In this talk with music, composer, writer, and pianist Michael Schachter will explore his forthcoming music-theatrical project based on the history of the Terezín Ghetto, a WWII concentration camp outside Prague where the Jewish inmates resisted the Nazis through musical, dramatic, and artistic expression. In particular, he’ll focus on the musical activities of Eric Vogel, a trumpeter who founded a jazz band in Terezín called the Ghetto Swingers, and Rafael Schächter, a pianist and conductor who led the inmates in…

The dying process is daunting and brings forth a plethora of emotions that are felt by all. While there are signs that indicate when someone has reached the end stages of the dying process, the most moving indicator is called “abstract speech.” Often overlooked, abstract speech offers an opportunity for a final connection with the departing person. Join Sarah Villanueva, who is both Director of Beth Jacob Synagogue and an End of Life Doula, as she explores this phenomenon. About…