‘Jews Schmooze’ celebrated in Belfast
Northern Ireland’s Jewish community is embarking on what they’ve dubbed a “Jews Schmooze” in order to leave their mark on the cultural calendar.
The event, celebrating the exciting Jewish culture, consists of a series of talks, concerts and exhibitions.
As a group they may be small in number, official results from the last census poll indicate only 400 members of the Jewish community live in Northern Ireland, but are very keen on celebrating their identity.
Katy Radford, the coordinator of Jews Schmooze said since the 1800s, Northern Ireland’s Jewish population has contributed to educational and cultural vibrancy establishing theatres and schools and supporting arts events in the community at large.
Ms. Radford said that Jews Schmooze offers a chance for the community to persue that work and strengthens its commitment to partner with various communities in Northern Ireland to encourage cultural diversity and counteract anti-semitism and racism.
The programme of events kicked off on Tuesday at the synagogue in north Belfast with the participation of Belfast’s lord mayor, Councillor Naomi Long.
The synagogue will be the venue playing host to several of the events organised through out the month of October and November.
A concert of sephardic music will be performed by the band Los Desterrados as part of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s.
Local schools may visit an exhibition celebrating and showing the Jewish lifestyle and can also sit in on a play – This is what we sang – which has been commissioned by the Kabosh theatre company with music by Neil Martin.
For cinema enthusiasts, the festival offers a screening of a film titled Circumcise Me, which charts the life of US comedian Israel Campbell Hochstein and will be followed by talks involving journalist Matthew Kalman and actor Dave Schneider targeting cultural identity.
Culture Minister Nelson McCausland applauded the Jewish Community of Belfast on their community-wide project which promotes the building of understanding and enhances public awareness.
Mr. McCausland said that events like Jews Schmooze connect the Jewish culture to a broader audience and gives the community in its global sense the opportunity, via the medium of art, to foster understanding and appreciate the wealth of contribution the Jewish culture has provided to the people of Northern Ireland.