Belin Lecture Looks at Cultural Exploitation
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March 2007 Adar/Nisan 5767 Volume XXXI: Number 6 FREE Belin Lecture looks at cultural exploitation Matthew Weingarden, special to the WJN In this issue… n the wake of box office success Borat: Cause I’s Black?: Jews and the Whiteness Prob- American history Cultural Learnings of America for Make lem. Starting with reflections on the comedy and director of the Page 5 Weisberg exhibit at IBenefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, of Baron Cohen’s infamous Ali G character, Swig Judaic Stud- EMU the seventeenth annual David W. Belin Heinze will begin a discussion over the heat- ies Program at the Lecturer Andrew Heinze will turn his gaze ed question of “cultural exploitation” (the University of San Page 24 Life in the IDF upon another of Borat creator Sacha Baron use of African-American idioms by white Francisco. He is the Page 28 Intermarrieds Cohen’s widely exaggerated personas in Is It entertainers), especially as it pertains to Jew- author of Adapting ish performers past and present. to Abundance: Jew- Page 26 Life in the Caribbean Baron Cohen has transformed the fic- ish Immigrants, Mass tional white gang member, Ali G, into Consumption and the Andrew Heinze a major media personality with a hit Search for American Advertisers.....................................35 television show on HBO. Ali G’s list of Identity; a co-author interviewees includes a who’s who of cred- of Race and Ethnicity in America; and, most ible political and intellectual leaders, like recently, author of Jews and the American Art & Culture ..................................4 presidential hopeful John McCain, former Soul: Human Nature in the Twentieth Cen- United Nations Secretary General Boutros tury, which was named one of the “Best Calendar .......................................30 Boutros-Ghali, consumer activist Ralph Books of 2004” by Publishers Weekly. Heinze Nader, Author Gore Vidal and veteran is a regular writer for the Jewish Forward, the journalist Sam Donaldson. In his lecture, largest Jewish newspaper in the nation. Classifieds ......................................34 Heinze will examine Baron Cohen’s Jewish The David W. Belin Lectureship in Amer- identity and how it influences his comedy, ican Jewish Affairs has become a highlight of Congregations ...............................13 while presenting a commentary on “cul- the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies’ annual tural exploitation” utilized by a range of programming with past speakers looking at Jewish comedians over the years. Federation .....................................10 Now a full-time writer, Andrew R. Ali G Heinze was most recently professor of continued on page 2 On Another Note ...........................29 TBE All-Choir Concert JCC Auction to benefit playgrounds Seniors ...........................................11 Cantor Annie Rose, special to the WJN Rachel Rosenthal, special to the WJN On Sunday, March 18 at 4 p.m., Temple Beth Youth/Teens ...................................16 Emeth will present an hour of non-stop Jew- he Jewish Community Center of Sponsorships are available to support the ish music presented by 200 musicians in the Washtenaw County’s 2007 Auction playground projects, which entitle contribu- Vitals .............................................35 annual All-Choir Concert under the direc- Twill be held on Saturday, March 17 at tors to tickets to the event as well as ads in the tion of Cantor Annie Rose. This year’s con- 7 p.m. at the JCC. The event will raise funds auction program. cert will include songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, to build a new playground for children ages The Auction evening will include a buf- World Jewry ..................................27 Ladino, and English, for voices and many 4–11 and to add new equipment to the Early fet dinner catered by Simply Scrumptious instruments. This annual concert offers the Childhood Center opportunity to experience a wide variety of playground. There Jewish music from all over the world right will be both a live here in our own community. and silent auction TBE’s Youth Choir will sing delightful up- at the event as well beat songs, and will present a surprise com- as a buffet dinner mercial break in the middle of the concert. and live musical The middle school Shir Chadash choir will entertainment. ORG. NON-PROFIT PAID Postage U.S. MI Ann Arbor, No. 85 Permit offer contemporary favorites such as “Sab- The money bath Prayer” and “L’chi Lach.” High School raised will allow Shir Chadash will present its own original the JCC to better settings of prayers including “Shalom Rav,” serve the Early “Shema,” “V’sham’ru,” “Mi Shebeirach,” and Childhood Cen- “Hashkiveinu.” Kol Halev, TBE’s Adult Choir, ter. It will also will sing the beloved “Sheyn Vi di Levone” enhance the ac- and music by Carol Boyd Leon, Shirona, tivities of the Kids Naomi Shemer, and Samuel Adler. Konnection after- Musical staff participating in the concert in- school program clude David Gitterman, Rosalie Koenig, Abe and the enrichment classes for elementary and musical entertainment by members of Morrison and Susan Wagner, with assistance children by providing enhanced play facilities. the Cool Moose Orchestra. Auction tickets by Ari Goldstein, Ben Henig, Naomi Katz The auction committee has been work- are $50 per person. In addition, there will be and Beth Reinstei. ing for months to acquire many items that a Kids’ Night Out Program sponsored by the The All-Choir Concert is open to the public will be sold in both the live and silent auc- JCC at Temple Beth Emeth. n free of charge. It will be held in the sanctuary tions. These include vacation and travel For further information about auction tickets, followed by a reception in the social hall. For offers, sports memorabilia, restaurant gift sponsorships, Kids’ Night Out or to donate more information, call TBE at 665-4744. certificates, books, jewelry, art, lessons, pho- goods and services, contact Rachel Rosenthal tographic sessions, Judaica, tickets to cultur- at [email protected] or Sheri Wallach al and entertainment events, clothing, and at [email protected] or call 971-0990. home and food items. Washtenaw Jewish News Washtenaw 2935 Birch Hollow Drive MI 48108 Ann Arbor, COMMUNITY 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Cellobration! benefits music at HDS Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 Joan Hartman, special to the WJN voice: 734/971-1800 ave you ever heard the sound of eight fax: 734/971-1801 e-mail: [email protected] cellos performing together? If not, Hyou’re in for a treat at Cellobration!, a concert at Kerrytown Concert House at 10 a.m. Editor and Publisher on Sunday, March 25, featuring Professor of Susan Kravitz Ayer Cello Richard Aaron, members of his cello stu- dio, and soprano Caroline Helton. Copy Editor Emily Eisbruchs Richard Aaron is one of the most cele- brated cello pedagogues in the United States. Calendar Editor Having joined the University of Michigan Claire Sandler faculty in 2006, he recently received a joint appointment as professor of cello at the Juil- Design and Layout liard School in New York City. Dennis Platte The Kerrytown program includes Bachianas Staff Writers BATTERIES FOR: brasileiras (“Brazilian Bach-pieces”) No. 5, Emily Eisbruchs, Sandor Slomovits >> Camcorders >> Garage Door Openers for eight cellos and soprano by Brazilian >> Cameras >> Watches composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. A fusion of Caroline Helton Contributing Writers >> Cell Phones >> Toys Brazilian folk music and the European clas- Laurie Barnett, Jacob Berkman, Susan Bozell, >> Cordless Phones >> Laptops Ellisha Caplan, Edmund Case, Steven M. >> Car Remotes >> iPods sical tradition, this is probably Villa-Lobos’ Cohen, Noreen DeYoung, Rabbi Robert most popular work, and contains what one Dobrusin, Robert Faber, Devon Fitzig, Flor- commentator has described as “one of the ence Gerber, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, Tim 10% off most romantically beautiful melodies ever Grimes, Brian Harris, Joan Hartman, Per- any purchase written.” The soprano soloist will be U-M etz Hirshbein, Carol Hoffer, Claire Kinberg, Assistant Professor of Music Caroline Hel- Susan Kolovson, Dina Kraft, Carol Lessure, With this advertisement. Limit 1. Expires 12.31.06 Craig Pollack, Cantor Annie Rose, Rachel ton, a “masterful” performer according to Rosenthal, Micah Sachs, Dina Shtull-Leber, critics, with a “clear, bell-like soprano.” Elliot Sorkin, Matthew Weingarden, Helen Along with his joint appointments at Juil- Weingarten, Shternie Zwiebel liard and U-M, Aaron teaches at the Cleve- ANN ARBOR Mailing Committee 3120 Packard Rd (Between Platt & Carpenter) land Institute of Music, and during summers at the ENCORE School for Strings; the Aspen Ruth Ankiewicz, Ruth Breslaw, Lucille Cas- 734.975.2463 sel, Ethel Ellis, Steve Fishman, Esther Gold- Music Festival, Innsbruck; and the Indiana Monday-Friday 8:30 - 7:00, Saturday 9:30 - 5:00 man, Betty Hammond, Jayne Harary, Doris University String Academy. He has presented Jamron, Marilyn Krimm, Doris Miller, Bob www.batteriesplus.com master classes at the Eastman, New England and Sophie Mordis, Dorothy Newman, Es- and Peabody Conservatories, at Oberlin Col- Richard Aaron ther Perlman, Irwin Pollack, Esther Rubin, lege, Rice University, and at other leading Sol Saginaw, Sarah Shoem, Nell Stern, Joanne in Cincinnati and also plays the viola. His Taylor music schools. He is also in frequent demand younger brother, Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, abroad, teaching at the Paris Conservatory, is rabbi at Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills, The Washtenaw Jewish News is a free and in- Yonsei University in Korea, the University California, Head of the Emanuel Academy, dependent newspaper. It is published month- of Madrid and other major schools. He is a and also plays the guitar. Family musician- ly, with the exception of January and August. member of the Elysian Trio and is also no ship and Jewish connection continues into It is registered as a Non-profit Michigan Cor- poration. Opinions expressed in this publi- stranger to orchestral playing, having been the fifth generation, as Aaron’s daughter So- hired at age 18 by the Jerusalem Symphony cation do not necessarily reflect those of its phie attends the Hebrew Day School of Ann editors or staff.