Instructions for Form W-8BEN 10 2021 Internal Revenue Service
Form W8 needs to be filled out by any non-resident alien (foreigner living outside of the United States) who is the beneficial owner of an amount held in the US that is subject to withholding. If you are a passive NFFE you must check the box to certify that you are not a financial institution and are not certifying your status as a publicly-traded NFFE, NFFE affiliate of a publicly-traded company, excepted territory NFFE, active NFFE, direct reporting NFFE, or sponsored direct reporting NFFE. Each of the tests is summarized below https://www.bookstime.com/ for your general convenience but may not be relied upon for making a final determination that you meet an LOB test. Rather you must check the text of the LOB article itself to determine which tests are available under that treaty and the particular requirements of those tests. See Table 4, Limitation on Benefits, at IRS.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Tax-Treaty-Tables, for a summary of the major tests within the Limitation on Benefits article that are relevant for documenting any entity’s claim for treaty benefits. Explore more articles In conclusion, understanding the different types of W8 forms and their purposes is essential for businesses dealing with international transactions or employing foreign individuals. Employees who don’t fill out Form W-4 carefully can get hit with a nasty tax bill out of the blue or essentially end up lending the IRS money free of charge. The W-9 forms are only required for U.S. citizens or resident aliens, or U.S. entities. With respect to a claim for benefits under an income tax treaty, your reason-to-know requirement that the treaty claim is unreliable or incorrect includes when the beneficial owner claims benefits under a treaty that does not exist or is not in force. All NRAs earning beneficial income in the US must establish their country of residence. For example, a Form W-8BEN signed on September 30, 2014, remains valid through December 31, 2017. The employer used the W-4 to determine how much of an employee’s pay to subtract from their paycheck so as to remit to the tax authorities. The Internal Revenue Service requires W-8BEN because foreign individuals are normally subject to a 30% tax withholding, but they may qualify for a reduced rate of taxation. W-8BEN helps to establish this eligibility, although other factors also play a role, such as type of income. Payees that may file this form to apply for exemptions include foreign governments, foundations, and tax-exempt organizations, as well as governments of a US possession or foreign central banks of issue. Eligible entities are determined under IRS codes 115(2), 501(c), 892, 895, or 1443(b). Why Does the IRS Require Form W-8BEN? Among other things, the main purpose of the W8 form is to help certify that these individuals or businesses qualify for a lower tax withholding rate under any applicable tax treaties. If you are an excepted nonfinancial group entity in liquidation or bankruptcy you must check the box to certify that you meet all of the requirements for this status. Do not show the address of a financial institution, a post office box, or an address used solely for mailing purposes. If you own the income or account jointly with one or more other persons, the income or account will be treated by the withholding agent as owned by a foreign person that is a beneficial owner of a payment only if Forms W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E are provided by all of the owners. Such individuals are not subject to certain IRS regulations by virtue of their status. This page also provides a comprehensive look at what does W8 stand for...
Read MoreVirtual Bookkeeping & Accounting Services: Pros & Cons
You can find an accountant that has the exact industry expertise you are looking for, that understands the relevant accounting practices to your https://x.com/BooksTimeInc business. Additionally, virtual accounting services have a team of accounting professionals, so if you need more than one resource, your virtual accountant can easily involve his or her team to ensure your needs are met. Currently, Merritt Bookkeeping only offers cash-basis accounting and doesn’t provide any add-on services such as tax filing, payroll or CFO support. While this may leave some searching for a more comprehensive solution, Merritt Bookkeeping is a solid option for small businesses on a budget in need of basic bookkeeping services. Best for Tax Support: Block Advisors Look for reviews by other businesses and find out more about the quality of service they’ve received. If you are just getting started with your business and want to have a virtual bookkeeping service right from the start, make sure you also choose a reliable bank account for small businesses. There are three plans that you can choose from but the Flex plan is a good choice for small businesses who already have a bank account and are looking for an outsourced accounting service. Along with accounting services, with Bench, you also get tax filing services at no extra cost. Whether you are a sole proprietor or a business, Bench has a tie-up with Taxfyle and provides tax advisory as well as filing services. They help you with payroll sheet creation, calculation and also takes care of the applicable taxes in your state. Virtual accounting services offer a compelling alternative to traditional accounting firms. For each additional service that you choose like Payroll, tax, back office, and CFO advisory, you will have to pay an additional charge for each and each of them is priced differently. While you might need to invest more into technology and security than a brick-and-mortar office, it’s typically cost-effective to forego traditional office space and the monthly expenses that come with it. Just as when searching for the best accounting software or researching the best property management companies, there is a lot to understand when choosing a bookkeeping or accounting service. For bigger businesses, the price increases as more hours of work are required. Your virtual bookkeeper categorizes your transactions and prepares financial statements for your business. Compare runner-up bookkeeping service features Many can also be integrated to work together, creating even more automation that saves you time and money. Are you going back and forth with a prospective bookkeeper trying to nail down a time to talk, or do they use a scheduling app? If they’re not efficient about this stage of doing business, this may be a sign that they won’t be efficient once you are a client. This way you don’t have to rely on the claims they make about what virtual accounting they can do for you. If they are offering advice that others find useful, then you will be able to see that rather than simply taking their word for it. Get expert guidance when you need it Bookkeeper.com’s cheapest virtual bookkeeping service starts with bookkeeping basics, like preparing key financial statements. From there, you can add comprehensive accounting, payroll, and tax services as needed. Bookkeeper.com manages your accounts using QuickBooks Online (or QuickBooks Desktop, if you prefer). Plus, not every online bookkeeping service works with both accrual-basis and cash-basis accounting—but Bookkeeper.com does. Bench is a cloud-based accounting firm that offers full-service bookkeeping for both cash-basis and accrual-based accounting. We weighted each category equally to calculate our star ratings, and we also considered our...
Read Moreรู้จักกับ Newcomm.org: แพลตฟอร์มใหม่ที่เปลี่ยนแปลงโลกดิจิทัล
ในยุคที่เทคโนโลยีและดิจิทัลเป็นสิ่งสำคัญในชีวิตประจำวันของเรา การพัฒนาของแพลตฟอร์มใหม่ ๆ ก็กลายเป็นเรื่องที่น่าตื่นเต้นอย่างมาก หนึ่งในแพลตฟอร์มที่กำลังเป็นที่พูดถึงในวงการดิจิทัลขณะนี้คือ Newcomm.org ซึ่งเป็นแพลตฟอร์มที่มุ่งเน้นในการเปลี่ยนแปลงวิธีการทำงานและการติดต่อสื่อสารในโลกออนไลน์ Newcomm.org เป็นเว็บไซต์ที่มุ่งหวังในการสร้างการเปลี่ยนแปลงที่สำคัญในวงการดิจิทัล โดยให้บริการเครื่องมือและฟีเจอร์ต่าง ๆ ที่ช่วยให้ผู้ใช้สามารถทำงานร่วมกันได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพมากยิ่งขึ้น แพลตฟอร์มนี้มีเป้าหมายที่จะทำให้การสื่อสารและการทำงานร่วมกันในโลกออนไลน์เป็นเรื่องง่ายและสะดวกสบายมากขึ้น หนึ่งในฟีเจอร์เด่นของ Newcomm.org คือการให้บริการโซลูชั่นที่ครอบคลุมสำหรับการทำงานร่วมกัน ซึ่งรวมถึงเครื่องมือสำหรับการประชุมออนไลน์ การจัดการโครงการ และการแบ่งปันเอกสาร ฟีเจอร์เหล่านี้ออกแบบมาเพื่อให้ผู้ใช้สามารถทำงานร่วมกันได้อย่างราบรื่นและมีประสิทธิภาพ โดยไม่ต้องกังวลเกี่ยวกับปัญหาการสื่อสารที่ไม่ดีหรือการจัดการที่ไม่เป็นระเบียบ นอกจากนี้ Newcomm.org ยังมุ่งเน้นในการสร้างประสบการณ์ที่ดีให้กับผู้ใช้ ด้วยการออกแบบที่ทันสมัยและใช้งานง่าย แพลตฟอร์มนี้ช่วยให้ผู้ใช้สามารถเข้าถึงฟีเจอร์ต่าง ๆ ได้อย่างรวดเร็วและสะดวกสบาย โดยไม่ต้องมีความรู้ด้านเทคนิคที่ซับซ้อน Newcomm.org ไม่เพียงแต่เป็นแพลตฟอร์มสำหรับการทำงานร่วมกันเท่านั้น แต่ยังเป็นเครื่องมือที่มีประโยชน์สำหรับการศึกษาและการฝึกอบรม ด้วยฟีเจอร์ต่าง ๆ ที่ช่วยให้การเรียนการสอนเป็นเรื่องง่ายขึ้น การมีเครื่องมือที่ดีในการจัดการการศึกษาและการฝึกอบรมจะช่วยเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพในการเรียนรู้และการพัฒนาทักษะของผู้เรียน การนำ Newcomm.org เข้ามาใช้ในองค์กรหรือธุรกิจสามารถช่วยให้การทำงานร่วมกันระหว่างทีมเป็นไปอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพมากขึ้น การมีเครื่องมือที่ดีในการจัดการงานและการสื่อสารจะช่วยลดความยุ่งยากและเพิ่มความสะดวกสบายในการทำงาน โดยรวมแล้ว newcomm.org เป็นแพลตฟอร์มที่มีศักยภาพในการเปลี่ยนแปลงวิธีการทำงานและการติดต่อสื่อสารในโลกออนไลน์ มันไม่เพียงแต่เป็นเครื่องมือที่ช่วยให้การทำงานร่วมกันเป็นเรื่องง่าย แต่ยังช่วยให้การศึกษาและการฝึกอบรมเป็นเรื่องสะดวกสบายมากยิ่งขึ้น หากคุณกำลังมองหาแพลตฟอร์มใหม่ที่มีความสามารถในการปรับปรุงการทำงานของคุณ Newcomm.org...
Read More1-800Accountant Accounting Software Review 2024
They instead ignored me and canceled my subscription entirely. So in effect, they received my payment for one year then ended my subscription after half a year. 1-800Accountant has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 358 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The 1-800Accountant employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars). While response time is generally short, priority is given to those in the Enterprise package, the highest level offered. There is a separate customer support team to help with technical issues and needs. This includes submitting taxes, applying for extensions, and requesting other items from the IRS on your behalf. Experts can also consult with businesses on the right structure for their business and how to minimize early tax burdens. Nevertheless, users can set up integrations between their online payment processing systems and the accountant’s system. No one that I have communicated with at 1-800Accountant over the past 6 months accepts any responsibility. We take your claim very seriously and are committed to addressing your concerns.We are opening an internal investigation into the issues you’ve described. 1-800Accountant will prepare and file your business registration documents for you with a fast filing turnaround. For startup businesses, 1-800Accountant offers a free plan to help with establishing the business. For Businesses 1-800Accountant’s taxation services are some of the most comprehensive in the industry. They can help with everything, from filing your annual return to resolving an IRS audit. Once you submit your documentation, they will work with you to determine the best tax strategy for your business. 1-800Accountant is 1800accountant legit is an excellent choice for small businesses and startups that need quality accounting services but don’t want to break the bank. When you process the payment, you will get an invoice in your inbox, and you can expect the 1-800Accountant to submit your paperwork within one to two business days. 800Accountant Customer Support We leverage our team’s expertise and extensive research capabilities to identify and address the specific questions readers have. This ensures that the content is rooted in knowledge and accuracy. And if you decide to use 1-800Accountant, you won’t have to worry about any of that because 1-800Accountant will review your tax return and ensure you never miss a filing deadline. I have had a great time preparing my… I paid almost 3 thousand dollars for a service that I ended up doing. We are not honest and they pass you on to many people, they leave you waiting and they don’t keep their appointments. They also have a period of 30 days for you to cancel, they https://www.bookstime.com/ don’t tell you and they talk to you about how you have to wait for certain steps and after that they tell you that they can’t help you. Without permission, they anchor your card to their system to make annual debits without authorization. Customer Complaints 1-800Accountant will prepare and file your business registration documents for you with a fast filing turnaround. Customers can also get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), receive registered agent service, and have rushed processing by adding these as additional services during checkout. This full-service package is $375 per month or $4,500 per year and adds bookkeeping and financial reports to all other packaged business services. Additionally, customers at the Enterprise level are given priority in all matters of support. They are qualified to prepare and file your taxes and have an average of 17 years of professional experience....
Read MoreForm 990 Series Downloads Internal Revenue Service
Enter -0- if the organization didn’t have any employees during the calendar year ending with or within its tax year, or if the organization is filing for a short year and no calendar year ended within its tax year. Schedule O (Form 990) must be completed and filed by all organizations that file Form 990. All filers must provide narrative responses to certain questions (for example, Part VI, lines 11b and 19) on Schedule O (Form 990). Future-Proofing: Keeping Up with Changes in Form 990 Filing Requirements If the organization can’t distinguish between reportable compensation and other compensation from the unrelated organization, report all such compensation in column (D). W is a cardiologist and head of the cardiology department of the same hospital, U, described above. A request for a copy of less than the entire application or less than the entire return must specifically identify the requested part or schedule. Include both property held for investment purposes and property used for the organization’s exempt functions. Enter on line 6a the rental income received for the year from investment property and any other real property rented by the organization. If the return is a final return, the organization must check the “Final return/terminated” box in item B in the heading area of the form, and complete Schedule N (Form 990), Liquidation, Termination, Dissolution, or Significant Disposition of Assets. File Form 990 by the 15th http://eyesvision.ru/better-eyesight-magazine-better-eyesight-1930-02 day of the 5th month after the organization’s accounting period ends (May 15th for a calendar-year filer). If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, file on the next business day. A business day is any day that isn’t a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Tax Exempt Organizations Search Determining the right form to file is essential because each form demands varying levels of detail about the organization’s finances and operations. The organization may have a short tax year in its first year of existence, in any year when it changes its annual accounting period (for example, from a December 31 year-end to a June 30 year-end), and in its last year of existence (for example, when it merges into another organization or dissolves). The value of the plan benefits for the tax year is $10,000, which represents the estimated cost of providing coverage for the year if the employer paid a third-party insurer for similar benefits, as determined on an actuarial basis. The shortest version of Form 990, the Form 990-N, can only be filed by organizations with gross receipts of $50,000 or less. Report on lines 5–10, as appropriate, payments that reimburse third parties for compensation to the organization’s officers, directors, trustees, key employees, or other employees. For example, amounts paid to an independent contractor for advocacy services that don’t constitute lobbying should be reported here. For health care organizations, payments to health care professionals who are independent contractors are reported on line 11g. Report on line 11g payments to payroll agents, https://ladno.ru/gorodm/?page=21 common paymasters, and other third parties for services provided by those third parties to the filing organization. Report on lines 5–10, as appropriate, payments that reimburse third parties for compensation to the organization’s officers, directors, trustees, key employees, or other employees. Educational Services The annotated Form 990 includes a Table of Contents from which a reader can hyperlink to the form and to specific schedules and instructions. KPMG LLP has prepared a reference guide for use by tax-exempt organizations to assist them as they prepare and file Form 990 for the 2021 tax year. Form 990-EZ – For organizations with gross receipts totaling less than...
Read MoreAccounting For Startups: Everything You Need To Know In 2024
At any moment, executives or team members may own public or private stock in any of the third party companies we mention. We care deeply about our startup clients, acting as trusted advisors and helping them change the world. We use data to improve our client experience, measuring our accuracy, timeliness, customer satisfaction and more. We promote the continuous improvement of our teammates, our clients, and our firm. We’ve put together this calculator to help you estimate the cost of preparing your startup’s return. A Finance Department as a Service For Startups Online accounting firms typically charge a monthly fee, which can help businesses to plan their expenses. For many firms, the monthly fee is based on the level of services you need. You can pay as low as $150 a month for a starter package that includes day-to-day bookkeeping, https://marquez-art.ru/biblioteko/patroj_kaj_filoj/13.htm account reconciliation, and financial report preparation. With some firms, you can then layer on services or choose a mid-tier package that provides for cash flow management, accounts payable and receivable, and expense tracking for $300 to $500 a month. What Is an Accounting Firm? And if you are trying to get a business loan, you’ll need clear and easy-to-read financials so that potential investors can make an informed decision about investing in your vision. Therefore, consult a professional HR who knows the basic roles and responsibilities. Another example of industry-specific differences for startups is eCommerce. Will a call from the bank be the first indication that your account is overdrawn? If not, you can Google the JD of a small business accountant and get your answer in seconds. So, ensure that you follow the right process to achieve effective results. Here’s my overview of the best accounting software options on the market today. You may need only account reconciliation services now but will need to layer on financial and http://stranymira.com/2007/07/04/blackstone_priobretet_hilton_hotels_za_26_mlrd_doll.html cash flow management services later. If a firm only offers a package that includes services you don’t need, you may pay more than you should at this stage in your business. When building your accounting system, ensure your system includes features for tax compliance so you can track expenses, calculate tax and prepare filings. Bookkeeping, CFO, and tax services for startups and small businesses. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. The great thing about hiring a Paro freelancer is you pay only their base rate, which is a fraction of the cost of hiring one of these professionals through an accounting or bookkeeping firm. Every business owner needs to have a structured method of bookkeeping that records the money coming in and going out of the business. R&D Tax Credit Check out our blog for more details on each of these accounting software programs to help you figure out which one will work best for your business. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Estimate how many hours, on average, you would spend on startup accounting. Having a team of experts – not just http://вариант-строй.рф/?tag=chastnyj-telemaster accountants but also lawyers, HR managers, and senior executives – will protect your company as it grows. It might seem a bit strange to use this as a metric because you want to judge candidates on their qualifications. Still, you need to ensure that everyone likes your accountant as a person and a personality within your company. What’s the difference between bookkeeping software and accounting software? This will mean being experienced in managing payroll, vendors, and clients across different tax jurisdictions and proficient in regional excise, property taxes, and tax credits. One...
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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