Episode #63: StoryNosh: Courage! And the winner is…

We have the very first winner of our very first StoryNosh theme, Courage! Just like our Salon Theatre, any writer can submit their stories to the theme but in StoryNosh we select a handful of stories that we adapt to film and the stories are presented in a cinematic style over the course of several weeks. The story with the most views in its first week wins the NiceNosh award and moves onto The Big Nosh, a tournament of champions-style competition which will take place at the end our season.

On today’s episode, meet Erica W. Jamieson, writer of the piece Emends, which took home our first ever NiceNosh Award.  It’s a great time to chat with Erica because we are getting ready for the debut of Passion, the next StoryNosh theme. And if you’re wondering if you can still share your story with us…yes! There’s still time to submit for our final theme of the year, Identity. All information can be found at the-braid.org/storynosh.

Watch all the pieces from StoryNosh: Courage here.

Episode #63: StoryNosh: Courage! And the winner is…2022-02-07T09:26:25-08:00

Episode #62: A Fromer Family Affair

On this episode, get to know the Fromer siblings! Rabbi Jaclyn (Fromer) Cohen of Temple Isaiah and Andrew Fromer of The Braid both ended up paving artistic, creative and musical career paths in the Jewish world…but how did it happen? Very unexpectedly! Despite growing up under one roof, they have two very different journeys that might surprise you…and they most certainly surprised the parents! Listen and enjoy this fun Fromer family episode as Rabbi Jaclyn and Andrew professionally cross paths this week when Temple Isaiah hosts a performance of The Braid’s latest Salon, Sweet Tea & the Southern Jew. 

Click Here for your tickets to Sweet Tea & the Southern Jew!

Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen is proud to serve Temple Isaiah as Associate Rabbi. Born and raised in West LA, Rabbi Cohen earned her BA in Religious Studies & Music from UC Davis and spent two years working in Bay Area Jewish community organizations before entering Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s rabbinic program. Upon ordination from HUC-JIR in 2014, Rabbi Cohen moved to Seattle, Washington to serve on the clergy team of Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Her primary focus was “The Tribe,” Temple’s hub of Jewish life, learning and spirituality for those in their 20s and 30s, as well as “The Village,” a programmatic initiative for Jewish families with young children. Since 2018, Rabbi Cohen has served on Temple Isaiah’s clergy team with a focus on music and ritual. Her background is eclectic and representative of what it means to create a unique kind of 21st century-rabbinate. In addition to overseeing Temple Isaiah’s ritual department – including its choirs & musicians, holiday celebrations and lifecycles – Rabbi Cohen also teaches, counsels and works closely with our K12 and preschool communities. Outside the synagogue she is a writer and advocate for birth justice and maternal & mental health, having contributed written pieces to Kveller, Jewish Daily Forward, Hey Alma and The Chalkboard Mag, among others. Rabbi Cohen is also a certified yoga teacher, fusing her passion for the practice with a deep love of prayer. She and her family live in Culver City.

Andrew Fromer attended Windward School in Mar Vista where his career as an actor began in the school plays and musicals. After completing his BFA in theater at UC Santa Barbara and an exciting year of living in Israel, Andrew returned to LA for acting and producing. His TV credits include Never Have I Ever (Netflix) and Anger Management (FX); feature film credits include Highway to Havasu (Billy/Producer) and The Sweet Life (Mike/Assistant to Production). Theater credits include Pledge (Sherman u/s), Bad Jews (Jonah), and The Braid’s Jews in America. Andrew also runs youth engagement at Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas. He is excited to be coordinating this year’s iteration of NEXT, The Braid’s Emerging Artist Program (the-braid.org/next) and hopes you will enjoy his work as Editor on The Braid’s new digital storytelling competition, StoryNosh! (the-braid.org/storynosh).

Episode #62: A Fromer Family Affair2022-01-18T09:28:56-08:00

Episode #61: Prayer and Performance

Join us as we chat with Rabbis Toba August and Nina Feinstein about our history of working together within our special program, “Prayer and Performance.” Not only are our Salon performances and their stories entertainment, they also provide a deep and rich gateway into experiencing prayer. Over the years we have worked with Rabbis like Toba and Nina to bring our stories into special holiday and Shabbat Services so that congregants can go on a new journey of prayer. What is it like? Listen to the epsidoe to find out!

If you’re interested in bringing our stories to your community, contact jodi@the-braid.org.

Click Here to view our upcoming events/performances, like Monica Piper’s class and Annie Korzen’s Sunday Morning with the Braid event.

Click Here to submit your story for an upcoming Salon or StoryNosh!

Episode #61: Prayer and Performance2021-11-01T09:53:58-07:00

Episode #60: “Belonging” – a Fall Party Preview

Ready to kick off our 14th season? We sure are! JOIN US on October 10 for our special event, Welcome Back(ish) Fall Party @ 1:30 pm PT / 4:30 pm ET Live on Zoom.

On this episode, hear a brand new recording of “Belonging,” a story that debuted at our 2020 fall party, written and performed by Joshua Reuben Silverstein who is writing a brand new piece for the October 10 event. To hear that one, get your tickets today! And don’t forget to add some raffle tickets at checkout for a chance to win some BIG gift cards from Apple, Amazon, Williams-Sonoma and more.

Episode #60: “Belonging” – a Fall Party Preview2021-09-21T12:56:02-07:00

Episode #59: “That One Was Really Personal” with Jasmine Curry

Frequent cast member and audience favorite Jasmine Curry shares stories from a life of adapting to unexpected turns. What was it like behind-the-scenes to pivot an in-person Salon show into the uncharted Zoom frontier? How has she made virtual improv comedy work without hearing the laughter of an audience? And at the very moment her own spouse was coming out as transgender, what was it like to perform a writer’s story that tapped into those very same overwhelming emotions?

Jasmine Curry trained at New York University, Experimental Theatre Wing, and was a resident actor at Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley, PA. She studied improv and sketch writing with The Groundlings Theatre and iO West. Jasmine has worked in educational theatre with Writers Room Productions, California Weekly Explorer, and The Imagination Machine. She can be seen every Wednesday performing Longform improv online with her improv troupe The Interlocutors. She previously appeared in The Braid salons Family Matters, For Goodness Sake, Sex Love and Addiction in the 21st Century, Living After, and The Way Home. She wrote for the salon Persian Sunrise, American Sunset and is an Abby Freeman Artist-in-Residence at The Braid.

Episode #59: “That One Was Really Personal” with Jasmine Curry2021-08-12T08:32:16-07:00

Episode #58: Meet David Chiu, Our New Staff Member!

On this episode, get to know The Braid’s new Marketing & Communications Manager, David Chiu! Who would have thought that on this episode, two male staff members of The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre) would be discussing Paul Greengrass films, Sigourney Weaver’s Oscar nomination for Aliens, and 19th century mythical changelings in Ireland. Oh! And our efforts in shifting the way Jewish culture is portrayed across media. Curious? Have a listen!

David Chiu is a West LA-based screenwriter and two-time NEXT at the Braid Emerging Artists Fellow. His television credits include LORE (Amazon Prime). Writing credits for The Braid include True Colors, Inside Our Time, For Goodness Sake (also Director), I Am a Jew, Who’s Hiding Now? and The Rest is History (also Director & Literary). David is represented by The Gersh Agency and Authentic Talent & Literary. Additionally, David is a member of the Board of Trustees at Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles; recipient of its 2019 Emerging Leader Award. He is an environmental activist and volunteer on various electoral campaigns, a Jew of Color, of Litvak and Cantonese heritage.

Episode #58: Meet David Chiu, Our New Staff Member!2021-07-15T17:37:25-07:00

Episode #57: Audio Replay of Ellen Harper Event

In case you missed it, a free-wheeling conversation with ELLEN HARPER: singer-songwriter, folk music historian, and Jewish mom to famed recording artist Ben Harper. She’ll reveal intimate insights about famed musicians like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Pete Seeger. In addition, she’ll share her own struggles with the anti-Semitism her family faced and the racism she encountered as a single mother raising biracial sons. Whether you love folk music, inspirational women, or someone with stories that make you want to pull up a chair, this is one crackling conversation you won’t want to miss!

Order Ellen’s memoir, ALWAYS A SONG here.

Join us for our next Sunday Morning with The Braid event, CIRCUS JEWS on August 8!

Episode #57: Audio Replay of Ellen Harper Event2021-07-11T14:31:58-07:00

Episode #56: Preview – Stories from the Violins of Hope

Click Here for tickets and more info

The Holocaust had silenced them… until an extraordinary violin-maker brought their voices back to life, and to the world. Seven actors will bring to life the extraordinary story of violins played in ghettos, forests and concentration camps… and of the passionate Israeli violin maker determined to restore them. Now heard in performances all over the world, they are called the Violins of Hope.

On this episode we preview the incredible collaboration coming to you in one performance only on January 31, STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE Click Here for tickets and more info.

You’ll hear about…
-The power of playing one of these violins from virtuoso violinist Niv Ashkenazi, the only violinist in the US with one of the Violin of Hope instruments from the collection
-The writing of the script from The Braid’s Writer, Event Producer and Dramaturg Lisa Rosenbaum
-The directing of the performance from The Braid’s Producing Director Susan Morgenstern
-The curation of the music from LA Jewish Symphony Artistic Director Dr. Noreen Green

This special performance was originally set to debut at Temple Isaiah (Templeishaiah.com) and was part of the Violins of Hope Los Angeles Program Tour (violinsofhopelosangeles.org), produced by Susanne Reyto. Special thanks to Gail Solo, our Angel Donor, whose support helped make this show possible.

Episode #56: Preview – Stories from the Violins of Hope2021-01-21T16:14:57-08:00

Episode #55: Audio Replay of Leonard Cohen Tribute

In case you missed it, Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Tribute to Music and Literary Legend LEONARD COHEN. In conversation with Michael Posner, author of Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories: The Early Years (Book #1 of Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories. A 3 volume series.) Plus an unforgettable performance of Cohen classics by Broadway star Rena Strober!

Moderated by award-winning writer/producer Arlene Sarner.

MICHAEL POSNER is an award-winning writer, playwright, journalist, and the author of seven books. These include the Mordecai Richler biography, The Last Honest Man, and the Anne Murray biography, All of Me, both of which were national bestsellers. He was Washington Bureau Chief for Maclean’s Magazine, and later served as its national, foreign, and assistant managing editor. He was also managing editor of the Financial Times of Canada for three years. He later spent sixteen years as a senior writer with The Globe and Mail.

RENA STROBER has performed on Broadway (Les Mis), TV (VEEP, Shameless), Film (Waiting in the Wings) and voices dozens of cartoons for Disney & Netflix. She has also been honored to have been part of numerous Braid/JWT events. Recently Rena released an exciting family album called IMAGINE THAT: The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss. The album features herself, Jason Alexander, French Stewart and a choir of young blind singers. Rena is a teacher and advocate for the blind and is using this celebration of Sesame Street music to raise money and awareness for the blind. When she’s not singing and trying to make the world a kinder place, Rena is raising a wacky and wonderful tiny Jewish woman named Izzy. Visit https://www.renastrober.com for more!

Episode #55: Audio Replay of Leonard Cohen Tribute2020-12-09T09:18:52-08:00

Episode #54: Audio Replay of Jewish Women – An Archive of Our Own

In case you missed it…Who are the shoulders we stand on and where can we find their stories? Meet JUDITH ROSENBAUM – feminist, educator, historian, writer, activist—and CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive, the pioneering national organization that documents Jewish women’s stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change!

Visit their website: https://jwa.org

Moderated by author and JWT writer Lisa Rosenbaum. With a dramatic performance by one of JWT’s wonderful actors along with a Q & A.

Click Here for a Video Replay

Judith Rosenbaum, CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive, served for nearly a decade as JWA’s Director of Public History and Director of Education, developing its major programs and educational initiatives. A graduate of Yale University, with a PhD in American Studies from Brown University, she has taught and lectured widely on Jewish studies and women’s studies. She writes for academic, popular journals and blogs including Tablet, The Forward, Huffpost, The Jewish Week. Tikkun Magazine, Sh’ma Magazine, PresenTense, Reform Jewish magazine, My Jewish Learning, Kveller, Role/Reboot, and in anthologies.

Click Here to join us September 6 @ 11am PDT for our next Sunday Morning at The Braid virtual event, THE COMEDY OF COPING with celebrated writers Cindy Chupack and Annabelle Gurwitch

Episode #54: Audio Replay of Jewish Women – An Archive of Our Own2020-08-24T15:55:16-07:00

Episode #53: Audio Replay of Virus Tsuris with Mental Health Experts

In case you missed it, Mental Health experts help us find inner strength, courage and compassion as the current pandemic takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride. Our guests, psychiatrist Shelly Cohen M.D, J.D. and clinical psychologist Anita Siegman Ph. D, will help us understand and manage the responses of our bodies and minds.

Click Here for a Video Replay

Moderated by Maureen Rubin, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, Cal State Northridge. With a dramatic performance by one of JWT’s wonderful actors along with a Q & A.

For a list of Mental Health Resources, as mentioned in the event head to https://the-braid.org/mhresources

Dr. Shelly Cohen’s Top 10 ways to Stay Healthy/Positive During Pandemic:
-Keep a routine
-Sleep
-Exercise
-Eat well
-Help others where you can
-Refrain from reading the news all day
-Stay connected to others
-Get help if you’re feeling overwhelmed from a mental health provider
-Try to find meaning for yourself during this time
-Take vacation

Shelly Cohen M.D, J.D. is a graduate of NYU School of Medicine and a board-certified adult psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health a