NATIONALLY RENOWNED LITIGATOR BURT NEUBORNE, AUTHORS HAL NIEDZVIECKI AND MICHAEL ROSEN TO SPEAK AT COMMUNITY SYNAGOGUE

–Civil Liberties Defender, Social Critic and Local Community Organizer Share Diverse and Intimate Revelations for Jewish Holiday, Shavuot –

MAY 17, 2009, NEW YORK, NY—Every year, on the holiday of Shavuot, the Jewish people celebrate the revelation of G-d at Mount Sinai. This year, Sixth Street Community Synagogue (Community) has a few revelations of its own. To celebrate Shavuot, Community will invite friends, neighbors, Jews and non-Jews to study and learn what true discovery means as Rabbi Charlie Buckholtz moderates discussions with prominent authors and experts throughout the evening.

“SHHHHavuot 2009: Revealing Conversations.”
A discussion on the topic and tensions of revelation in its most literal sense: discovering (or disclosing) things that have been concealed.

Thursday May 28, beginning at 8PM; Program after 9PM
Community Synagogue
325 East Sixth Street, NYC

GUESTS INCLUDE (see below for extended bio)
•    Professor Burt Neuborne, former National Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union
•    Hal Niedzviecki: a novelist and social critic, author of the recently published “The Peep Diaries: How We’re Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors”
•    Michael Rosen: a community organizer and author of newly published “What Else But Home”
This is event is Free. But Donations are welcomed.
RSVP: www.EastVillageShul.com

Professor Burt Neuborne: nationally renowned civil liberties defender who has acted as lead counsel in the recent Holocaust Litigation against the Swiss Banks. A former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, Neuborne is currently on the faculty of New York University School of Law and Legal Director of the Brennan Center for Justice. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School from where he received an LL.B in 1964. Neuborne has been called a defender of lost causes.

Hal Niedzviecki: novelist and social critic. In 1995, he cofounded the magazine Broken Pencil, a guide to underground arts and zine culture, and was the magazine’s editor until 2002. He has also written for Adbusters, Utne Magazine, This Magazine, Geist, Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail and the National Post. Niedzviecki recently published “The Peep Diaries: How We’re Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors.”

Michael Rosen: community organizer and author. A former real estate developer and investor, former CEO of a Wall Street firm, former CEO of a publicly traded company destroyed in the events of September 11, 2001, and a former assistant professor at New York University. He lives in New York, and with his wife, Leslie Gruss, helps raise “the Rosen family extended.”
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Every year, on the holiday of Shavuot, the Jewish people celebrate the revelation of G-d at Mount Sinai.

This year, we have a few revelations of our own.

Join us Thursday, May 28 for “SHHHHavuot 2009: Revealing Conversations.”  Prominent authors will discuss the topic and tensions of revelation in its most literal sense: discovering (or disclosing) things that have been concealed.

And yes, there will be cheesecake.

This is event is Free. But Donations are welcomed.

Order tickets via Eventbrite:

This Friday, May 8, the countdown continues with the final official TGIF of the season.
Join us for services at 7pm, followed by dinner at 8pm and a very special guest, Ari Gold

Tolerance and the Jewish Community

An award winning R&B/Pop recording artist who writes songs from his unique perspective as an openly gay man, Ari Gold will speak about issues related to acceptance and tolerance within the Jewish community and music’s role within his fascinating journey.

ABOUT ARI GOLD

Award Winning Independent Recording Artist Ari Gold is turning the music scene on its head, rewriting the rules, and trailblazing a storm of political pop.  People Magazine says that Ari Gold’s latest album, Transport Systems, “takes the listener to fresh places” and Clive Davis says Ari “writes from the heart.”  Born and raised in an orthodox Jewish household in the Bronx, Ari released his first album in 2000, receiving critical attention from Billboard, HITS and VIBE for being the first openly gay pop singer to be out in his music from the beginning of his career.  Ari’s new single, “Human” marks his 4th #1 Video for MTV Network’s LOGO. As one of the most popular faces of the LOGO network, Ari hosts his own show, “Naked City” interviewing celebrities like Brandy, Alan Cumming and RuPaul.  His Billboard Top 10 and #1 Sirius Radio dance hit, “Where The Music Takes You” was voted the #1 Video of the Year and is the Grand Prize Winner of the 12th Annual USA Songwriting Competition.  Ari is an Independent Music Award Winner (Best R&B Song, “Love Wasn’t Built In a Day” featuring Dave Koz), a 2x Outmusic Award Winner, and was named one of the OUT100 Most Influential People by OUT Magazine.  Ari has toured Europe, Canada and in over 40 cities across the US alongside Chaka Khan, RuPaul, and Cyndi Lauper as well as gracing countless magazine covers around the world.  Ari’s activism and charity work includes the HRC, Soulforce, Ali Forney Center, ACLU and GMHC on HIV/AIDS awareness, homelessness and human rights.

It’s been our pleasure having you as our Guest.
Now, we’d like to invite you to be a Host!
Have you enjoyed the warm, laid back atmosphere of a TGIF dinner on Sixth Street? Relaxed a bit from the hectic hubbub of the week, eaten some tasty meals, heard a savory speaker, drank some semi-dry wine, had some meaty conversations and sweet laughs with old and new friends?

Would you like to help us continue to build this growing, fun, smart, no-frills downtown Jewish community? Consider becoming a TGIF host.

What is TGIF?
Now in its second year, TGIF is a relaxed, free communal Shabbat dinner that has welcomed hundreds of young professionals, grad students and other neighbors to enjoy all things good: good company, good conversation, and good food.

Each week, anywhere from 50 to 100 people come together for explanatory Shabbat services, a deluxe dinner courtesy of local Israeli grill maven Murray, and monthly speakers on stimulating topics ranging from Israel to the Economy to the Ethics of keeping kosher. With a fun, open spirit that never takes itself too seriously, TGIF is Friday night as it should be: a warm haven in which people from a wide range of backgrounds and experience can relax together on the day set aside for just that.

What is a TGIF host?
As a TGIF host, you have an exclusive opportunity to both show appreciation for, and make an investment in, this growing community. Think of TGIF as your own personal Shabbat dinner, one you can count on to be there for you when you need it: a place you know you will be welcomed, fed, and possibly even slightly renewed. It’s a place you can invite your friends to come for Friday night dinner—only you have an unlimited guest capacity and don’t have to cook!

Until now, we have been able to offer the TGIF program—a substantial expense—for free, thanks to a generous anonymous donation. This year, to help offset our expenses and give you an opportunity to create the community that you would like, we have created the TGIF Host program.

Becoming a TGIF Host is simple. Hosts are asked to donate any amount $10 or more, to help promote the program, and to express an interest in helping to plan future TGIF programs.

How do I get involved?
Visit us at www.tgifcommunity.eventbrite.com and select the “Donate to TGIF” or TGIF Host ticket option and help us continue to provide free and low-cost programs of interest to people like you.