Our Chicago debut couldn’t have gone better! An enthusiastic crowd joined us as we presented new gourmet hors d’oeuvres from Renaissance Executive Chef Virgilio Bustamante, contemporary (and sometimes biting) artwork by Anshie Kagan, and a concert of traditional and new klezmer music by the Anatevka Klezmer Band. We really could not have asked for a better evening to help kickoff the 2022 holiday season!
Click through the gallery to see all the fun, courtesy of Elliot Mandell Photography.
THANK YOU to everyone involved and everyone in attendance!!
Join us for a showcase of all things Yiddish!!
November 3rd
Renaissance Hotel Chicago North Shore
Northbrook, IL
Featured Artist: Anshie Kagan
Featured Chef: Virgilio Bustamante
Featured Music Ensemble: The Anatevka Klezmer Band
Featured Artists 
Featured Visual Artist:
Anshie Kagan
Anshie Kagan’s ironic and often dark artwork covers a variety of motifs and themes and is influenced by the Pop Art movement of the 1950’s incorporating current cultural, technological and social themes. The juxtaposition of iconic ultra-Orthodox rabbinic leaders depicted on bright or psychedelic patterned backgrounds toys with the usual portrayal of a monotonal religious culture. With respect to the blend of technology and religion his “Modern Day Commandments” – two columns of five QR codes representing the Biblical Decalogue. Anshie’s work in the same vein as the Pop art movement helps to decrease the gap between “high art” and “low art” and eliminated the distinction between fine art and commercial art methods.
Featured Musical Artists:
Anatevka Klezmer Band
Klezmer is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for listening; these would have been played at weddings and other social functions. The Anatevka Klezmer Band is made up of passionate artists of diverse musical backgrounds who gather to keep Klezmer music alive and well.
