WOODY GUTHRIE AND HIS JEWISH CONNECTION Photo by Tina Tschirch Did you know that Woody Guthrie had a Jewish mother-in-law, Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt? Do you know the influence Aliza and Jewish music had on Guthrie’s music? Please join us at our General meeting, Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 12:30 at Temple Emeth to hear and see a presentation by Nora Guthrie, Woody’s daughter. Her presentation is called Holy Ground and it includes photographs, music excerpts, writings and artwork that illustrate their personal creative relationship. Woody lived in Coney Island, across the street from his mother-in-law and they shared their dreams and their art, their neighborhood and family. Guthrie, the Oklahoma troubadour, and Greenblatt, the Jewish wordsmith, often discussed their artistic projects and critiqued each other’s work, finding common ground — they shared love of culture and social justice, despite their very different backgrounds. Their collaboration flourished in the 1940s Brooklyn where Jewish culture was interwoven with music, modern dance, poetry and anti-fascist, pro-labor activism. Woody’s Jewish lyrics came as a surprise to Nora Guthrie, director of the Woody Guthrie Archives. She became aware of his connection with Judaism in a chance encounter with the Klezmatics and Itzhak Perlman following a concert at Tanglewood. Unbeknownst to Nora, Perlman and the band had performed some of Guthrie’s Yiddish songs. Itzhak asked Nora how she enjoyed his version of Aliza’s songs; she was shocked because she didn’t know that her grandmother wrote the lyrics. The revelation about her grandmother’s history encouraged Nora Guthrie to bring her father’s songs to light. Nora Guthrie graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1971. Following a successful career as a modern dancer, Nora began working on her father’s music in 1992. Please join us to listen and to see this amazing presentation. Free for members; $10 for non-members. |
This is the NCJWBCS Archives (January 2013 - May 2021). The current site can be found here.
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The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
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