Jerusalem Woodstock Fest #3 and Emunah Jerusalem
Woodstock Jerusalem Community Fest #3
Featuring ZZ Top; The Beatles; Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead tribute bands and Supporting Emunah Jerusalem
This has been a very exciting summer for culture in Jerusalem. Food Truck Festivals in the Gai Ben Hinom Valley, the New Gate Concerts, The Beer Fest, the Hutzot Hayotzer festival, the Jerusalem Film Fest with outdoor films and more. The city is adorned with art and light installations enhancing what is already the most beautiful city in the world. In addition Jerusalem’s favorite Rock Bar, Blaze is back in business with hand-painted designs on the walls and tables and video screens and games in comfy gaming corners. Professional lighting on the stage has added a flair thanks to Udi from Mike’s Place and good old fashion homey atmosphere thanks to Yehi who is now only managing the bar for Arnold and Ben who bought this important spot for the benefit of all of us- Hats Off to all three!!!
For me this is the most special Woodstock yet because in addition to other outstanding bands joining us locally as well as from all over the country, Yehi’s Dusty Hills band paying tribute to ZZ Top will also take the stage. I knew virtually nothing about ZZ Top until I read about them, finding out that they are the only band in rock-n-roll history to continue playing as the same trio for over 50 years until the base player died not long ago. Wow!!! What a feat.
In addition to The Dusty Hills band tribute to ZZ Top, this Woodstock fest will feature Jam and Joplin with a spectacular singer who sounds and looks like Janis at her best; Homegrown with a wonderful rendition of The Grateful Dead Band and the local Nastalgia Yerushalmi who always gets everyone singing and dancing to the Beatles. As always, the festival will begin with teen bands from my Jerusalem School of Rock program. Quite an exciting line-up beginning exactly at 7pm as to allow time for set up and lots of great music at our favorite location- the Silo Café in the parking lot of the First Station in Jerusalem.
As with our first Woodstock fest of the season, a portion of the profits from this festival will go to Emunah Jerusalem where I have the great honor of working as their English Volunteer Coordinator. As I learn more and more about this incredible organization that laid the path for so many of today’s children’s and women’s facilities and rights since before the formation of the state of Israel, every day I am more amazed by what these trailblazing women have accomplished. The first Kosher Kitchens; the first Day Care Centers; the first Children’s homes; one of the first religious women’s colleges and more.
Emunah was started over 80 years ago by a group of religious Zionist women to provide emergency shelter and housing for orphans and refugee children escaping persecution and growing anti-Semitism in Europe during the Holocaust and Arab countries. Today, Emunah is one of Israel’s leading social service and humanitarian aid organizations, helping hundreds of thousands of Israel’s most disadvantaged and at-risk children and families to build healthy, stable lives.
Emunah maintains five Residential Homes for children who have been removed from their families by court order due to physical, mental and/or sexual abuse, major familial dysfunction or the illness and/or death of a parent(s). These facilities offer a safe and loving home to more than 800 children ranging in age from 6-18, all suffering from various emotional and mental challenges including PTSD. Each child is given extensive support services including counseling and therapy to help break the cycle of dysfunction and trauma they have experienced.
Emunah supports 11 Family Therapy and Emergency Crisis Counseling Centers serving individuals and families undergoing emotional and mental distress. One of the crisis centers is located in Sderot where families are constantly under attack from rockets coming across the Gaza border. Our Emunah Jerusalem chapter has contributed significantly to this crisis center, last year enhancing their Art Therapy program for children. In addition, Emunah maintains one of Israel’s largest networks of subsidized child care centers, with over 8,000 children attending 125 centers.
Emunah finances 11 specialized “multi-purpose” Day Care Centers. These Centers provide extended services, including family counseling, parenting workshops and specialized enrichment programs for at-risk children from economically disadvantaged single-parent homes. Aware of the need for quality religious and secular education, Emunah subsidizes four all-female high schools and a liberal arts college. These schools offer academic tracts in: science, biomedical engineering, computers, film, drama, music, and Judaic religious studies. More than 1,100 students attend, many from poverty-stricken, immigrant and refugee homes. Emunah also maintains senior-friendly eating together program providing social engagement and meals for Holocaust survivors and the elderly.
Emunah Jerusalem engages hundreds of volunteers who create entertaining and educational programs which benefit Emunah members and raise funds for Emunah’s Jerusalem institutions including the local daycare centers in need of extra equipment and supplies; enhancement programs and financial support for the girls in the Sherut Leumi program who have graduated from Emunah institutions many coming from low income and mostly dysfunctional families and in need special support as well as girls in the college program in need of extra tutoring, supplies and other assistance. The volunteers, many of whom have been active in Emunah for decades find friendship and purpose in their involvement in this important organization. I for one am grateful for the opportunity to contribute my passion and talents to bring a new spirit into all we do.
In addition to Woodstock I am spearheading an Ethiopian Cultural Fair on September 29th and our first Good as New clothing fair on November 8th– a new take on our Good As New Clothing Sale which for years took place at our Rehavia office run with love by one of our favorite volunteers Jeanette Persoff. Following years of Corona putting a halt to so many of our important activities used to support our wonderful institutions we are excited to once again be out there in face-to-face fundraising activities such as lectures, concerts and social evenings. Want to hear more and maybe join our team? Write me at tracey-jm@emunah.co.il