In the heart of the nation's capital, The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts hosted an extraordinary event to commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). On May 15, the Jewish American Heritage Concert celebrated the delicate blend of cultural Jewish music worldwide, creating a spotlight for the Jewish residents in the DMV area and highlighting performers whose voices are vital to the close-knit community.
In 2006, President George W. Bush declared the month of May to be recognized as JAHM. Since then, the following presidents have continued to acknowledge the importance of the celebration of JAHM, as well as hundreds of organizations and foundations — so it was both fitting and moving for the concert to take place just down the road from the White House.
Presented by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Recording Academy, the hour-long concert featured Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars, Susana Behar, Yoni Battat, and Yosef Goldman — representing traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe, Turkey, Cuba, South America, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. Before the performances began, William Deroff, CEO of The Conference of President's of Major Jewish Organizations, rang in the night advocating on behalf of political leaders' continued recognition of JAHM.
"It is a rare and hearing example of bipartisanships standing across leadership and administration, representing the commitment of this nation to celebrating its Jewish minority," he said. As Deroff asserted, this was a night to rejoice in the power of music: "Tonight we celebrate how far we've come when our government acknowledges and takes seriously the concerns of its Jewish citizens."
Below, take a look at some of the standout moments from the Jewish American Heritage Concert.
Empowerment Through Education
Along with Deroff's opening remarks, Misha Galperin, President and CEO of The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, spoke on the meaning of the night's mission before the music started.
Founded in 1976, The Weitzman Museum is at the center of creating and inspiring conversations about the Jewish community. As Galperin acknowledged, the Museum's work celebrates the rich history of the Jewish community and amplifies the voices of the Jewish minority throughout the nation.
"We are dedicated to informing and educating Americans about American Jewish heritage — about the contributions, and achievements, of Jewish Americans," Galperin said.
Susana Behar's Enchanting Vocals
Weaving the tale of her own heritage, Susana Behar is a traditional Sephardic and Latin American singer based in Miami. Through her work, she pays homage to her Jewish, Sephardic, and Cuban upbringing.
Performing an arrangement of Sephardic songs in Alboreá, a flamenco style traditionally sung at Gypsy weddings, and Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) songs, Behar's sound created an angelic movement of vocal harmony and mystical wonder. Praising beauty and love, Bahar's bright energetic set adorned the stage in a sunset ambiance, guiding the love that was filled within the room through family and friends.
She was joined on stage accompanied by a symphony of instruments, but it was truly her voice that filled the room with emotion. "What a better way (to celebrate JAHM) than with music," she declared.
Beautifully Blended Brass Instruments
The power and aura of brass instruments rang throughout the halls of The Kennedy Center as Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars took center stage. They performed a modern version of melodies written by Jewish ethnomusicologist Moshe Beregovski and Hasidic Yiddish songwriter Yom Tom Ehrlich.
London founded the group, bringing a uniquely profound sound of music to the Jewish community. Through the fluidity of sound on stage, it was clear that London's Allstars are truly a family at work. During the performance, the crowd found a sense of delightment, as a group sing-along echoed amongst the walls, and the smiles from the Allstars beamed throughout the building.
The Powerful Sensation Of Sarah Gordon
Powerhouse vocalist Sarah Gordon, lead singer of Yiddish Princess, accompanied London's Allstars throughout the night. Performing a melody from Beregovski, Gordon was able to put a modern spin on the traditional passover game, Who Knows One?
Creating a sharp rock sound, Gordon brought her own flair while still keeping to the traditional original of the music.
The Heart Of The DMV Community
Impactful moments throughout the Jewish American Heritage Concert were not only highlighted through our speakers and performers, but through the powerful sentiments of its audience members.
Local D.C. native, Stephanie Husik, was drawn to the event due to its strong message centered around music. When asked about how music can transform communities, she touched upon the emotional impact that music can foster.
"Music gets at emotion. It taps emotions. I think much more than trying to preach to people, and talk to people, this engages them." Husky followed by stating, "It speaks to people, much better than actually speaking. It taps into feelings."
Notes From Rabbi Yosef Goldman & Yoni Avi Battat
Rabbi Yosef Goldman intertwines Jewish harmony with prayer, connecting his Mizrahi and Ashekanzi heritage. Performing alongside Yoni Avi Battat, they uplifted and connected Jewish heritage through a blend of a delicate unchained melody.
"This song is for all of us, Jewish or not. We have a lot of parts and a lot of aspects to our identity that we are all just finding a place for," he said. Battat followed by singing, "From the fragment of my struggle, I can know my own strength."
Goldman followed Battat's sentiment, speaking on the importance of acknowledging on-going antisemitism in the country: "Every person's suffering is seen and known and has value." The raw and delicate emotion of the performance made it unforgettable, a powerful experience for anyone who had the privilege to witness.
A Message Withstanding The Test Of Time
As the evening came to a close, all of the astonishing performers took the stage one last time to celebrate the pride of JAHM, and the importance it holds within the community. In beautiful three-part harmony — accompanied by authentic horn instruments — everyone on stage paid tribute to all of their individual roots, performing a melody of various traditional Sephardic, Nigin and Shabbos songs.
Like the final performance showed, the room was filled with profound pride throughout the whole event. It wasn't just a celebration of Jewish heritage through the power of music — it was a celebration of the strength and power of the community as a whole.
Learn more about the Recording Academy's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, recent DEI achievements, and year-round work to support marginalized voices in music.
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