Happening

TO LEARN

Girls in Trouble

Musician and educator Alicia Jo Rabins has created a Jewish feminist learning experi- ence appropriate for teens and adults. The Girls in Trouble Curriculum series casts a multimedia sunbeam on women in the Torah and Midrash, from Ruth to Esther—and yes, even Lilith! Each module focuses on a different story, featuring a study guide with written material, guiding questions, an mp3 of Rabins’ original Girls in Trouble song, and a powerpoint presentation. Plus, a Youtube series about each story is also in production. Learn more at girlsintroublemusic.com.

NEW YORK CITY: Yiddish Fun for Kids!

In New York, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents: “Kids and Yiddish: The Mishegas Continues…”, a children’s show at the Museum of Jewish Heritage! Billed as “Sesame Street meets Saturday Night Live,” this production features music and theatrical performances in English, interwoven with accessible introductions to Yiddish. Originally created in 1993 for the Workers Circle, by Zalmen Mlotek, Adrienne Cooper, Joanne Borts and Men- achem Michael Fox, the show is interwoven with bite-sized historical connections and has been updated with current pop culture references. Stay tuned for tickets to upcoming productions at nytf.org.

DENVER: Interactive Jewish Cultural Curriculum

The Mizel Museum in Denver offers a combination of in-person exhibitions and virtual programming dedicated to social justice, Jewish learning, and building understanding across cultures, for visitors of all ages. The featured exhibits are “Babi Yar Park: A Living Holocaust Memorial,” which includes 27 acres of landscape for reflection and dialogue, and “4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks,” a multimedia overview of Jewish art, history, social change, and culture. And for teachers, they offer “Bridges of Cultural Understanding,” an interactive virtual curriculum tailored to K–8 students. Learn more at mizelmuseum.org.

BOSTON: Jewish Education for Collective Liberation

For families seeking a Jewish education “rooted in love, diasporism, and Torah of justice,” a new Boston Jewish day school is scheduled to open in fall 2029. Led by a team of educators, activists and alums of various Jewish day schools, Achvat Olam (which translates to “eternal/global” “siblinghood/solidarity”) will be built upon the Torah-based values of love, justice, exploration, Jewish ancestral heritage and community, to nurture students toward building a future of collective liberation, within the Jewish community and beyond. Learn more at achvatolam.org.

LOS ANGELES & SAN FRANCISCO: Jewish Questions and Conscience on Stage

Do the Right Thing is a new live show from Jewish storytelling theatre, The Braid. A cast of five performers brings to life stories from a dozen Jewish creators—including singer Elana Arian, writer Jennifer Roth Krieger, and many others. From tales of Vietnam war protests to insurance fraud, each (true) story grapples with a moral dilemma and all the complications of doing the right thing. Join The Braid for their 18th season—purchase tickets to in-person shows across LA and the Bay Area and select performances streaming on Zoom at the-braid.org.

Sefardi Herbalism

Ethnoherbalist, plant historian and educator Naomi Spector has a new book exploring Sefardi healing traditions that utilize and honor the Earth’s offerings. Sefardi Herbalism: An Introduction to Earth, Water and Plant-Based Folk Traditions of the Sefardim (bibi and ni, $18) is a 360 view of the centuries old history, practical applications, artistic render- ings, and spiritual connections found in herbalism practices originating from the Jews of Spain and Portugal. Organized into four sections, Spector captures all these connections through the frameworks of water, kitchen herbalism, herbalism for birth, and end-of-life herbalism. Purchase it where you buy books.

A New Jewish Book Community

In fall 2025, the Jewish Book Council launched Nu Reads, a bi-monthly book sub- scription series and reading community. Over the course of the year, subscribers will receive six JBC-curated mail deliveries of books, ancillary material and swag— plus, access to exclusive author events and to a vibrant new community of bookworms! Previous months have featured Boy from the North Country by Sam Sussman and Happy New Years by Maya Arad. Visit nureads.org to subscribe.

Jewish Spirituality Meets Exercise

Neshama—Body & Soul is a unique blend of strength-training, Jewish prayer, and reflection. Created by Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, NBS is an accessible and meaning- ful exercise practice for participants of all levels to feel stronger and more rooted in themselves. Participants can expect a variety of body-weight strength, along with Jewish prayers (handouts provided), and plenty of encouragement. Rabbi Alpert offers hour-long sessions to individuals and to groups at synagogues, JCCs, schools, and more. Find upcoming events and learn how to schedule a session for your community at neshamabodyandsoul.org. Also follow Lilith on Instagram and Facebook for a special monthly NBS video series!

ACROSS THE U.S.: Kosher Food Pantries

On Thanksgiving 2025, Spanish and Portu- guese Synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel, announced the opening of an Upper West Side kosher food pantry to combat the recent rise in food insecurity. Faith for Food is in partnership with kosher food insecurity organization Masbia and is now open weekly at the Congregation, for all neighbors in need of kosher food support. To find out how to volunteer, donate, or access Faith for Food, visit shearithisrael.org. For folks in Phoenix, Cleveland, Miami, North Jersey, and Allentown, find a map of Kosher food pantries and soup kitchens near you at bit.ly/FoodHelpUSA.

NEW YORK CITY: Honoring the Legacy of Lore Segal

At the Center for Jewish History’s Leo Baeck Institute, visit “And That’s True Too: The Life and Work of Lore Segal.” This exhibition uncovers images and written works from renowned Jewish author and teacher, Lore Segal (z”l), who escaped Vienna via Kindertransport as a child and then grew to write and teach about exile, assimilation and the power of storytelling. The exhibit is on view until April 15th, 2026. And on March 4th, tune in for a free online event, “Tell me a Lore: Revisiting the Children’s Books of Lore Segal.” Tickets are available to the exhibition and the special event at lbi.org.

TO LISTEN

Klezmer for Modern Times

Isle of Klezbos is a NYC-based all-women and mostly lesbian sextet that embraces the soulful and energetic sounds of traditional Yiddish Klezmer with a rebellious—and yes, queer—twist. Band members Debra Kreisberg, Eve Sicular, Melissa Fogarty, Pam Fleming, Saskia Lane and Shoko Nagai stretch the genre beyond its previous limits, from familiar folkloric tunes of centuries past, to 21st century originals that dip a toe into jazz, reggae and other musical traditions. And recently, they told the Jewish Women’s Archive about the lesser-known queer underpinnings of canonical Klezmer songs, which they seek to bring to light. The group has appeared on NPR, PBS, and even Showtime’s The L Word. Listen wherever you stream music and find tickets to an upcoming concert, from New York to Florida, at klezbos.com.

Songs Against Despair

Jewish composer, ritual leader and educator Rena Branson’s new album In Dreaming is a soundtrack for carrying on amidst a scarcity of hope. With songs entitled “Prayer for the Earth,” “Healer of the Brokenhearted” and “We Are Liberation,” Branson’s soulful tracks both validate feelings of hopelessness and motivate listeners to imagine and work toward a healthier, kinder world. Stream the album wherever you get your music and learn more at renabranson.com.

An Inclusive Album with Chutzpah

Canopy is a new inclusivity-centered album from folk-pop band, Rachael Sage & The Sequins. Sage , an award-winning Jewish singer-songwriter, has created this album as a “masterclass in radical self-acceptance.” Released as a single ahead of the album, “Nexus” is a tender tribute to Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teenager who was murdered by bullies in 2024—but it is also a call to action. Another song, “Belong to You,” honors love in all its forms. Sage has written about finding inspiration for her work in Jewish history, Yiddish, and Chutzpah derived from performing the Haftorah at her Bat Mitzvah. Canopy was released by MPress Records, Sage’s own recording label. Listen wherever you stream music and find U.S. tour dates at rachaelsage.com.

Compiled by Arielle Silver-Willner