western CT., 444 Main St, N. For information, visit jfed.net.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Springfield, Mass. – Event to honor Rachel’s Table volunteers, featuring dessert, speakers, gifts and gratitude, 7-9 p.m., at Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St. Send in Rachel’s Table volunteer photos from past years for a planned video montage to be presented at the event. For information: Jodi at jfalk@jewishwesternmass.org or call (413) 733-0084.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

West Hartford, Conn.— “Jews of the Forest:  A Story of Holocaust Resistance and Survival” with author Rebecca Frankel, 4-5:30 p.m., in the University of Hartford’s Wilde Auditorium; co-sponsored by the Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford and the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut.  New York Times best-selling author and West Hartford native, Rebecca Frankel, is best known locally for recording the inspiring story of the Rabinowitz family who narrowly escaped the Nazi ghetto in their Polish town by fleeing to the forbidding Bialowieza Forest. Into the Forest:  A Holocaust Story of Survival, Triumph, and Love was named a 2021 National Jewish Book Award finalist and one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “Ten Best History Books of 2021.”