Hancock Shaker Village schedules collaborative events with Knesset Israel Congregation June 26 & August 12
Hancock Shaker Village and Knesset Israel Congregation will present two collaborative events exploring the shared customs from the Shaker tradition and from Judaism, two cultures of peace.
“Shaker Soul and Jewish Neshama: a Spiritual Bond Conversation” panel discussion between Rabbi David Weiner of Knesset Israel, Pastor Kim Kie of New Hope United Methodist Church, and Professor Jane Crosthwaite of Mt. Holyoke College’s religious studies department will take place on Tuesday June 26 at 7:30pm at Congregation Knesset Israel Synagogue (16 Colt Road in Pittsfield, Mass.). Light refreshments will be served. “These ‘Shaker Shalom’ conversations offer good opportunities to unearth and to explore common roots and the continuing common interests of these two religious traditions,” said Professor Crosthwaite. This event is open to the public by reservation; $5 suggested donation. RSVP to Knesset Israel at 413.445.4872.
“Shaker Shalom: A Gala Celebration and Concert,” a joint fundraising event with proceeds equally benefiting Hancock Shaker Village and Congregation Knesset Israel Synagogue, will take place on Sunday August 12 at 5:30pm at Hancock Shaker Village. It will include cocktails and an elegant Shaker-inspired kosher picnic created by Chef Michael Roller, followed by a Shaker-Jewish fusion concert by clarinet virtuoso Paul Green and his Neshoma Klezmer Ensemble and auction in the Round Stone Barn. Concert-only tickets are $36; Gala tickets range from $150 to $1000. Tickets may be purchased by calling Hancock Shaker Village at 413.443.0188 or online at www.hancockshakervillage.org.
In conjunction with these two events, Hancock Shaker Village will also present “Shalom: Weaving Threads of Peace Mixed Media Assemblages by Wendy Rabinowitz” in the Poultry House Gallery. This exhibition will run from Saturday, August 4 through Sunday, August 26 from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily. Pittsfield-based artist Wendy Rabinowitz relates the Shaker ideals of peace with Jewish ideals of Shalom in her artwork that combines weaving and textile arts with other visual arts, graphics, and the written word, resulting in mixed media assemblages. The exhibition is free to HSV members and included with general admission.