Opera Night at the JCC
Dear Friend,
We were delighted to welcome 60 JCC members, family, and friends to a very special event last Sunday evening: Opera Night at the JCC.
Two world-class opera singers graced our ballroom with their beautiful voices: Baritone Ilhun Jung and Soprano Jeannie Chiang.
A graduate of Seoul National University and Munich National University of Music, Ilhun was the principal soloist of the Dresden National Opera of Germany for several years and has performed at top concert venues around the world. He is currently a full-time assistant professor at the Taipei University of the Arts.
Jeannie Chiang studied at the Peabody Institute and Johns Hopkins University after graduating from Taipei University of the Arts. Jeannie has performed at world-class venues across Europe and Asia.
After each performing two solo pieces from different operas, including Puccini’s “Gianni Schucchi” and Bizet’s “Carmen,” Ilhun joined Jeannie for the final piece, a song from the opera “Die lutige Witwe,” by Franz Lehár.
Ilhun and Jeannie were accompanied by the accomplished pianist, Huang Yu-Wen. A wonderful harpist performed beautiful melodies throughout the evening.
In addition to being the new hub of Jewish life, the JCC aims to become one of Taipei’s premier new cultural venues. Opera Night at the JCC is just one of many cultural events we’re planning to host here. Become a member and stay in touch to find out about upcoming events.
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Surviving (and Thriving) with Survival Hebrew
Hebrew is the language spoken by 9 million Israelis and Jews around the world. And as the language of the Torah, it’s one of the world’s most ancient and revered languages. In Hebrew, we sometimes call our language “Lashon haKadosh” – the “holy tongue.”
Over 100 years ago, a man named Eliezar Ben Yehuda took this ancient language, which had continued to be used almost exclusively in the daily prayers of the Jews for the previous two millennia, and turned it into the modern version that is spoken by millions of people in Israel and around the world (including here in Taiwan!) today.
The JCC is delighted to announce that we are offering a 12-week introductory class in Modern Hebrew starting Sunday September 18th and every Sunday from 10:30 am – 12 noon.
We call it “Survival Hebrew,” because while it may not make you fluent, it will give you the essentials you need to “survive” your next trip to Israel. You’ll learn essential grammar and vocabulary, and how to conduct simple day-to-day conversations. And you’ll learn how to read and write the Hebrew alef-bet.
Taught by Nirit Arbeli, a professional Hebrew instructor living in Taiwan, Survival Hebrew is your gateway to the beauty and delights of Israeli culture both present and past.
Class sizes are intentionally going to be kept small to maximize opportunities for students to interact with the teacher, so please register as soon as possible, and before the September 11 deadline. Space is already filling up!
(JCC members will receive a generous discount off the registration fee).
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Rosh Hashanah candle-lighting & prayer service
Last week we announced our Rosh Hashanah banquet will take place at the beautiful new ballroom of the JCC on Sunday, September 25th, the first evening of the Jewish New Year. Thank you to everyone who has already registered!
Here’s a quick update with some important changes and details that will give some clearer guidance around the schedule that evening.
First, an important update: we will open the doors at 5:00 pm.
Second, we invite you to participate in the Rosh Hashanah candle lighting and prayer service, which will take place as follows:
5:00 pm
Doors open
5:30
Candle-lighting & blessing in the ballroom
5:45 – 6:15
Rosh Hashanah prayer service at the Schwartz Synagogue
6:15
Return to the ballroom
6:30
Rosh Hashanah gourmet kosher banquet
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Welcome our new members!
We are delighted to welcome several new members to the JCC!
Let’s welcome Meyrav and David Schwartz and family; Frankie Chan, Esther Torrent, and family; TingYing Su; Hsiu-Ling Sailor; Uranda Wanyu Lin; Sheena Wu; 王敏 ; 福丁神將; 張詩佩 ; 劉黃淑惠 ; 洪月鳳 ; 楊穗蘭 ; 吳清芳; 李碗然 ; 林天花 .
If you haven’t already become a member, we welcome everyone who shares in our vision and mission to join us.
Members enjoy discounts on all events (like our Rosh Hashanah banquet) and classes (like Survival Hebrew), as well as on Kosher Culinary Lab meals. Members are also welcome to bring a number of guests each month for museum and JCC tours free of charge.
Membership prices are kept low thanks to a generous subsidy provided by the Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association (JTCA).
Click here to become a member of the JCC
Warm regards,
Jeffrey D. Schwartz & NaTang
Co-founders, Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association
