COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
mobilizes financial and volunteer resources to
address the communities’ most critical priorities
locally, in Israel and around the world.

Take a Sephardic Intercultural Musical Journey
AS A BOY growing up in Be’er Sheva,
Israel, Shmuel Elbaz discovered his love for
the mandolin.

The nimble, ringing sound of the mandolin
makes up the backbone of the Andalusian
music of Shmuel’s childhood — music carried
from North Africa and the Middle East to
Israel — connecting Elbaz’s Sephardic family
to their heritage.

But even as a boy, Elbaz had bigger-than-av-
erage dreams for the instrument, and when he
graduated from Jerusalem Academy of Music,
he did so as the first person ever to specialize in
the mandolin. Since then, he has won awards
for his solo work, led the Israeli Andalusian
Orchestra to the Israel Prize and gained inter-
national fame.

This March 15-18, you can hear Elbaz in
Greater Philadelphia in a four-concert series
as part of a trio of musicians who have all
been members of the Israeli Andalusian
Orchestra. Together, they capture the lushness
of Andalusian music, adding a classical touch,
and rounded out with sung Arabic, Moroccan,
French, Spanish, Algerian and Israeli poetry.

All three Israeli performers arrive as ambas-
sadors of our Partnership2Gether communities
of Netivot and Sdot Negev, with whom our Jewish Federation has shared a special profit founded by orchestra cellist Udi Bar-David — to bring together so many
connection for more than 20 years. And through an extraordinary partnership, talented musicians for what will be an unforgettable musical experience.

they will be joined in performance by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

For more information on concert times, dates and locations, visit
The Jewish Federation is proud to partner with ARTolerance — a local non- Jewishphilly.org/IsraelinPhiladelphia.

Jewish Philly Podcast
Episode 12: Shelby and
Amy Zitelman
THIS MONTH, WE’RE breaking down the age-old stereotype of Jewish
anxiety, followed by a conversation about the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe
with Israeli reporter Eldad Beck. Finally, we’re honoring Jewish Disability and
Awareness Month by paying tribute to three amazing Jews with physical hand-
icaps who have made incredible achievements in their communities.

We also had the honor to sit down with Shelby and Amy Zitelman, two of the
three sisters behind the company Soom Foods. We talk about how they turned
their passion into a business, the partnerships they’ve built with Philadelphia
chefs and restaurants and a million uses for tahini.

All products are available at soomfoods.com or on Amazon. Check them
out on Instagram @soomfoods.

22 MARCH 7, 2019
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM