Acclaimed six-man a cappella vocal band Six13, known for its Jewish-themed renditions of popular tunes, will be performing 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at Congregation B’nai Israel in Manalapan.
The New York City-based group juxtaposes traditional and contemporary music to transmit a strong Jewish identity–fueled by soulful harmonies, intricate arrangements and signature dynamic, full-band-like sound–as part of its mission to connect Jews around the world with their heritage through music.
The group’s videos have more than 20 million views and members have been featured on national television and press, including the Today Show, CBS, CNN and Time Magazine. Six13 has eight award-winning albums, the music from which has been adapted by choirs worldwide and played on mainstream radio stations. The group has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center in Washington, headlined the North American Jewish Choral Festival and sang at national sporting events.
Cost is $60 for priority seating and $40 for children over 4 years; general seating, $45, adult, $25 for children over 4 and free for younger children seated on laps. Doors open at 3:45 p.m. Light bites and meet and greet to follow. To register and buy tickets go to bnaiisraelnj.org.
For information contact Jessica Khavich, (732) 446-3000 or jkhavich@bnaiisraelnj.org.
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick will hold its Gertrude and Milton Kleinman Consultation on Conscience at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 8 featuring former state Sen. Ray Lesniak and educator and forensic psychologist Dr. Lenore Walker, both of whom will speak about mental health as a social justice imperative.
Lesniak is a lifelong resident of Elizabeth who served as Democratic state assemblyman representing the 20th District from 1978-1983 when he was elected to the state Senate where he served until 2018.
Lesniak is founder of the Raymond J. Lesniak Experience, Strength, Hope Recovery High School in Union County to help students with substance use disorder stay sober and get an education in a safe, supportive environment.
He also is founder and president of the Lesniak Institute For American Leadership at Kean University in Union.
Lesniak has authored four books: The Road To Abolition: How New Jersey Abolished The Death Penalty; What’s Love Got to Do With It: The Case for Same Sex Marriage and Beating The Odds; The Epic Battle That Brought Legal Sports Betting Across America and Cultivating Justice In The Garden State.
He has won many local, state, national and international awards for his humanitarian work, including being named Man of the Year by the Jewish National Fund.
The Florida-based Walker is director of the Domestic Violence Institute, which works internationally to support victims through education, professional training and promoting change.
She often testifies in forensic cases, especially those where someone’s state of mind is impacted by gender violence events. Walker’s work introduced Battered Woman Syndrome into the courts back in the 1980’s.
Walker recently retired after 20 years from Florida-based Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology where she trained doctoral and masters level students in forensic and clinical psychology.
The program is free but preregistration is required at aemt.net.
Makhelat Hamercaz, the Jewish community choir of Central New Jersey, will perform its annual spring concert, Songs from My Jewish Heart, 7:30 p.m., June 11 at Temple B’nai Shalom in East Brunswick. The repertoire will include pieces that express the full range of human emotions, examined through the lens of the Jewish experience.
This program will focus on gratitude, expressed in the Shehechyanu prayer; the fearless energy of the early pioneers of Israel in Y’susum Midbar and arranged by the choral music icon Alice Parker; pure wonder and awe in Haflei Vafele; the mystical aura of Shabbat in Shalom Aleichem; joyful celebration of the Levites’ brass section in Chatzotzrot and pure humble piety in its title piece, Bilvavi, a new work by composer Elliot Roman.
General Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door; seniors and young adults, $15 in advance and $20 at the door and live on Zoom, $18. Tickets can be purchased by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer or at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/in-my-heart-concert.
In celebration of Pride Month, Jewish queer comedian and song leader Antonia Lassar, will be artist-in-residence June 5-7 at Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon.
On Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. she will lead community singing featuring songs that make up the Shabbat service, tapping into singing as a meditative exercise and building confidence in singing as a group; Pride Shabbat on June 6 will start with refreshments at 6 p.m. followed by services at 6:30 p.m. and June 7 will end Shabbat at 8 p.m. with Havdalah featuring song, shmoozing and light bites.
The Los Angeles-based Lassar is best known for her Tik Tok videos about Jewish life and for being half of the popular Yenta podcast. She recently received the prestigious Mandel Fellowship for her Jewish standup comedy. She regularly performs standup around Los Angeles and at “your mom’s” synagogue.
Lassar was the main speaker at the 2018 National March Against Rape Culture in DC based on her work using comedy to educate about sexual violence.
She has been featured in such publications as Glamour and Marie Claire magazines.
For information, contact the synagogue (732) 222-3754 or tbmoffice@bethmiriam.org.
