Brokerage Fees and Investment Commissions Explained
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. Rates for renewals on whole life insurance typically drop to the neighborhood of 7%, and rates for other types of policies, such as worker’s compensation or general liability, range between 5% and 15%. Brokers get paid in a variety of ways, depending on the type of work they do, the customs of the industry they work in, and the fee agreement they negotiate. If someone is managing your money — whether a human or robo-advisor — you’re likely paying for it. Fidelity and Merrill Edge both score high on this in NerdWallet’s ratings. REAL Broker has a $12,000-year cap for all solo agents, a $6,000 cap for any agent on a team or a $4,000 a year cap for agents on a mega team. Whether you’re interested in purchasing business insurance or expanding the benefits offered to your employees, understanding the ins and outs of your options is essential to getting the coverage you need. Because they know the market, they’re able to recognize the difference between a great policy and one that is simply adequate. Because they know the law, they’ll be able to protect your business from accidental exposure to serious liabilities, such as bank debt or accounts payable debt. However, fees can sometimes be higher than commissions when all is said and done. Whether you’re looking for assistance understanding the technical minutiae of a certain policy or are starting your search from scratch, an insurance broker can make your journey significantly easier. Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. He’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Nova Southeastern University, and holds a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. One smart move is to thoroughly read a broker’s pricing structure before opening an account. Some brokers — especially those that are designed with frequent traders in mind — charge an inactivity fee if your account remains idle for too long. A clear standout for a modern investing experience, particularly for beginner and long-term investors. The ability to buy fractional shares, as well as the ability for everyday investors to participate in IPOs, bolsters our overall opinion. Copyright ©2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. The broker may earn a commission of $100 for helping to make the transaction. Add the .02 percent commission and the broker earns $100, with a $5,100 total trade cost. This example doesn’t take into account any advisory fees that may be imposed on a managed account. In some cases, the brokerage fee is split between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. In today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape, the recognition and integration of neurodiverse… When you start looking for a new place to live, you might want some expert help. He or she basically acts as a middleman between you and a potential landlord. Investors can use FINRA’s Fund Analyzer to analyze and compare the cost of owning different funds. SmartAsset Advisors, LLC (“SmartAsset”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Insight Technology, is registered with the U.S. Commissions for commercial real estate sales typically range from 3% to 6% of the sale price paid at the close of the sale. There’s several key items that may have an impact on what brokerage fees are charged. Generally speaking, the more critical ones are listed below, though this list is not...
Read MoreWhat Type of Broker is FBS? A-Book STP Brokerage Explained
By utilising the wallet, traders can avoid making separate deposits or withdrawals through various payment systems, simplifying the entire financial management process. In the Forex Admin Back Office, a tool that forms the upper stratum of business management, you can modify all features of UpTrader Forex CRM. Whether you need to integrate Payment System APIs, establish account types, or devise trading platform integrations, the back office grants you absolute authority. This extends to your team management practices, the introduction of broker rewards, and other forex business functions. Compared with the volumes of interbank transactions, the internal volumes on the broker’s platform are too small. This is the reason why most brokers use a combination of B-Book and A-Book execution, also known as a “hybrid model”. With such a high percentage of new traders blowing their accounts, and the universe of new traders being finite, it is questionable if a strictly A-Book approach is sustainable in the Tips On How To Invest In Cryptocurrencies long term. They also don’t like traders who are too good because the trader is taking away money from their other customers. Also, this reduces the capital that a broker needs to set aside (which would be used to pay out winning trades) because its customers are essentially, “making a market” for each other. This allows the broker to offset trades with each other rather than exposing itself to market risk. Overview of Forex Trading The information you provide will not be disclosed or shared with others. Know more about the long-run optimization with hybrid execution in Brokeree Liquidity Bridge. But…because the broker had offloaded its risk to the LP, the broker does not get to celebrate. As you can see, Elsa’s trade ended up with a big loss, which means the broker ended up with an equivalent gain. Following this, our crypto gateway keeps an eye on the incoming funds to the wallet and transmits the payment details to the CRM, which in turn processes and alters the amounts automatically. Speaking about the most popular cryptocurrencies, most of them exhibit the highest cryptocurrency liquidity. Specialists advise against investing in assets with a trading volume of less than 10,000 coins per 24 hours. Now that we know the structure of the forex market and the types of brokers, we will cover the different participants. B-book brokers will fill us out immediately as they take the other side of our trade. A-book brokers will more likely give us slippage because they send orders to the real market, where order books are very thin during news releases. Similar to A book broker This feature allows for customized authorization settings according to your needs. The sales module of our CRM is designed as an easy-to-use client distribution and comprehensive sales management system, with specific broker tasks as the top priority. It packs a wide array of functions that empower you to independently manage and scrutinize the performance of sales managers and evaluate the productivity of the sales department at large. If a market has good depth, it can absorb order flow without significant impact on the price level. We offer you exposure to the highly dynamic FOREX market which deals with the exchange of global currencies. Indices trading can provide you access to a group of stocks representing a particular market sector or economy. You also have the opportunity to deal in company shares, allowing you to tap into the potential profits from various corporate enterprises. Utilizing the liquidity of crypto and Forex gives you the capacity to lure clients with tight spreads. Disadvantages of A-Book Forex Brokers On...
Read MoreIco Vs Ieo Vs Ido: Which Is Greatest For Crypto Fundraising?
We can assist you with every step of the method from creating your token, pockets, and IEO web site to itemizing ieo crypto on the highest change and attracting traders. In the IEO, new projects provide newly issued crypto-coin to buyers in trade for different cryptocurrencies corresponding to Bitcoin or Ethereum. It is just like IPO where a part of firm shares are offered in folks to get funding. What Is Initial Exchange Offerings(ieo)? The LEP100 token growth specification has been launched by the project. Abbreviated as SID, is an intriguing notion with the potential to improve the web. The project’s objective is to offer free or low-cost internet to these in want by permitting users to receive prizes within the type of free cryptocurrency for sharing their web. Downsides To Initial Dex Offerings You don’t have to undergo the tedious means of traditional itemizing of tokens within the Exchange. One of the main benefits of choosing IEOs is the established consumer base of the participating exchanges, which helps to minimize advertising costs in comparison with ICOs. Before launching on their platform, Exchanges display screen both initiatives and traders based on their specific parameters, which helps to decrease the value of compliance. At Blockchain App Factory, we possess the mandatory expertise, team, and experience required to develop and market tokens in your Initial Exchange Offering project. For What Cause Do An Ieo Over An Ico? IDO launch pads act the identical method because the crowdfunding platforms nevertheless it makes use of the decentralized format by making use of good contract protocols. When the IDO project hits, the worth of the tokens increases contributing a great profit for early stage buyers. That’s why IDO is so in style amongst both traders and entrepreneurs providing reliable advantages in the lengthy term. Whereas, IDO launchpad house owners make the transaction commission in small amounts for the tokens sale. Tag Along As We Round Up A Few Of These Widespread Fundraising Methods And Clarify How They Work On the token sale, we raise model awareness and FOMO among the many audience, preparing them for the big occasion. IDO launch pads act the identical means because the crowdfunding platforms however it makes use of the decentralized format by making use of good contract protocols. The group thinks that the future of Web3 mustn’t depend on big companies with infinite funding, however rather return power to the average citizen. IDOs signify the next-generation of blockchain fundraising true to DeFi’s open ethos. This is important for traders since they’re way more inclined to invest in a project that has a high level of legitimacy. Services include the chance to purchase cryptocurrencies, customise ETFs, and even commerce property like shares and indexes. Centurion Invest also has numerous yield farming prospects, with the ‘Whale’ tier offering an APR of up to 30% (with a minimal commitment of $50,000). The platform’s native cryptocurrency is CIX, which is utilized in Centurion Invest’s referral program to lower trading prices. The CIX auction has now garnered almost $7 million, giving this enterprise a market valuation of $31 million. The fundraising journey within the crypto space has advanced considerably over time, shifting from largely unregulated ICOs to more structured and secure IEOs. ICOs have been famous for his or her open participation model however suffered from numerous scams and regulatory issues, leading to a decline of their credibility. This necessitated a shift towards IEOs, that are hosted on established change platforms that vet tasks and provide traders a layer of security and belief. Here’s a take a look at IEOs’ operational mechanisms, benefits...
Read MoreHow To Use Stock Trading Api A Step-by-step Guide
Native library APIs are put in locally and compiled into the code as a further library. The native library APIs encompass a set of classes or functions that reach the capabilities of an current project. Traders should also pay consideration to any API limitations, together with the potential for downtime, which may significantly affect trading outcomes. By leveraging these capabilities, merchants can gain important advantages within the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency trading. Start integrating the Orderly Network API at present to unlock the full potential of automated buying and selling, and make positive to check out our supporting documentation, which incorporates complete guides and references for builders. This blog covers a quick overview of API, their sorts and some brokers providing buying and selling API. This is very sensible in conditions requiring connecting products with completely different architectures to make sure full compatibility (interfacing) and stability. IBKR’s business standard FIX connection lets institutions create trading techniques that reap the advantages of our high-speed order routing and broad market depth. FIX supplies a direct and scalable solution to the IBKR buying and selling system using a VPN, extranet, leased line or Cross-connect connection. Finest Crypto Apis For Merchants Algorithmic trading entails executing trades primarily based on pre-programmed guidelines and directions. API trading provides the required infrastructure and connectivity for algorithmic trading strategies to be implemented effectively. These API suppliers offer comprehensive documentation, developer assist, and a variety of functionalities, empowering merchants to construct and execute their buying and selling strategies simply. Imagine having a toolbox filled with powerful instruments that assist you to analyze shares, execute trades, and stay up to date on market happenings—all at your fingertips. API buying and selling has revolutionized cryptocurrency, allowing merchants to automate their methods and execute trades programmatically. By leveraging the facility of APIs, traders can entry real-time market knowledge, place orders, and handle their portfolios seamlessly. Whether you’re an individual trader, an institutional investor, or a market maker, understanding API trading and implementing efficient strategies can improve your buying and selling capabilities and potential for fulfillment in the dynamic world of cryptocurrency markets. In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency trading, automation has turn into more and more in style. API buying and selling, also called automated or algorithmic buying and selling, is crucial in enabling merchants to execute trades programmatically. This article goals to comprehensively understand API trading, its mechanics, and its significance in cryptocurrency markets. Sandwich’s API connections are significantly useful for traders with multiple change accounts, since all operations and knowledge are aggregated in the same system and interface. Now, let us see the global external supplier for real-time knowledge which is Finnhub. Finnhub makes use of state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to gather, clear, and standardize information across international markets. Any API resolution is a fancy, multi-component device, the secure operation of which determines the general effectivity of buying and selling or funding activities. Mean-reversion strategies purpose to revenue from value deviations from their common value. Traders using API trading can utilize statistical indicators, corresponding to Bollinger Bands or oscillators, to determine overbought or oversold situations available in the market. Furthermore, API trading facilitates backtesting and simulation of trading strategies. Traders can make the most of historic market data to test their strategies and consider their efficiency before deploying them in stay trading. This helps to refine and optimize buying and selling algorithms, improve threat management, and acquire confidence within the chosen strategies. Firstly, it eliminates human errors and emotions from buying and selling, as trades are executed based on predefined guidelines and algorithms. Secondly, API buying and selling permits...
Read MoreBuy Side vs Sell Side Important Similarities & Differences to Know
Content What is the impact of Buy Side Trading on Forex market dynamics? Why is Liquidity important in trading? Liquidity’s Economic Role: A Simple Explanation They provide liquidity to the market by placing buy orders, which allows other market participants to fill their sell orders more readily. These entities what is buyside liquidity strategically deploy capital to influence Forex market movement and leverage trends to their benefit. At the heart of market mechanics, structural liquidity refers to layers of buy and sell stop losses situated at crucial market junctures—trend breaks or structural levels. These liquidity layers are more than mere markers; they hold the potential to act as catalysts, precipitating significant price changes as they are targeted by banking and financial institutions (BFIs). An awareness of structural liquidity allows traders to anticipate and possibly avoid traps set by major players, and also to recognize key moments when price momentum may accelerate. Institutional trading entities exploit the accumulations of these orders strategically to direct the marketplace, making an advanced grasp of market mechanics an indispensable asset for the modern trader. What is the impact of Buy Side Trading on Forex market dynamics? By identifying critical points such as Market Structure Shifts (MSS) and Fair Value Gaps (FVG), traders can pinpoint potential entry and exit opportunities, thus managing risk more effectively. Once the manipulation phase concludes and the market shifts structure, it often moves into the Distribution Phase. In this phase, the market participants who accumulated positions earlier start to distribute or sell off their holdings. The distribution phase is characterized by a downward movement in price as selling pressure increases. The https://www.xcritical.com/ individual takes on the business of the investment bank, paying it commissions and fees for managing his money. The business that the investment bank has offered the wealthy individual is considered the sell-side of the business as it is selling to the client services and financial products. Why is Liquidity important in trading? This article will define the buy and sell sides, explain the concept of liquidity, and explore how liquidity works in practice. The chart presents a clear illustration of the cyclical nature of market behavior, emphasizing how different phases — accumulation, manipulation, and distribution — interact with areas of liquidity. Understanding these key phases allows traders to navigate the complexities of the market with greater precision. Liquidity’s Economic Role: A Simple Explanation Under MiFID II’s systematic internalizer regime, market makers formed SIs and morphed into electronic liquidity providers. This led to the creation of ELP/SIs providing streaming quotes via algorithms to the buy side through the broker smart order routers. They strategically leverage the collected buy orders at these highs to drive prices upward. They create good conditions for buying and selling assets, making the most of price changes to get more money. The intricate landscape of the Forex market is perpetually swayed by the ebb and flow of buy side liquidity forex, a critical concept that every shrewd trader must navigate. This liquidity is the linchpin of efficient markets, hinging on the presence of robust resting orders that act as a buffer for smooth price transitions. Understanding Market Structure and Liquidity: A Breakdown of Key Concepts In summary, there are meaningful distinctions between the ultimate goals, functions and incentives driving behaviour on the buy versus sell sides of global financial markets. An appreciation of these differences goes a long way towards understanding liquidity dynamics. The sell side serves both the corporations issuing the securities, and all classes of investors from retail traders to larger financial institutions looking to transact. As we reported in our exploration of...
Read MoreOTC Definition What Does Over-the-Counter Mean IG International
Content Where Can I Find Information About OTC Trading? Why Are Certain Stocks Unlisted? Is Over-The-Counter Trading Really Decentralized? Lower Costs and Reduced Regulatory Burden What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks? What is OTC Trading and How Does it Work? The equity lists were printed on pink paper, while the bonds were on yellow. Since then, traders knew these lists of available OTC equity as “pink sheets,” which became the name of the company in 2000. Over-the-counter (OTC) trades are financial transactions, usually the buying and selling of company stock, that do not happen on a centralized exchange. https://www.xcritical.com/ Again, this will largely depend on the platform being used, but many — but not all — exchanges or platforms allow investors to trade OTC stocks. This can be done by searching for the OTC stock on the platform and placing an order. Where Can I Find Information About OTC Trading? Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money otc markets meaning when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. OTC markets and exchange markets are the two standard ways of organising financial markets. Stock trades must take place either through an exchange, or via the OTC market. Why Are Certain Stocks Unlisted? In the U.S., the majority of over-the-counter trading takes place on networks operated by OTC Markets Group. Therefore, sufficient information about the company or its digital assets is not readily available to investors. You are now leaving the SoFi website and entering a third-party website. Traders also looked to the Pink Sheets, now known as OTC Markets Group, over a century ago as a paper-based system for trading unlisted securities. An exchange centralizes the communication of bid and offer prices to all direct market participants, who can respond by selling or buying at one of the quotes or by replying with a different quote. The role of the dealer in OTC markets is not, however, being explicitly addressed except through possibly higher capital requirements. These include price per share, corporate profits, revenue, total value, trading volume and reporting requirements. Shareholders and the markets must be kept informed on a regular basis in a transparent manner about company fundamentals. OTC prices are not disclosed publicly until after the trade is complete. Is Over-The-Counter Trading Really Decentralized? B is incorrect because while SPVs can be used to hold assets, their primary role in the OTC derivatives market isn’t to hold the underlying assets of the OTC derivatives contracts. Their main function is related to risk management and off-balance sheet financing. A is incorrect because SPVs in the context of OTC derivatives are not primarily used to facilitate the trading of standardized derivatives contracts. OTC derivatives are, by definition, not standardized and are instead tailored to the specific needs of the counterparties. D. SPVs are primarily used to isolate certain financial risks and provide off-balance sheet financing for OTC derivatives transactions. However, if prices increase beyond the margin account, the position is closed out. Lower Costs and Reduced Regulatory Burden This company runs the largest OTC trading marketplace and quote system in the country (the other main one is the OTC Bulletin Board, or OTCBB). A stock exchange — like NYSE or Nasdaq — is a regulated environment in which buyers and sellers can trade shares of publicly listed companies. Most stocks trade on a...
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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