Episode 51: Shtetl On the Shortwave

Our 2011 CFRC funding drive show!!! As a way to honour radio613′s strong relationship with community radio, on this show we interview Tamara Kramer, host of Shtetl On the Shortwave: a bi-weekly Jewish arts & culture radio show on CKUT 90.3fm in Montreal. Malcah, Avi and Tamara discuss the relationship between community radio and jewish community building. We are big fans of Shtetl and it was such a pleasure to connect with Tamara. Thanks to all who support community radio and thanks to community radio for supporting us!

Featuring fun shout outs and great tunes from Mirah, Socalled and The Shondes.

Click here to listen to the podcast (right-click to download).

In the last year, Tamara launched Shtetl Montreal – an online Alternative Jewish Magazine that includes event listings for Montreal, creative writing and Shtetl on the Shortwave podcasts. Check out a recent podcast featuring an interview with Rabbi Ronnie Cahana and Karen Knie-Cahana.

Semitic Soul “Breaks-outta-Babel mix”

playlist…

Watcha Clan – La Camel
Palov & Mishkin – Et de Clarinete (cast-a-blast)
Ghettoplotz – Babyschlep
Balkan Hotsteppers – Basement Freaks vs. Public Enemy
Socalled – Work With What You Got
Parov Stelar – The Mojo Radio Gang
Balkan Beat Box – Move It (radioclit remix)
Daniel Greenx – Balkanish
Max Pashm – Rembeteli
Schyzodrome – Tzifest
Skazka Orchestra – Tatarstan
Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars – Borracho #1 The Cobbles In the Street moan For You
New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars – Too Eggy
Klezmatics – Bulgar-a-la-Klezmatics

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 55: Sukkos fly on the temporary wall

This year, the radio613 collective survived the rain and cold in our beautiful little sukkah WITH a recorder! Tune in to hear our rituals, thoughts, readings and discussions. With beautiful music from Steven Bernstein, the Afro-Semitic Experience, the Klezmatics, and the Shondes. If you are sad the simcha is over and want to spend a little more time relishing in the wonders of sukkos, you can also give a listen to our previous sukkot shows from 2009 and 2008.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 54: Free Voice of Labour

Between the 1880s and the beginning on the 1st world war, poor and working class Jews in north america were highly involved with class struggles as anarchists and socialists. In this episode of radio613, we share with you the sounds from the short documentary Free Voice of Labour: The Jewish Anarchists. Free Voice of Labour is a translation of the name of a Yiddish-language anarchist newspaper, the Freie Arbiter Stimme, (roughly transliterated), which published well into the 1970s. The film was made in 1980 and features interviews with over a dozen Jewish anarchists.

Listen to our broadcast here.

You can also watch the video here.

Semitic Soul, new for 5772

DJ Grenadier presents music and voices of participants from the Yom Kippur Services that took place at #OccupyWallStreet and #OccupyPhilly. Interviews w/ Jesse Bacon and Raye and poetry by Allen Ginsberg.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 53: Beyond the Conventional Prayerbook

As a special Rosh Hashanah feature, radio613 interviews Joseph G. Rosenstein, author of Machzor Eit Ratzon – an independent, complete prayer book for the High Holy Day period. Rosenstein is also the author of Siddur Eit Ratzon. In our conversation, Joe talks about why he believed a new Machzor was necessary and what he tried to achieve with his translations, format and additional content.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Those interested in accessible and meaningful prayers and translations will definitely be interested in finding out more about the Siddur & Machzor Eit Ratzon: www.newsiddur.org

Also, a big thanks to Jack Zaientz from Teruah Jewish Music for helping us get our hands on the Machzor!

Shana Tova!

Basya Schechter/Avi Fox-Rosen Concert

Tune-in to radio613 tonight at our new timeslot – 7pm on CFRC 101.9fm in Kingston or online at www.cfrc.ca.

Basya Schechter and Avi Fox-Rosen perform their musical interpretations of yiddish poetry by Abraham Joshua Heschel and Itzhik Manger. The concert, recorded this summer at the Arbeter Ring’s “Vokh in Yiddishland”, also includes songs from Schechter’s group Pharaoh’s Daughter.

Tonight’s show is a rare opportunity to hear the fruits of some very creative and moving musical projects. Stay tuned to radio613 for interviews with Basya Schechter and Avi Fox-Rosen and information about the upcoming CD release of “Songs of Wonder: Yiddish Poetry by AJ Heschel”. If listeners are in New York, the duo will be performing Manger’s “Khumesh Lider” (“Bible Songs”) weekly at the Sixth Street Synagogue.

http://pharaohsdaughter.com
http://www.avifoxrosen.com

Episode 52: Highlights

Malcah & Avi return to the airwaves after a 6 month hiatus and share highlights from the first 50 episodes of radio613. If you are introducing your friend to the show, this episode is definitely a good place to start. We’ve got it all: Yiddishkeit, kabbalistic interpretations, book reviews, conversations with Jewish media-makers, musicians, artists and diasporists, poetry, Jewish political commentary… it’s good to be back.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

radio613 returns to air!

Sholem aleykhem listeners…

radio613 returns from our hiatus today, September 12, 2011/13 Elul, 5771!!!!! We have a brand new time slot on CFRC 101.9 fm – Monday evenings from 7-8pm. That’s right, us yids have prime airtime in the Loyalist/WASP bastion of Kingston. Tune-in live at www.cfrc.ca or check back to our site soon for the podcast.

We’ve also done some small renos to the website: TAGS! We hope they can help you navigate our contributions to the Jewish airwaves. Please feel free to write the radio613 collective for any helpful input: radio613@riseup.net.

Happy listening.

DJ Grenadier’s “Semites-do-it-right-mix”

Expansive sounds from the Semitic world blast out your speaker’s on this edition of Semitic Soul.

The Nigun Project – The Magid of Koznitz’s Nigun
Steven Bernstein – Dan
Oren Bloedow & Jennifer Charles – Ayyu-Ha S-Saqi
Natascha Atlas – Random Check
The Narcicyst – Second Class Citizen (Hubris)
DeLeon  – La Ner V’Livsamin/To the Candle and the Spices
Electric Morocco – Joe’s Pill
Tomer  Yosef – When the Wind Pushes Me
Rachid Taha – Lil’ Fat Mat
DAM – Kalimat/Words
Excentrik – Mukhabarat Chasing My Oud
Abby Rabinowitz – Flute Doina
Abby Rabinowitz – Dance of the Devil’s Bride
Geoff Berner – Daloy Politzey/Down with the Police (preview)

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

A Teach-In on the Egyptian Revolution

On February 17, 2011, hundreds gathered on the campus of Queen’s University in Kingston for a teach-in on the Egyptian Revolution. The teach-in provided historical, social, and political context and perspective to better understand the January 25th movement in Egypt as well as revolutionary happenings in Tunisia, the Middle East, and beyond.

Many thanks to Dr. Dana Olwan & Karl Hardy for organizing this very informative and engaging teach-in.

Speakers (in order) include:
Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Khaled Shaheen, Dr. Adnan Husain, Dr. Ariel Salzman,  Nasser Saleh, Mohamed Abdou, Dr. Dana Olwan

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 50: Trees of Life

We are blessed to be able to, once again, present a Tu Bishvat/New Year of the Trees episode. We are late posting this show as it is now a few weeks from the originally broadcast date on the 15th of Shvat, but at any moment this holiday can serve to remind us, daily, of the possibilities for meaningful connections with Trees, fruits, the Seasons, and the world that surrounds us.

There is a lot of work to be done reclaiming this meaningful holiday from those who have used it to justify colonialism, displacement, and erasure of Palestinian and Bedouin histories. Happily, we are able to feature many voices and texts that help us with reclamation by drawing from deep within the roots of Jewish life. Tune-in to hear a reading from Kingston author Leanne Lieberman’s new young adult novel Book of Trees; an update on displacement and resistance in the Negev; preparations and readings from our Kabbalistic Tu Bishvat Seder; plus, other radio waves turned to branches turned to more beautiful metaphors.

radio613′s Tu Bishvat show for 5771 ends with a review of the recently published 70 Faces: Torah Poems by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. 70 Faces eloquently blends feminism and classic traditions of textual interpretation. Listen for readings from parshas B’shalach and Yitro.

Music from Eekwol ft. Mass and Flipdabird (“The Tree”) and Testament (“Generation Z”).

Click here to listen.

Episode 49: Anti-racist action in Toronto + Sarah Palin pathologies

radio613 speaks with correspondent Yakov in Toronto following the protest against the English Defense League’s talk at the Toronto Zionist Centre on Tuesday, January 11th. The English Defense League is a racist, Islamophobic grassroots nationalist group in England that has been hosting rallies to incite hate for immigrants and people of colour. They were invited to speak in Toronto by the JDL, and facing no troubles at the Canadian border in their quest to spread the hate to Toronto, a robust group of anti-racist activists from many walks of life showed up to protest their talk.

Following the interview, Malcah and Avi discuss the latest in American right-wing anti-semitic lingo. Fear not, the Sarah Palin clip is oh-so-short and our indictments loom large.

Featuring anti-fascist tracks by Kingston’s own Dirty Lickens and Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird.

Click here to listen (right-click to download)!

Episode 48: “Soviet-Jewish Alienation within the “Bagel & Lox Culture”

radio613 interviews Vlada Bilyak – creator of a new documentary entitled ‘Soviet-Jewish Alienation within the “Bagel & Lox Culture.”‘ As Bilyak writes, “[T]his is a short documentary I created exploring my feelings of alienation and authenticity doubts within dominant Jewish culture in North America as a Soviet Jew who emigrated from the former USSR as a child. The documentary contextualizes my experiences within interviews (mostly done on Skype) with other 20-something Soviet Jews and my mother.”

Be sure to watch the documentary on YouTube: part 1 & part 2.

Our interview follows up on the poignant questions and stories  in the documentary about anti-semitism and xenophobia, immigration to North America and the normative culture that exists here.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

*Vlada is hoping to continue to work on and expand this project and anyone interested in sharing their own Soviet-Jewish story with her is welcome to contact her at vlada.bilyak@gmail.com.  You can also visit Vlada’s Soviet-Jewish tumblr “Ekh Lyuli Lyuli” here.

Od yeshama, new Semitic Soul

Lots of dance-y balkan beats, klezmer, and Romani music on this week’s Semitic Soul. Enjoy!

playlist…

Beats Antique – Nesasatavo
Max Pashm – Anarchy
Klezmer Rebs – Yishama-O-Rama (Cut Loose Remix)
Socalled & Solomon – Headphones
Omfo – Mr. Mamaglia
Balkan Beat Box – Pachima (Ubk Remix)
[dunkelbunt] & Cloud Tissa – Kebab Connection (Shazalakazoo Sharwarma Remix)
Ostblocket ft. Raf MC – Raul Cocek
Shantel – Sota
J.U.F. – Bassar (Spanish Car Service)
Balkan Beat Box – Look Them Act
Frank London & David Yengibarjan – Golem Khosidl
Esma Redzepova – Cherenije
Daniel Kahn – Dumai
Dazoque – Serb Bird

Click here to listen (right-click to download)

The Power of Light

Last year’s podcast featuring readings of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short Chanukah stories was quite popular. As such, we decided to present another set from Singer’s “The Power of Light: 8 Stories for Hanukkah”. Yes, we’re now in the nearly year long period of non-Chanukah, but we promise that the stories were read and recorded during this year’s chag ha’urim.

Here they are in segments with accompanying music by The Klezmer Conservatory Band, Andy Statman, Ot Azoj, and Shirim Klezmer Orchestra:

“A Parakeet Named Dreidel” (right-click to download)
“The Extinguished Lights” (right-click to download)
“Menashe & Rachel” (right-click to download)

Anarchists Against the Wall in Kingston – November 21

If you are in Kingston on Sunday at 7pm, please come check out this presentation co-hosted by radio613 and SPHR, featuring Israeli anarchist Noam Lekach. The talk is part of the cross-Turtle Island fundraising tour to cover legal costs of Israeli State repression of the popular struggle against the Occupation in general and the Apartheid wall in particular.

More info:

awalls.org

Episode 47: Book review: “Outwitting the Gestapo”

This week on radio613, thoughtful reflection and conversation about Outwitting the Gestapo, Lucie Aubrac’s memoir of her life and activities in the French Resistance from May 1943 to February 1944, the nine months during her pregnancy.

Music of resistance from Mark Gunnery (“Ballad of the Uprising of the Rootless Cosmopolitan”) and Mirah (“Monument”).

Also on the show, the Jewish Canadian Open Letter Against Bill C49 and the Haymarket Affair Memorial.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 46: Abrahamic Unity/Disregard

Part one of this week’s radio613 takes a critical look at a recent radio interview with Muslim Canadian Congress founder Tarek Fatah. The interview, featured on CBC’s The Current, explores the thesis in Fatah’s new book ”The Jew Is Not My Enemy”. The author claims that his book’s purpose is to challenge anti-Semitism in Muslim communities. Our analysis, however, suggests that Fatah’s unwillingness to acknowledge the realities of Islamophobia strongly discredits Fatah’s work and hinders the work of confronting anti-Semitism and building unity between Jews and Muslims.

Part two of the show features Malcah’s reading of “Goslin Day” by Avram Davidson from Wandering Stars: An Anthology of Jewish Fantasy & Science Fiction.

Music this week from Brother Ali (“Good Lord”) and The Narcicyst (“PHATWA”).

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

dovbear.blogspot.com/2010/10/campells-soup-sucks-but-ive-got-their.html

Episode 45: Jew on This

This week: a real shidduch of anti-colonial Jewish collectives! As part of her visit to Turtle Island, Rachel (aka Anzya) from the Jew on This blog came through Kingston to dwell in our Succah, break bread, dip honey, exchange stories, and build bridges. Since discovering one another on the web over the last year, we’ve been more than happy to find affinity with this wonderful blog coming out of Melbourne. From their ‘About’ page:

We want to embrace the idea that living in diaspora is the most significant way in which Jewishness can exist. When we’re in diaspora we’re without state power: this need not be disabling, but can be a source of empowerment and richness. As Daniel Boyarin has stated, “there is power to living on the margins”. Power here is not to be understood as ‘power over’—after Foucault we know that it is too simplistic to think of power in those terms. We’re thinking instead of power as productive of identities, languages and knowledges.
…We also deeply respect Indigenous peoples claims to sovereignty. The two systems can coexist. And so we acknowledge that this blog and our lives take place on stolen Indigenous land, primarily the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We take this seriously: not just the stealing of land which enabled our lives in Australia, but also the continuing colonial rule which exists in so many ways in Australia today.

During Rachel’s visit to Kingston, we ventured into the CFRC studios to record some of the conversations that took place over Shabbes/Succot. Click here to listen and/or read about her “radical Jewish adventures” here.

jewonthis.wordpress.com
colonialinscriptions.wordpress.com

Episode 44: Velveteen Rabbi Interview

Just in time for the close of the Yamim Noraim between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we speak with the Velveteen Rabbi, aka Rachel Barenblat. radio613 collective members have appreciated the mindful Jewish thought emanating from Rachel’s blog for years. Malcah and Avi got the chance to hear Rachel’s poetry and speak with her about rabbinical school, High Holy day preparation, new translations, and the transformation of ritual to social justice. In the last week, the New York Times and the Forward have covered Rachel’s online work to support a New York mosque affected by the recent wave of inhumane Islamophobia in America. Rachel comments on these events as well.

Music from Beyond the Pale and Kol Nidre incantation by Cantor Moishe Oysher.

Tune-in here!

More info:

velveteenrabbi.blogs.com
ALEPH Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Jewish Fast for Gaza

Vos Vet Zayn 5771?

New Semitic Soul podcast. Music for entering a new year. Vos vet zayn 5771?/What will be for 5771? Reflecting on the previous and hoping for and working towards a year filled with love , trust, shalom v’tzedek. L’Shana Tova and Eid Mubarak to our listeners. Thanks for tuning in.

Playlist…

Mikveh – Vos Vet Zayn
Austin Klezmorim – Birobidzian
Golem – Oessa
Gogol Bordello – Passport
Di Nigunin – Haveinu Shalom
Banda Olifante – Los Peces
Rotfront – Red Mercedes
Russkaja – Dobrij Abend
Slovonoski Bal – Moscow Fever
Klezmorim – Baym Rebns Sude
Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band – Drei Neytorins
Dazoque! – Romanian Raspberry
Itzhak Perlman – Flatbush Waltz
w/ reading of Marge Piercy’s “The Low Road”

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 43: Anti-Roma Racism in Europe & Canada

In the same week that Romani communities commemorated the Roma Holocaust (August 2), countries across Europe pushed through legislation to expel Romanies and destroy their settlements. Systemic racism and day-to-day violence against Roma persist in Europe – and with impunity. Episode 43 features our interview with Robert Kushen, director of the European Roma Rights Centre, who outlines the current and historical climate in Europe for Romanies. Special guest Laura joins the show to situate anti-Roma racism in a Canadian context. Finally, we speak with Rabbi Jonathan Freirich about shared experiences of exile as radio613 discusses the need for developing stronger Jewish-Roma solidarity.

Music from Boban Markovic (“Balkan Fest”) and Gogol Bordello (“Immigrant Punk”).

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

More info:
www.errc.org
www.romarights.net
Jewish and…

Episode 42: Open Source Judaism

Episode 42 features an interview with Aharon Varady, founder of the Open Siddur Project. Aharon lays out how copyright creates barriers to meaningful prayer and access to the diversity of Jewish traditions. In response, Aharon created OpenSiddur.org – “a Jewish free culture and open source project that bridges bookcraft, scholarship, and spirituality” - a Jewish DIY challenge to for-profit publishing companies. Yasher koach! If capitalism hurts your kavanah, you should tune-in to this podcast!

Music from Alain Chekroun (“Psalm 121″), Andy Statman Quartet (“You Were Revealed”), David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness! (“Electric Sher”).

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

varady.net
zinelibrary.info

Episode 41: Diasporic Temples

radio613 marks Tisha Ba’Av, the commemoration of the destruction of the ancient Temples. As Jews committed to practice in the diaspora, where do we situate ourselves in relation to the 9th of Av? If there is no redemption in a State, what traditions can we draw upon or create to rebuild following collective tragedies?  A passage from Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Sabbath inspires conversation about building temples of time, prayer, community, and tikkun (repair).

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 40: Fringes from Philly

After many episodes of wandering in radio land, radio613 comes to its 40th. Malcah and Avi recount experiences at the recent G20 protests, including inspiring community mobilization and  violence from police and an anti-Semitic attack experienced on the streets of the Toronto.

This week’s show features an interview with four rad Jews from Philadelphia. Lots to learn from these folks, connecting non-nationalist Jewish religious rituals and practice with local community building and solidarity. Particular reflection is made on the Philly-based feminist havurah “Fringes” and the work of Philadelphia Jews for  a Just Peace. Tune-in!

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 39: The Shondes

radio613 interviews Temim Fruchter from The Shondes – Brooklyn`s incredible riot grrrl/yiddishkayt-inspired rock ’n’ roll band. In the last month, The Shondes released their second studio album  My Dear One and completed an extensive tour of the U.S. This week’s show celebrates My Dear One and features its intricate yet catchy songs and Temim’s perspective on an album defined by the politics of heartbreak. Temim also reflects on The Shondes’ approach to building musical community, temples of activism, queer liberation and justice for Palestine and being part of a rich and proud, anti-colonial Judaism.

Tracklist:

“My Dear One”
“Miami”
“I Watched the Temple Fall”
“Lines & Hooks”
“Let`s Go”

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

shondes.com
Fanatic Records

Bay Area to the Balkans

Semitic Soul returns to air after DJ Grenadier’s trip to California. Bay Area artists and record shopping featured this week, including Beats Antique, San Francisco Klezmer Experience, Klezmatics remixed. Tracks from the new Balkan Beat Box (“Blue Eyed Black Boy“) and Gogol Bordello (“Trans-Continental Hustle“) albums.

“no more soldier on the border/to create a new world order” -BBB

Hawk and a Hacksaw – Ihabibi

Balkan Beat Box – Marcha de la Vida

Beats Antique – Dope Crunck

Amsterdam Klezmer Band – Immigrant Song

Mahala Rai Banda – Colindat

New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars – Mazl Tov Cocktail

San Francisco Klezmer Experience – Dem Ganefs Yikhes

Geoff Berner – Authentic Klezmer Wedding Band

Cracow Klezmer Band – Haniel

Klezmatics – Khisidim Tants (Ben Mandelson’s Honga Onga Mix)

Abraham Inc.  - Figure It Out

Gogol Bordello – Pala Tute

The Shondes – Let’s Go

Balkan Beat Box – Why

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Episode 38: No Bill 94 – Kingston Panel Discussion

In early 2010, the Jean Charest government proposed legislation which, if approved by the National Assembly of Quebec, would deny essential government services, public employment, educational opportunities, and health care to people who wear facial coverings.

This week, radio613 airs audio from a panel discussion held in Kingston on April 27, 2010 exploring Bill 94 from legal, feminist, and religious perspectives. Featured speakers include: Dr. Mona Rahman – Active member of the Islamic Society of Kingston;  Dr. Beverly Baines – Gender Studies Department Head & Professor of Law, Queen’s University; Dr. Dana Olwan – Assistant Professor, Gender Studies, Queen’s University.

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

For more info about organizing around Bill 94, please visit
nonbill94.wordpress.com
aqsazine.blogspot.com

Semitic Soul meets Teruah

A very special edition of Semitic Soul with guest Jack from Teruah-JewishMusic.blogspot.com. Jack’s has become one of the most influential Jewish bloggers on the internet by way of an incredibly informative, comprehensive and updated exploration of the Jewish music landscape.

In a happy joining of Yids living in rural-ish Christian towns, Jack joins DJ Grenadier this week live over the phone from Grass Lake, Michigan. From Post-Revival Klezmer to Yiddish song, reworked Ladino melodies, Sephardic electronica, Uptown to Downtown, Punk to Cantorial, Jack helps us understand what is happening in the “Silver Age of Jewish Music“. Don’t sleep on this music, Teruah will wake you up!

Naftule Brandwein – Turkish Yalle ve Uve
Budowitz – Bughici’s Tish Nign
David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness – Moscovitz and Loops of it
Golem – The Rent
Zahava Seewald – Papirosn
Harel Shachal & Anistar – Esh
Oren Bloedow & Jennifer Charles – Quinze Anos
Diwon – Tikkun Klali # 10
Chevan – Psalm 121 Esa Enai
The Sway Machinery – Ivdu Es Hashem
Girls in Trouble – Mountain/When My Father Came Back
Shabbat ReSouled – Borchu
Abraham Inc. – It’s Not the Same (Figure It Out)

Click here to listen (right-click to download).

Follow Teruah’s post here and on Twitter.