Laugh with Ziggy

Michael “Ziggy” Danziger: Abq Jew knows for sure without a doubt that Michael “Ziggy” Danziger is a hilarious and versatile performer and comedy writer, because Ziggy says so on his website. 

Ziggy's website also tells us that Ziggy

has performed in clubs, at colleges, and for organizations all over and his smart comedy is a hit with all audiences. Michael is a past winner of Comedy Tennessee’s “Funniest Person in Memphis” and he’s the reigning “Funniest Jew in the Deep South.” (Seriously. There was  a contest.) 

He has taught comedy workshops for several schools and organizations and his original material appears in Alpha Books’ The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes  (Again... seriously). 

Oh, and he’s going to be a rabbi! Michael is in his 4th year of studies at Hebrew Union College and will be ordained next year.   

Rabbi and comedian... what could go wrong?!?

Yes, Ziggy's performance is a fundraiser.

The proceeds will benefit Congregation Albert and Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico (JCFNM) Camp Scholarships.

Why camping? Rabbi Paul J Citrin has called Jewish camping

"one of the most powerful influences on shaping my Jewish identity, my passion for Judaism and the Jewish people"

Here is a forshbite (that's Yiddish for hors d'oeuvres, one of the most-looked-up words on the Internet) of what Ziggy's got in store for Albuquerque.

Happy Purim, World!

Pizmon in Albuquerque

Perfect Pitch @ A Capella U: Yes, Abq Jew has raved about Pizmon before - first, in his now classic Rabbi School Dropout, and again in last month's About That Bush.

Well, Pizmon is (finally!) coming to Congregation B'nai Israel of Albuquerque!

Pizmon

Jewish A Capella

Congregation B'nai Israel

Shabbat Parah March 13-14

Community Concert Saturday 7:00 pm

In case you don't recall - the Pizmon website reminds us

Pizmon is the co-ed Jewish a cappella group from Columbia, Barnard, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. We share our passion for Jewish music and culture by engaging with communities across the globe. 

Our repertoire includes a variety of different genres, including liturgical pieces, Israeli rock and pop, Yiddish classics, and children's songs. 

Johanna Ginsberg recent wrote On campus, a perfect pitch for pluralism, a great article about Jewish a capella, for The New Jersey Jewish News, in which she explains

A cappella groups have exploded onto college campuses in the last two decades. Although singing in close harmony has long been a campus tradition (Yale’s Whiffenpoofs were founded in 1909), recent TV shows and movies have brought a cappella in from the margins to the mainstream. 

For Jewish groups on campuses — well over 1,000 according to a site devoted to Jewish a cappella — the choirs often act as surrogate Jewish communities. Students perform songs from the synagogue repertory, Israeli pop, Yiddish and Ladino classics, and contemporary hits with a parodic twist. 

For some, it’s a point of entry to the Jewish community. For others, it’s a window into forms of Judaism to which they have never been exposed. For all, it’s a way to connect to Jewish music.

She also provides "Milestones in four-part harmony," which starts with

1987: Pizmon, believed to be the first collegiate Jewish a cappella group, is established to serve students at Barnard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Columbia University in New York City. 

So what Abq Jew is saying here is -

Pizmon has yichus.

Here is Pizmon, talking and singing about their mission and what happens when they visit a Jewish community. .

Pizmon will be sharing in Family Shabbat Services at Congregation B'nai Israel on Friday March 13.


They'll also be sharing in B'nai Israel's Shabbat Morning Service on Saturday March 14.

And Pizmon will be presenting a

Family Concert
Fundraiser

Congregation B'nai Israel

Saturday March 14

7:00 pm

Shabbat Parah

see Statutes and Ordinances and Got Red Heifer?

with Pizmon!

Pesach Watch 2015 Begins!

How Can You Tell When Pesach is Coming?  Yes, Abq Jew covered this exciting event last year (see Pesach 2014 Begins!) and the year before (see Pesach Watch 2013 Begins!), as well as in the now classic 2012 blog post Pesach Watch Begins!

In any event, Abq Jew is here to tell you that Pesach is indeed coming again this year!  How can you be sure?

Here are two signs that Pesach is coming:

1. The first Albuquerque sighting of Pesach food is reported. 

This year it was Abq Jew himself who discovered on Thursday February 26 (Adar 7) that the Whole Foods on Wyoming has a modest display of Passover items.

That's one whole week before Purim. But it's a week later than the ShopRite in Livingston, New Jersey, which drops Abq's Pesachdikity a few points from last year.

Last year (2014) it was Moreen Siegel of Congregation B'nai Israel who told Abq Jew after Shabbat services on March 1 (29 Adar 1) that the Albertson's at Montogmery and San Mateo had displayed some Passover items.

In 2013, it was Rabbi Arthur Flicker of Congregation B'nai Israel, who emailed Abq Jew on February 12 (Adar 2) with the news that the Smith's at Constituion and Carlisle has started to assemble what in past years has become (thanks to Rabbi Flicker's efforts) the Mother Lode of Passover Food.

In 2012, the first sighting took place on February 27 (Adar 4). 

2. Abq Jew opens up his Pesach Watch page.

Please help your Jewish community!

Email, call, or Fan Wall (see The Abq Jew App) Abq Jew

and let him know where you have spotted Pesachdik food.
Then Abq Jew will let everyone know!

Synagogues and Jewish organizations!
Please make sure Abq Jew's new
New Mexico Seder Roundup 
is complete!

God and the World: Are We in Conflict?

Interfaith Spring Colloquium:  Jewish Christian Dialogue of New Mexico presents its 22nd Annual Interfaith Spring Colloquium on Sunday, March 8, 2015. The Colloquium will be held at Congregation B'nai Israel, 4401 Indian School Rd. NE in Albuquerque.

The Jewish Christian Dialogue Presents

22nd Annual Interfaith Colloquium

God and the World:
Are We in Conflict?

Congregation B'nai Israel

Sunday, March 8, 2015

1:00 - 5:30 pm

Speakers will include

• Rabbi Jack Shlachter, who serves as a rabbi at HaMakom, The Place for Passionate and Progressive Judaism in Santa Fe, and is also a physicist working at Los Alamos National Laboratories. 
• Sister Joan Brown, osf, a Catholic Franciscan sister who serves as the Executive Director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that works with all faith communities to address climate change and sustainability.

Topics to be considered include:

• What do our faith traditions tell us about caring for the Earth and the environment?
• How do we interpret this passage from Genesis 1:28 today?  "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it."
• As individuals, what roles do love and moral values play in better living in harmony with our world and fellow human beings?
• What do our Scriptures have to say to us about the advancement of technologies, the protection of the environment and the treatment of our fellow human beings?

The registration fee for the Colloquium of $30 includes snacks and high tea. Students can attend for $15. Register online with a credit card at GailRubin.com.

In case you missed the story, CBS News (et al) reported Tuesday:

Trapped manatees rescued from drainage pipe 

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. - Rescue workers and animal experts lifted 19 manatees from the Satellite Beach storm drain system in an operation that lasted from Monday afternoon into early Tuesday.

The workers used earth-moving equipment -- and a gentle touch. 

All the rescued manatees were released back into the wild. 

Officials said some 11 others apparently got out on their own. 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine biologist Ann Spellman said she was acting on a hunch when she called city workers and asked them to check the drainage pipes Monday. 

You can read the rest of the story here, and watch the accompanying video here.

Abq Jew firmly believes that

This is exactly what the Holy One, Blessed Be He
had in mind when He said (in the continuation of Genesis 1:28) 

וּרְדוּ בִּדְגַת הַיָּם, וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבְכָל-חַיָּה, הָרֹמֶשֶׂת עַל-הָאָרֶץ

and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over

the fowl of the air, and over every living thing

that creeps upon the earth.

No, He wasn't thinking about coyote killing contests.