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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY. From the American Jewish Committee. November 16, 2022:

In a time when antisemitism is on the rise and hate crimes have reached alarming levels, what can unite communities in times of strife needs to have a greater focus compared to what might divide them.

That was the key message to emerge from the American Jewish Committee Westchester/Fairfield Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast November 9 at Suny Westchester Community College.

“Together, we are stronger,” said Myra Clark-Siegel, director of AJC Westchester/Fairfield. “Everybody coming together in unity. When you think about Thanksgiving, that’s what the holiday was really designed for.”

More than 300 people—representing more than 110 community groups from different religions, ethnic backgrounds, and walks of life–attended the breakfast at SUNY Westchester Community College, whose president, Belinda S. Miles, proudly noted was the most diverse of any of the 64 colleges in the State University of New York System.

In many ways, the gathering felt like a family reunion. Indeed, this was the first time since 2019 the breakfast was held in person because of the pandemic. New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins remembered when the breakfasts were much smaller and said the large turnout this year was both inspiring and necessary.

“Sometimes, it takes a breakfast like this to remind us that we are not alone. That there are other like-minded people who will not only break bread but will stand in solidarity with you in doing this work.”

Stewart-Cousins was one of the keynote speakers, along with Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who said combating antisemitism and hate crimes was a top priority for him and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“It’s critical that we do this work. It’s also sad that we have to take these kinds of steps to offer protection,” said Delgado, who with his wife, filmmaker Lacey Schwartz Delgado, are raising their two children as Jewish. “More security and protection is necessary but it is not sufficient. We must address extremism and divisiveness with work, prayer, love, and conversation.”

Also among those attending were Westchester County Executive George Latimer who provided welcoming remarks on behalf of Westchester County; New Rochelle Mayor Noah Bramson; White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach; and dozens of officials.

Caroline Simmons, the mayor of Stamford, CT, told the breakfast her city’s adoption—in partnership with AJC—of the working definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, was in keeping with Stamford’s diversity.

“We have residents who speak 71 different languages who come from all different faiths and backgrounds,” Simmons said. “And this diversity is our greatest source of pride and strength.”

This was the 21st Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast, which was started as a way to help Westchester and Fairfield counties heal following the 9/11 attacks

AJC provided every participant with a Thanksgiving “America’s Table” reader, which provides discussion questions for families to use during Thanksgiving, and inspirational quotes by interfaith and intergroup leaders. Participants also received suggestions on “How to Be an Upstander,” and took action during the Breakfast by signing onto AJC’s nine-point Statement of Community of Conscience of Principles, a non-partisan, non-denominational way that every person can take action to be an upstander for others.

Enjoy this week’s arts events.  View this email in your browser

THROUGH SUN., NOV. 20: A Play About Crime, Punishment & Passion Through November 20, Axial Theatre presents “Never the Sinner,” a play by John Logan that is inspired by real-life events. The story follows the complicated relationship between Nathan Leopold, Jr. and Robert Loeb, who kidnapped and murdered Loeb’s 14-year-old cousin in May 1924. “Never the Sinner” includes themes of crime, punishment and the desperation that comes along with intense passion. Read more about Axial Theatre and this play in the current issue of ArtsNews. Showtimes available at 11am and 8pm.MORE INFO THROUGH SUN., NOV. 20: She Loves Me Arc Stages presents the musical She Loves Me set in a 1930s European perfumery. Two feuding clerks, Amalia and Georg, respond to a “lonely hearts advertisement,” and they now live for the anonymous love letters they exchange. While the identity of their admirer remains unknown, the audience will join Amalia and Georg in each discovering who their true love is. Nov. 18 & 19 at 8pm and Nov. 20 at 2pm.MORE INFO FRI., NOV. 18 THROUGH SUN., NOV. 20: Six One-Act Plays Inspired by Iconic Songs  The Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) presents The Living Music Event, a festival of short plays that incorporates music into each production. This festival will feature six new one-act plays that were created during the WCT development workshop. Each play was inspired by an iconic song from the Great American Songbook, which will be sung by Ossining vocalist Anne Carpenter during the event. Friday, Nov. 18 at 8pm; Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3pm.MORE INFO SAT., NOV. 19 THROUGH SUN., JAN. 8: The Great Holiday Train Show The New Castle Historical Society kicks off its annual holiday tradition, The Great Holiday Train Show, this Saturday. Guests will discover the 19th-century summer residence of Horace Greeley, which will be festively decorated for the holidays with train displays running through each of the period rooms. Begins at 10am.MORE INFO SUN., NOV. 20: An Evening of Late Renaissance Music at Caramoor Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts presents countertenor Iestyn Davis and lutist Thomas Dunford for a concert in the Center’s Music Room surrounded by Renaissance furniture, Gothic tapestries and stained glass elements. These award winning musicians will perform a program of Late Renaissance French, Italian and English songs combined with solo lute music. Begins at 3pm.MORE INFO FRI. NOV. 25 THROUGH SUN., NOV. 27: Hudson River Museum’s Holiday Kick-Off Weekend Hudson River Museum kicks off the holidays with a weekend of holiday events.  Events include Glenview Holiday Tours, where guests will visit the six fully restored period rooms decorated for the season, as well as holiday ornament workshops, performances from Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, and a special holiday edition of its The Sky Tonight planetarium show.  The tour begins at 1pm.MORE INFO TUES., NOV. 29: Weekly Musical Playgroup: SHAC Snack Attack Hour Every Tuesday morning, Hudson Valley Writers Center presents the SHAC Snack Attack Hour. This weekly musical playgroup, facilitated by Josh Lewis, founder and artistic director of The Sleepy Hollow Arts Center (The SHAC), gives children and their caregivers the opportunity to sing, dance, play and snack.  Live music is provided by local musicians, creating an immersive environment. Begins at 10am.MORE INFO WED., NOV.30: Spiritual, Sacred and Secular Songs by Jewish Composers Downtown Music at Grace presents soprano Jardena Gertler-Jaffe and pianist Bethany Pietroniro during a midday performance. The duo will explore concepts of the spiritual, sacred and secular through a program of works by Jewish composers and poets. Included will be Yiddish folksongs arranged by Dan Shore, of which Jardena Gertler-Jaffe made the world premiere. Begins at 12:15pm.MORE INFOThis and That by JL ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam’s Blog So, What Are We Celebrating This Thanksgiving? For many years after my ex-husband Ed and I decided to go our separate ways, his brother Mort would pack his Volkswagen bus with his three children, his ukulele and harmonica, and various Chilean relatives whom he brought here after the fall of the Allende government in Chile. Read more.