Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Jews Schmooze 2011 ‘Sounds Familiar’ Programme

03 March 2011

Jews Schmooze, the culture and arts arm of the Belfast Jewish Community, will kick off its ‘Sound Familiar’ Programme with a memorable evening of choral and cello music at the Belfast Synagogue on Sunday 27 February at 1900. In partnership with Methodist College Belfast and Neil Martin, the evening will feature secular and sacred pieces from many faiths.

Funded by the Peace 111 Programme and administered by Belfast City Council, this is the first of six events to be held between now and April as part of an interfaith programme to encourage dialogue on cross community issues.

Michael Black, Chairman of the Belfast Jewish Community said: “Building on the success of the 2009 and 2010 Jews Schmooze Programme, this years theme “Sound Familiar”is a great opportunity to not only develop the awareness of the Jewish Community in Northern Ireland but to work with other communities to strengthen inter-faith relationships and promote cultural diversity. The programme of events has been designed to take cultural development to the next level, through a range of art forms to demonstrate the similarities and respect between Faiths.”

The Belfast Synagogue will play host to most of the events taking place between Sunday 26 February and Sunday 19 April. Forthcoming events include two performances of the specially commissioned “Chronicles Suite” on Thursday 10 March, featuring local Jazz composer and drummer David Lyttle, Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi, Slovakian gypsy guitarist Andreas Varady and Australian bassist Damian Evans. The performances will highlight the themes of right and wrong, justice and reconciliation. There will be a performance for schools at 1100 and for the general public at 1900.

The Ulster Museum, in association with Jews Schmooze, will host a classical recital by thirteen year-old Musical prodigy Ariel Lanyi on Sunday 13 March at the Ulster Museum at 1400.

Two performances at the Belfast Synagogue, of Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy on Sunday 13 and Monday 14 March at 1900 by Fringe Benefits will consider the themes of guilt, denial and complicity with state forces of authority. The play is set in France in World War Two at the start of the round up of Jews. Following the play on Sunday 13 March, the audience will be given the opportunity to participate in a panel-led discussion about cultural identity with representatives from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

An evening of poetry readings entitled Peace, Place and People by award winning poets Elaine Feinstein and Michael Longley will be joined by new poet Ben Maier, will bring the programme to an end on Sunday 17 April at the Belfast Synagogue. This event is presented in partnership with the John Hewitt Society. The date has been especially chosen as it marks both the eve of Passover and Palm Sunday, to demonstrate the Jewish Community’s commitment to partnering with other communities, encouraging mutual respect and cultural diversity. The audience is invited to meet the poets and discuss their work after the readings.

Admission to all events is free of charge.

For further details contact Joanna Black on 07881954679 or e-mail, jewsschmoozebelfast@hotmail.co.uk.