The Dangers of Diet Plan Soft Drink: Why It misbehaves for Your Wellness
As a prominent alternative to regular soda, diet plan soft drink has gotten enormous popularity throughout the years. Marketed as a healthier choice for weight-conscious individuals, it has actually ended up being a staple in many families. However, in spite of its low-calorie material, there are numerous reasons why diabacore fiyat diet regimen soft drink might not be as valuable as it appears. In this write-up, we explore the prospective risks and unfavorable results that diet regimen soft drink can have on your health and wellness. Artificial Sweeteners and Their Influence The key reason that diet regimen soda is interesting numerous is its use artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin, give the preferred sweetness without the added calories found in regular soft drink. However, research studies have actually increased problems relating to the security of these artificial sweeteners. Research suggests that artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body’s natural ability to manage calorie consumption, resulting in boosted food cravings for sugary foods. In many cases, people who consume diet regimen soda may end up compensating by eating much more calories from various other sources, potentially bring about weight gain as opposed to weight reduction. In addition, some studies have connected artificial sweeteners to an enhanced risk of metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by a collection of problems, consisting of weight problems, hypertension, and insulin resistance. These searchings for show that the usage of diet soft drink may not always result in better metabolic health and wellness as initially assumed. Sweetening agents can disrupt the body’s all-natural capacity to manage calorie intake. Intake of diet soft drink may result in boosted food cravings for sugary foods. Some studies have actually connected sweetening agents to a boosted danger of metabolic disorder. Results on Intestine Wellness One more area of concern when it pertains to diet regimen soft drink is its impact on intestine wellness. Emerging research study recommends that sweetening agents found in diet regimen soda can modify the structure of digestive tract bacteria, which plays an essential role in general health and well-being. A well balanced hondrexil cruz verde precio intestine microbiome is necessary for appropriate digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function. However, the consumption of diet regimen soft drink has actually been associated with a decrease in advantageous gut bacteria and a boost in dangerous bacteria. This inequality in gut flora can potentially cause different health and wellness issues, such as gastrointestinal troubles, swelling, and even state of mind problems. Additionally, the acidic nature of diet soft drink can likewise contribute to digestion problems. The high level of acidity degrees can aggravate the cellular lining of the belly and esophagus, bring about heartburn, heartburn, and other discomforts. Sweetening agents in diet regimen soda can alter the composition of intestine microorganisms. The usage of diet regimen soft drink has actually been related to a decline in advantageous digestive tract bacteria. The high acidity levels in diet regimen soda can result in digestive system issues. Impact on Bone Wellness While diet soda is frequently thought about a much healthier selection than regular soda, it might have adverse impacts on bone wellness. Some studies recommend that the phosphoric acid existing in diet soda can leach calcium from bones, potentially bring about a reduction in bone mineral thickness and an enhanced danger of weakening of bones. Moreover, habitual intake of diet regimen soda has actually been related to an enhanced danger of cracks in older ladies. This connection shows that the long-term effects of diet plan soft drink on bone wellness might surpass its short-term benefits. The phosphoric acid in...
Read MoreSkyrocket Mortgage loans for choosing property
Skyrocket Mortgage loans for choosing property Skyrocket Home loan, a department off Quicken Fund, offers multiple mortgage loans & refinancing choices, online payday loans Arapahoe CO all having a quick, easy on the internet platform, take a look. Among the basic giving on the web-just mortgage approvals, the organization is a big disrupter toward typically sluggish-moving financial credit room. Mortgage loans are not all of that simple, not. As such, there are a few extra some thing you will need to envision when you’re trying to get a loan out of Rocket Financial. On this page, I’m going to get a-deep dive toward precisely what Skyrocket Financial offers, and additionally how services performs, advantages and you will downsides of being a buyers, and. What’s Rocket Home loan? Rocket Home loan is actually an online home loan company and refinancing merchant. The firm are backed by Quicken Funds, that’s based during the Detroit. Quicken Fund is not only Detroit’s biggest workplace, but it’s also America’s greatest home loan company and you may premier facilitator off on line mortgage loans-thank you so much to some extent to the intuitive Rocket Home loan device. Rocket Financial are a division out-of Quicken Money, the country’s highest-regularity home loan company, giving the buy and you may refinance mortgage selection. If you have already discover property, Skyrocket Home loan shall be one of many speediest ways locate a beneficial pre-approval letter (that’s expected to make an offer). Whenever you are nevertheless domestic-hunting, you happen to be informed to determine a romance along with your bank (whether or not the Rocket Home loan or others) so that you is actually totally willing to create a deal just after the thing is that your ideal household. Because you can bear in mind, a knowledgeable home revenue normally promote towards very first showings, which can definitely could affect get monetary ducks consecutively. The worst thing you prefer is to fall under an effective disease where you actually want to get a property, only to eliminate it to anyone else who’s started pre-approved to own a home loan. Conventional, Fixed-Rates Mortgages Fixed-speed is one of popular style of real estate loan. The loan term might possibly be possibly fifteen otherwise 30 years and you can comes with a fixed interest (i.elizabeth., one that would not fluctuate over the lifetime of the borrowed funds). Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARM) An arm financing generally speaking gives the benefit of a decreased-interest rate from the entrance also contains the suspicion that your speed you’ll boost later. With regards to the types of Sleeve financing you’ve got, their price might possibly be adjusted sometimes a-year (old-fashioned Sleeve), every 5 years (5-12 months Case), or all 7 age (7-12 months Case). When you find yourself these types of funds would be high-risk, you may be in a position to work for if you enjoy your cards best. Such as, if you get a beneficial eight-year Sleeve however, know you will move in 3 years, you may be able to save your self some money upfront. Jumbo Money Mortgage loans are usually felt jumbo funds when the borrowed matter exceeds the typical mortgage constraints set forth by Federal Casing Power (FHA). Jumbo funds is actually mostly found in components which have awesome-high real estate prices-like San francisco, eg-where it could be more difficult to save upwards a good 20% downpayment. Once i don’t suggest taking out fully for example a giant financing, Skyrocket Mortgage loans makes it possible to with this processes when you find yourself thus much more likely. FHA money When you’re a primary-big date...
Read MoreThe Safest Online Casino Sites: A Guide to Safeguard Gambling
When it pertains to wagering online, security must constantly be a leading concern. With the spreading of on-line gambling enterprises, making certain that you play at a safe and credible platform is necessary. In this guide, we will dive into the world of the most safe online casino sites, supplying you with important details to make informed choices and enjoy a safe and secure gaming experience. What Makes an Online Gambling Establishment Safe? The safety and security of an on-line gambling enterprise is figured out by several crucial factors. Here are the most essential facets to consider when reviewing the safety and security of an on the internet gambling establishment: Licensing and Policy: A safe online casino is qualified and controlled by a reputable authority, such as the UK Gaming Compensation or the Malta Video Gaming Authority. These regulatory bodies make sure that the casino site operates within the lawful structure and supports stringent standards of fairness and protection. Safeguard Encryption: The use of innovative security modern technology, such as SSL (Safe And Secure Outlet Layer), is critical to securing your individual and monetary details. Look for on-line gambling enterprises that have SSL certifications to make certain that your information is protected versus unauthorized accessibility. Fair Video gaming: The fairness of video games at an on the internet gambling enterprise is established by arbitrary number generator (RNG) software city center online jugar application. Credible casinos have their RNG software application frequently examined by independent screening firms, such as eCOGRA, to make certain that the games are reasonable and honest. Liable Gaming Procedures: A safe online gambling enterprise advertises liable gambling by offering devices and sources to assist players handle their betting routines. These might consist of self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and web links to support organizations for trouble gaming. Clear Conditions: A reputable online casino site will have clear and clear terms, outlining their policies on rewards, withdrawals, and dispute resolution. Put in the time to read and recognize these terms prior to devoting to dip into a particular online casino. Player Reviews and Track Record: Investigating gamer reviews and the overall reputation of an on-line casino site can supply beneficial understandings into its security and integrity. Look for casinos with favorable comments and a history of reasonable and liable gaming techniques. Protect Repayment Alternatives: A risk-free online casino will certainly provide a range of safe and secure and reliable repayment choices for deposits and withdrawals. Seek popular repayment carriers such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Neteller. Customer Assistance: A reputable online casino will certainly supply prompt and useful consumer assistance to address any type of worries or issues you may come across. Try to find gambling establishments that supply multiple call techniques, such as live chat, e-mail, and phone assistance. Tips for Choosing a Safe Online Casino Now that you recognize the key factors that make an on-line gambling enterprise risk-free, here are some added ideas to aid you pick the ideal platform: Research and Read Reviews: Before registering at an on-line casino, do detailed research and read testimonials from relied on resources. Search for independent online casino evaluation web sites that provide impartial information and player experiences. Check for Licensing and Regulation: Validate that the on the internet casino site holds a legitimate license from a trustworthy regulatory authority. You can generally locate this info in the footer of the casino’s web site or in their “Concerning Us” section. Examination Customer Support: Send a message to the casino site’s customer support group to evaluate their reaction time and helpfulness. A trustworthy casino site will certainly have receptive...
Read MoreWhatever You Need to Know About Money Car Loan Applications
Cash finance apps have actually changed the way people access credit and handle their financial resources. With simply a couple of clicks on your smartphone, you can obtain a financing, get accepted, and obtain the funds straight right into your checking account. In this extensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of cash funding applications, how they work, their advantages, and potential challenges. What Are Money Finance Apps? Cash funding applications are mobile applications that enable individuals to borrow cash swiftly and easily. These apps are created to simplify the lending application procedure, get rid of documents, and supply instant access to funds. They commonly provide temporary financings, varying from a couple of hundred to a number of thousand bucks, with differing interest rates and settlement terms. A lot of cash finance applications call for users to produce an account, supply personal and monetary details, and undertake a credit report check. Once approved, debtors can request a lending, pick the amount and payment term, and obtain the funds within hours or perhaps mins. Some applications additionally supply attributes such as automated payments, lending extensions, and credit history tracking tools. It is important to read the terms carefully before using a money finance application to understand the charges, interest rates, late repayment charges, and other possible expenses related to obtaining money. It is additionally suggested to obtain just what you require and can pay for to pay off to stay clear of falling into a debt catch. Quick and convenient accessibility to credit score Structured car loan fast cash loans online application procedure Elimination of documents and physical visits to a financial institution Instantaneous approval and financing Flexible payment terms How Do Cash Car Loan Apps Job? Money finance apps function by attaching customers with loan providers who want to offer short-term fundings. The application serves as a middleman, helping with the finance application, authorization, and dispensation process. Users can request a funding with the application, send their information, and obtain a decision within minutes. As soon as authorized, borrowers can choose the funding quantity, payment term, and receive the funds straight into their bank account. Some apps might call for individuals to link their savings account for automatic settlements, while others allow hands-on settlements with the application. Cash financing apps make use of innovative formulas and data analytics to analyze consumers’ creditworthiness, identify the threat of default, and established interest rates as necessary. They might additionally make use of different information resources, such as social media profiles, on-line shopping practices, and mobile phone use, to review applicants’ economic behavior and integrity. Benefits of Cash Funding Applications Cash lending applications supply a number of advantages over standard lending institutions, such as financial institutions and lending institution. A few of the vital benefits consist of: Availability: Cash financing apps come to any individual with a smartphone and web connection, making credit score a lot more comprehensive and readily available to underserved populations. Speed: With cash car loan applications, borrowers can apply for a financing, obtain approved, and obtain funds within hours and even mins, permitting them to attend to urgent economic requirements promptly. Comfort: Money car loan apps remove the need for physical brows through to a financial institution, comprehensive paperwork, and long authorization processes, making borrowing cash convenient and hassle-free. Flexibility: Cash lending applications use flexible settlement terms, allowing consumers to choose the funding quantity and period that finest suits their economic situation. Possible Mistakes of Money Loan Applications While money lending applications offer countless advantages, there are additionally possible mistakes that consumers need to understand prior to...
Read MoreCan You Refinance Your Home With A VA Loan?
Can You Refinance Your Home With A VA Loan? The VA loan is one of the most popular loan programs in America, providing qualified military homeowners with lower rates and an easy way to decrease their monthly mortgage. A VA loan is particularly appealing to eligible veteran and military home buyers because of exclusive benefits, namely, it enables them to buy a home with no down payment or refinance up to 120% of their home. However, many service members have questions about the rules and requirements surrounding a VA loan and may not understand how this exclusive benefit works or if you can refinance a VA loan. In this article, well be breaking down the refinancing options for VA loans and what each of them have to offer. Yes! You have several options when it comes to refinancing your home with a VA loan. Later on, well take a look at each of these loan type options, what kind of borrower best suits each, and what their benefits are. For right now, lets cover some other common questions. How Soon Can You Refinance A VA Loan? To refinance with a VA home loan youll have to meet the required waiting period of 212 days or 6 payments worth of time whichever period is longer. You can expect this required waiting period regardless of what VA refinancing option you choose. Benefits Of Refinancing A VA Loan For qualified borrowers with strong credit history and an anticipated long-term stay at their home, refinancing a VA loan can make a lot of sense. But why exactly should you refinance with a VA loan? Here are some of the benefits that this process has to offer: Lower-than-average interest rates compared to most other loan types: This is based on the loans being a benefit for military personnel. Potential for a lower monthly payment: A lower interest rate could mean a lower payment. No monthly mortgage insurance premium: FHA loans and conventional loans with less than 20% down payment both require monthly mortgage insurance. Ability to take cash out up to 100% of your homes value: This can help you better accomplish a home renovation or meet your financial goals. Ability to refinance up to 120% of your homes value: A VA loan is one of the few loan products that can offer this benefit. Relaxed credit guidelines: Refinancing can be easier for VA loans; but remember, different lenders have different credit score requirements. Rocket Mortgage requires a credit score of 580. There are no prepayment penalties: Theres no penalty for paying off your loan early. Foreclosure assistance: Veteran homeowners who find themselves in default can work with the VA for assistance in finding alternatives to foreclosure. Ability to roll the funding fee into the refi amount: Remember, there is no funding fee for disabled veterans, eligible surviving spouses or active-duty Purple Heart recipients. VA Loan Refinance Options When it comes to a VA loan refinance, youll have three different options to choose from. You can reduce the interest rate on your loan with an interest rate reduction refinancing loan (IRRRL) or get cash-out financing. Well also touch on when you may be better off refinancing into a conventional loan. Lets dive deeper into these three types of mortgage refinance to find one which may best suit you and your financial needs: VA Streamline Refinance (IRRRL) The VA Streamline refinance (IRRRL) also known as an interest rate reduction refinance loan is available for homeowners who currently have a VA loan and want to lower their interest rate. This type of refinance typically allows for...
Read MoreAbout Me
What’s Susan up to?
Penn State Center for Holocaust and Jewish Studies will host me as I present a solo program of song and history focusing on the roots of Eastern European Jewish music and related songs.
I have the honor of presenting this year at the annual American Folklore Society's conference. A lecture on papercut arts around the world and a demonstration of my own work will take place during the conference on October 22, 2021!
ELEVEN languages and counting! Over the years, I've crafted ketubot that honor many cultures. In addition to the expected Aramaic, modern Hebrew, English, and even Yiddish, I have included Korean, Kannada, Latin, Arabic, and even the Telugu seen in the cropped image above! What a joy this has been!
What a wonderful experience I shared with the community of Las Cruces, NM and the Guild of American Papercutters when I presented an hour-long lecture on the worldwide history of papercut arts on March 16, 2021. This was in conjunction with the museum's show of Islamic papercut art. We looked at tools, traditions, and especially shared visual vocabularies from India to Mexico, from Persia to China and beyond!
February 18, 2018 - Susan will be hosted by the Sholem Aleichem Center in the Bronx for a concert. Come for a shmuez (a chat) and stay for the music!https://www.pineclubgolf.com/best-electrical-push-carts/
As part of the Sacred: Image, Text, Ritual exhibit at Lebanon Valley College, Susan will be presenting a lecture recital titled "Words as Homeland: Where Jewish Text, Art, and Song Converge to Express a Culture." Thursday, February 8, 2018, 5 pm at the Zimmerman Recital Hall.
A wonderful arts residency in Teaneck, NJ at Congregation Beth Sholom concluded with a full concert, accompanied by Adrian Banner on Piano. Enthusiasm and learning flowed back and forth the entire time. Fabulous community!
What a great night at the Jalopy in Brooklyn on June 16, 2016 as my new trio with Lauren Brody and Jake Shulman-Ment stepped out to strut our stuff! Many languages, many musical cultures, and great joy in blending our voices and instruments.
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In the beautiful summer landscape of Rindge, New Hampshire, I was privileged to teach traditional Jewish papercut arts at the annual National Havurah Committee's Summer Institute. We turned a large, sunny room into an art studio, and the class burst into enthusiastic art creation. I love the celebratory greeting of everyone's creations as skills and appreciation deepen over four days of classes. I'll come to you! Just ask!
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Back to the Catskills, this time teaching for HAZAK, a group under the umbrella of United Synagogue that offers among its programs an annual summer week of learning and camaraderie. I used my lecture/recital format to widen the world of Yiddish song for about 150 life-long learners as we studied, laughed, sang a bit, and grew to know one another in Kerhonkson, NY.
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When Nancy Spielberg screened her film Above and Beyond in Harrisburg's Chisuk Emuna Congregation, I was tapped to create a papercut gift for her. I chose the color scheme of her promotional material and the Hebrew words which translate into "Be strong... and strengthen one another." The filmmaker and I are shown here. (photo by Josh Damrauer)
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Each year the myriad of faith communities in the Harrisburg region come together to celebrate in song. Here's an image of my participation, sharing the beauty of Yiddish song at the Pine Street Presbyterian Church.
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One of three children's programs to wind up a hectic and marvelous Scholar in Residence program at Congregation Beth El in Fairfield, CT. Lectures, singing programs, explorations of Yiddishkayt - and a debut concert of the new Leviton/Brody duo in concert! I'll happily come to your community, too!
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Yiddish Culture on St. Croix! I received the warmest welcome all across the island where I had the opportunities to teach a vocal arts class in a school, offer an adult papercutting workshop, lecture in the synagogue, and get the whole audience at the Reformed Church singing along in multiple languages! Cultural seeds planted and the smiles, voices, and hugs still linger in memory!
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The Judson Church off Washington Square was packed with well over 300 people on December 30, 2014, to honor the memory and brilliance of Adrienne Cooper, and to award Michael Wex with this year's Dreaming in Yiddish prize. Below is an image of the finale of the musical performance of the Kanonen song from Brecht and Weill's Threepenny Opera, translated from the German into Yiddish by Wex himself. An all-star band backed us as we belted out the Army Song and others, accompanied by the brilliant puppetry and staging of Great Small Works and Power Point translations which made the text a little less inscrutable! What a night! Singers below include Sarah Gordon, Eleanor Reissa, Tine Kindermann, Dan Kahn, myself, and others.
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A whirlwind arts week in Caldwell, NJ at Congregation Agudath Israel allowed me to open Jewish folk arts to energetic groups from preschoolers through elders. The tots sang and acted out Yiddish songs with costumes and props, the school students (4 larger groups) explored paper arts and traditional papercutting, and adults were treated to a series of lecture recitals, everything taking place in a large space where I hung over 35 works of framed art. What a fabulous arts residency for all of us together!
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Nearly 100 people attended a lecture/recital stitching together I. B. Singer's writing and the artists who illustrated his books as Susan sang her way through the bookshelves, Sunday, November 16, at Chisuk Emuna Congregation in Harrisburg, PA. This was the second event in the year's programming under a grant from the Koster Foundation.
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I was guest lecturer at Dickinson College today, October 6, singing my way through a program on Jews and Food. Unlike the light weight singalongs I often do on this topic, the class took food songs into the framework of Hasia Diner's examination of the place of food in Jewish life in the Pale of Settlement through acculturation in America. 15 songs unpacked! A great eye-opening experience for all!
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Heeding God's Call is a national organization working at a grassroots level to end gun violence and straw buying. On September 18, within days of two gun murders in Harrisburg, I participated in an interfaith program at the MLK Baptist Church in the heart of our city. We 'sang' Reisen's Dos Naye Lid together as the assembled crowd held colored cards with words in Yiddish and English.
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A happy bride at the huppah with her papercut ketubah! 'Tis the season, and I've been busy with commissions of all sorts!
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A full week of learning and teaching at the Havurah Summer Institute was a welcome experience again this year. Located at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, about 300 Havurahniks from infancy to elder sage-age filled days and nights with enthusiastic work, food, music, and exploration. I taught classes in Yiddish song and helped create a soundscape for Tisha B'Av this summer. Loved it!!!
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A lovely way to begin the summer's KlezKamp's Wisconsin adventure was a solo concert at Chai Point in Milwaukee. Jill Gellerman and were welcomed to the beautiful facility and then I sang for and with a great crowd of elders, eager to be part of the action!
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Quite a surprise when I met the truck from Welch Signage in Maine, carrying the massive synagogue feature wall I had designed, to see a piece of my own artwork prominently displayed on both sides of the vehicle!
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I performed for over 100 people at beautiful Maris Grove in Pennsylvania's Delaware County on May 13. As part of the PA Humanities Council's program of Commonwealth Speakers, I was able to bring the sound of Yiddish to an audience largely unfamiliar with the language and culture. As always, common threads were immediately found!
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Verrry busy these days creating a synagogue feature wall, but I took time last week to be interviewed for Ted Merwin's article "The Aesthetics of Judaism" in The New York Jewish Week. Here's a quote: "For Susan Leviton, a ketubah-maker, paper-cut artist and Yiddish folk song performer ..., it was during the 1960s and ’70s, when many Jews flocked back to their roots, that Jews... 'took Judaism back into their own hands' and began braiding challahs and tie-dying prayer shawls. Hiddur mitzvah 'alters us as we fulfill a mitzvah or perform a ritual,' she told me. A Midrash (Song of Songs Rabbah 1.15) suggests that observance of the commandments makes Jews beautiful, even as Jews glorify God through hiddur mitzvot."
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An outpouring of love and creativity filled the room as we honored the memory of Adrienne Cooper and saw Jenny Romaine accept the first Dreaming in Yiddish award for her visionary work. Here's Susan on stage with Alicia Svigals, Jake Shulman-Ment, Benjy Fox Rosen, Aaron Alexander, Michael Winograd, and Dan Blacksberg, 12/21/13. (Photo by Bob Blacksberg)
When Goucher College Hillel welcomed a gift of two Torah scrolls, I was honored to craft mantles and wimples. So much silk! Garnet polished to look like pomegranate seeds! Text and the visions of students to work with! A grand experience.
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A totally spectacular group of artists, writers, social activists, and even puppeteers joined me for a week of creative work as I served as Artist in Residence at the 2013 National Havurah Conference Summer Institute in Rindge, NH. In 4 days of intense collective learning and creating, we built a musical theater production in a box (a cranky) and shared the story of the plight of needleworkers, past and present, with 300 others in a rapt audience!
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It was a beautiful day in Baltimore as the Jewish Museum of Maryland presented its annual Risch Memorial Program. I was delighted to be the featured performer, following brief, powerful presentations by Andres Salguero, Ssuuna, and the DC Turkish Folk Music Group. It always touches me to rediscover the points of connection among immigrant communities, regardless of geographic homes, cultures, and reasons for relocation. A brilliant celebration of cultures!
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Over 350 pieces of beautiful Youghiogheny Art Glass hand-cut, and now I'm on to wet-grinding the edges! It's a new skill that I'm happy to add to my resume as I take on the responsibility to create a soaring double wall of glass above the Torah ark for Chisuk Emuna Congregation in Harrisburg, building anew after a destructive fire in 2009. Check back in mid-May for a look at the completed wall!
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Getting closer to a new recording! Michael Winograd spent a day in the studio on March 28 with Frank London, Dan Blacksberg, Hadar Noiberg, and Alec Speigelman to lay down horn tracks for my as-yet-unnamed CD. Dan Kahn joined in as a special guest vocalist. Next will come strings and soon after that the mixing and mastering, printing and artwork, and OT AZOY! A new Yiddish recording!
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A whirl of creative activity has sent me to the sewing machine to craft two Torah mantles for Goucher College Hillel. One of the scrolls is a rescued Torah from Czechoslovakia, so armed with a palette of palest greys, golds, silvers, and ivories, I headed to Chinatown in NYC on a rainy day to seek silks! What a delight to discover Belraf Fabrics, owned by an Uzbeki couple. A trip around the world in fabric! Take a peek here are the first days' construction.
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I'll be guest lecturing at Dickinson College in Professor Ted Merwin's class during the week that we commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. My program on the fire in words and Yiddish song continues to grow as I learn, and to sadly resonate as we all ponder how little has changed in global workplace safely in the last century. See "Upcoming Events" for details.
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Each year as KlezKamp ends, I proclaim, "This was the best ever!" And every year I mean it. And this year I mean it more! The staff concert nearly lifted the roof off what had been, in its glory days The Granite Hotel in the Catskills. My classes (traditional papercutting and "Our Lives are in our Songs") were filled with curious, thoughtful participants who challenged one another to take each idea to a new level. What an experience. Do not miss this next December!! (sneak peek? Check out the KlezKamp post under Upcoming Events for a video clip!)
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December 22, 2012. Kaye Theater in Manhattan. I soared on the energy of dozens of the finest performers of Yiddish song and Klezmer as we paid tribute to Adrienne Cooper's memory in a three-hour concert of the songs she most loved. What a thrill to sing 'Di Arbuzn' a cappella, in three parts with women performers including Alicia Svigals, Lauren Brody, Shura Lipovsky, and Marsha Gildin. It was both a humbling and energizing evening. Sing out!
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I've just been selected as one of ten 2013 Guild of American Papercutters/X-acto Masters. This means over the course of the coming year I will be testing tools and materials and interacting with other artists to hone our skills and increase interest in papercutting arts. Very exciting!
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Are you aware of the Commonwealth Speakers program under the PA Humanities Commission? Every two years, a roster of artists, story-tellers, historians, and musicians selected by the PHC are able to travel the state offering specific programs at no cost to groups (schools, libraries, state parks, etc.!) other than a basic application fee. I just returned from Ohev Sholom in Williamsport and will head to Reading on Thursday to bring Women's Voices in Yiddish Song to the Federation's Friendship Circle there. Visit the website at www.pahumanities.org and check it out! Free programming! What are you waiting for???
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It's been a long time coming, but here I am, immersed in the joy of working in collaboration with brilliant musicians as I prepare a new recording! Production is in the fine hands of Michael Winograd, and the initial tracks have been laid down with David Licht, Jake Shulman-Ment, Carmen Staaf, Garth Stevenson, and Avi Fox-Rosen, with Lauren Brody and others joining in soon! Hmm... mostly Yiddish, with some surprises mixed in, and everything from spare acoustic accompaniment to over-the-top orchestrations. There'll be more and more about the project as it emerges from its infancy, so watch for news! Perhaps a concert or cd release party in your neighborhood down the line...
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Kesher Zion Congregation in Reading, PA welcomed me as artist-in-residence for the weekend of November 9, 2012, as the congregation honored the memories of Dr. Robert Greenberg and Evelyn Blumberg. I was delighted to find myself in the company of the congregation's brilliant Rabbi Minna Bromberg and rooms full of enthusiastic people hungry to experience new 'takes' on Jewish culture. My programming included a presentation of Yiddish songs of spiritual yearning, a lecture on contemporary Jewish ritual art, and then a rollicking concert on Saturday night with the newly expanded Old World Folk Band! Be sure to check the "Upcoming Events" tab to see where else I'm scheduled to spread YIddish culture!
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I can't say enough about the wonderful Tree of Life Congregation in MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, where I just spent a weekend as scholar in residence. If you go to my 'coming events' tab, you may see the whole arc of the weekend, but I want to focus here on the response to my "Rage Against the Sewing Machine" presentation on Saturday night, October 27. Among the folks in attendance were physicians, attorneys, and workplace safety experts who each added to a passionate conversation about the effects of completely unregulated natural gas extraction on West Virginians, coal miners' safety issues, and even the plight of disabled people in sheltered workshops who, like the needle workers of 100 years ago, are largely groups without a voice. 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' And yet we still find inspiration to act for social justice when we learn and sing the songs of our forebears. "Give us bread and give us roses!"
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A radio interview for a BALTIMORE station (WVIE 1370) allowed me to share some insights into the history of labor activism in the United States on September 2, 2012 - Labor Day weekend. So much more meaningful than running to sporting goods stores for sale items, this was a chance to engage listeners in anthemic Yiddish songs and their contexts. So many songs... so little time! But every time a Yiddish song is SUNG, it lives a new life.
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It's late summer, so a trip to the BLOCK AND HEXTER VACATION CENTER in Poyntelle, PA came around on my calendar. My teaching schedule allowed me to alternate sessions with fellow presenter Saul Silas Fahti, as we worked to expand the artistic, musical, polititcal, and in Saul's case, even cosmological horizons of the elders who flocked to the Poconos to participate, learn, and (it's a Jewish camp!) eat 3 squares a day. Whether singing, lecturing, or engaging in issues, I always learn from interactions with program participants. One highlight this year was meeting two Hungarian-born sisters who offered me a macaronic (mixed language) song that alternates lines between Hungarian and German/Yiddish. Will it make the cut on my upcoming recording? Stay tuned!
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A quick trip to MADISON, WISCONSIN as part of "A Bisele KlezKamp" on July 22 was a terrific bright spot in a busy summer season! Over 200 people buzzed around programming by some of the best teacher/artists in the Yiddish folk arts world as Michael Wex, Cookie Segelstein, Lauren Brody, Henry Sapoznik, Sherry Mayrent, Miriam Isaacs, David Spies, Sara Gordon, Kurt Bjorling, Steve Weintraub, and I managed to compress a week's worth of learning into one fabulous day. Keep up-to-date with U. OF WISCONSIN'S MAYRENT CENTER to find out what Yiddish programming will be offered throughout the year before our triumphant return next summer!
On Friday night prior to 'ABKK' I was hosted by Congregation Shaarei Shomayim where I presented an a cappella lecture/recital titled "Healing the World in Yiddish Song." Given the political upheavals and charged emotions in Madison these days, the program was a welcome one. The room was packed with people of all ages, and it was a special joy to me to be singing in a room within Frank Lloyd Wright's historic Unitarian Church, where the congregation meets regularly.
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Lauren Brody and I head to PITTSBURGH on June 3 for two concerts, a family event in the morning, and a full concert in the late afternoon at the JCC, in conjunction with the Jewish Museum's exhibit on the artists who illustrated the works of I.B. Singer. We're working up new material and are delighted that both PennPAT and the PA Humanities Council are supporting the program with generous grants. Come celebrate Yiddish culture!
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Healing the World in Yiddish - This lecture/recital program drew people from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages to a program sponsored but DICKINSON COLLEGE, the Literary Heritage Fund, Association for Jewish Studies, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg on April 24. With PowerPoint translations and even a visit from Dan Kahn and the Painted Bird on screen, we explored the drive for human rights that infuses Yiddish song, and the activism that the songs inspire. As part of a series titled "Telling Jewish Stories through the Arts," the evening's riches were obvious as participants lingered over tea and cake and shared the stories that bubbled up in response to the presentation. What a great night!
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On Sunday, April 1, the Jewish Federation of Greater DAYTON and the Lynda A. Cohen Yiddish Club welcomed Lauren Brody and me for a concert. It was the first time that Lauren and I had the opportunity to present a full concert and we felt like siblings on the stage, finding parallel expressions of meaning and intention in her accordion and my voice without even a nod or a word. Utilizing the full range of her instrument, Lauren crafted a unique setting for each song, and the 'whole cloth' was fantastic.
We're already warming up for an upcoming event in June, so stay tuned for details!!
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MAURICE SENDAK! I write this on the day of Maurice Sendak's passing. (If you haven't heard both the recent Fresh Air interview and the hilarious pair of Colbert interviews with the incomparable Mr. Sendak, go find them NOW and come back here in an hour...) I am grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to spend several months immersed in the life and work of Mr. Sendak, preparing for a program built around the Rosenbach's exhibit of the influences of his Jewish world on his life's work. So on Sunday, April 15, the Haverford Public Library swelled with the sounds of Klezmer as I took over the children's wing of the library to present "Yiddish in the Nutshell" with Ken Ulansey on clarinet and Heath Allen on keyboard. Sendak's early life in a Yiddish-speaking immigrant neighborhood in Brooklyn, the awareness of evil in the world, and the fears and bravery of children shaped much of his life's work, and I blended his personal life into songs and stories for a rollicking hour. The program was interactive, with sing-alongs, props, costumes, and wild Sendakian tales abounding. It was a Yiddishe Vilde 'Rumpus' for everyone's inner child! Pick up a book by Maurice Sendak and look deeply into it. You may be changed!
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LAFAYETTE COLLEGE Hillel hosted me on Tuesday night, March 20 for a program in song and story on the actual history of the Sarajevo Hagaddah. It was a real one-woman show as I demonstrated design, lettering, and gilding techniques of the centuries-old masterpiece, as well as recounted its improbable story interspersed with songs in the Sarajevo dialect of Judeo-Spanish, in Yiddish, and in Hebrew, along with a Moroccan chant - all related to the Hagaddah. The audience included students, college faculty, and local residents, and there was a lively Q and A at the conclusion of the program. Lafayette has a gorgeous old campus perched above the city of Easton at the confluence of the Delaware and Raritan rivers. I hope to return!
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LAUREN BRODY will join me in presenting a full concert in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday, April 1 for the annual event honoring the memory of Lynda A. Cohen. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share the stage and have been working up two terrific sets for the Yiddish club and expected gathered throngs!
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A presentation of my concert "Women's Voices in Yiddish Song" at Penn State University in Middletown, PA on February 23 drew people from Lancaster, York, Lebanon, and the greater Harrisburg area. Having been interviewed for an upcoming article in a Dayton, Ohio paper the night before, I kept thinking during the concert of a particular question I was asked: "What do you want people to take away from your performance?" So I'll tell you: I want people to be so surprised and touched that they come away with a desire to dig a little deeper into Yiddish culture and discover something about themselves. The values and history that are packed into our songs go far in teaching us how to know ourselves if we just open our hearts a bit. That's why I sing. Oh, and also, I sing because I can't NOT sing!!
Only a week to go before Kerhonkson, NY becomes the temporary capital of Yiddishland! This year at KlezKamp I'll be teaching the hands-on papercutting course and a four-session a capella lecture/recital course.
I'm especially looking forward to the time I'll be carving out with fellow PennPAT artist SUSAN WATTS to work on some vocal duets and arrangements, and to begin taking concrete steps towards my NEW RECORDING, which will be produced by the amazing MICHAEL WINOGRAD! Check this website regularly for announcements, too, of a new duo in the works featuring MICHAEL WEX and Susan Leviton. Use your imagination for now - details to follow soon!
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On Sunday, November 20, 2011, I presented a "Conversation with the Artist" in conjunction with the "Making it Better: Folk Art in Pennsylvania Today" exhibit in which one of my papercuts is featured. I demonstrated the art of Jewish papercutting and shared insights into its history and contemporary expressions with about 30 museum-goers. On exhibit through April 29, 2012, Making It Better tells the stories of over 30 master artists whose works represent a wide array of traditions such as African dance, stone wall construction, Native American clay flutes, Pysanky eggs, contemporary blacksmith work, woodcarving, and Vietnamese funerary portraits. I'm honored to have been chosen to have my work represented among so many brilliant examples of folk arts.
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Groundbreaking for Chisuk Emuna Congregation's new synagogue took place in Harrisburg on Sunday, October 16, 2011, and over 350 people celebrated with a block party that featured kugel in a sukkah, carnival food, games and abundant crafts for children, and an afternoon of outstanding music: klezmer, jazz, and old-timey. Bands set up on a concrete pad at one end of the soon-to-be-a-shul property, and music filled the air! I had the pleasure of singing once again with the Old World Folk Band, which has recently welcomed several new musicians as regulars, and which added additional guest performers for the outdoor event.
The synagogue was destroyed by an accidental fire in 2009, and more recently was left homeless when The Flood of 2011 forced the congregation from temporary quarters in the JCC. The sense that the next plague was waiting in the wings was banished by the wonderful welcome to a new neighbrhood, and it looks like the block party may become an annual event!
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A whirlwind few days at the 14th annual IAYC (International Association of Yiddish Clubs) conference in Novi, Michigan offered me the opportunity to perform and teach, and to meet people from all over the country who gathered to celebrate Yiddish culture. Highlights for me were presenting my powerful lecure/recital, "Rage Against the Sewing Machine" in this 100th anniversary year following the Triangle Fire, and joining Dan Kahn on the bandstand following my solo concert.
To see parts of one of my programs at the conference, please visit www.yiddishlives.com/susanleviton
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