The Boston Phoenix has published a terrific article on the Music Festival. A big shout out to Jon Garelick for his fine work that captured so much of the spirit. Nice picture of Ruth Dolores Weiss, too! Hope you have your tickets--they are going fast!

You can read the article here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/97500-jew-note/

Jim 

Here's a great interview with Flory Jagoda, Ladino cultural treasure, who will be coming to the Festival on Tuesday, March 9. This woman is INCREDIBLE and not to be missed.

http://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/3184/ocho-kandelikas/?utm_source=Tablet+Magazine+List&utm_campaign=3d12efed52-12_15_2009&utm_medium=email

Just a quick note. The major marketting push for the Festival will kick off in January. But our program line-up is just about to be officially confirmed. So be sure to have all your friends register their email list with us.

Also, as the year comes to an end, here's a subtle reminder that ANY DONATIONS MADE TO BJMF ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Subtle, eh?  You can give on line, just by clicking on  http://bjmfestival.org/index.php/you-can-help.

 And as you get ready Chanukah,  here is a lively version of a Flory Jagoda holiday classic (not by Flory but Daddo has great hair!).

From casual friends to community leaders, the response to the Boston Jewish Music Festival is unanimous. "That would be an incredible program IF only you can get it funded." Well, they're right.  It will be an incredible event. But there can be no IFs. Boston is the only city with such a large Jewish population that DOES NOT have a Jewish music festival.  This is far too important an opportunity to hinge on an IF.

Yes, the economy is horribly difficult for many of us.  But we can't allow that to stop our community from innovating, from creating, and from celebrating! In difficult times, we need Jewish music more than ever. To inspire us. To unite us. And to give us pride and faith in the future.

Demographic research shows that music is an essential tool for reaching out and connecting to younger Jews. Can we afford to stop the music? Can we skip a generation or two from finding a meaningful entry into Jewish faith because the stock market is down? Can we wait a few more years to experience 88-year old National Heritage Fellow Flory Jagoda?

The answer is obviously no.

There is no IF for the Boston Jewish Music Festival. It is something we need to enrich our lives and our community. I urge you help the Festival in any way you can. We are crazy to do this. Aren't you glad it's contagious?