"In this piece, I would like to pay tribute to the Jewish people who lobolus with live music by Creating A Bridge To A Tradition came from Europe, the immigrant culture, while exploring elements of The Klezmatics Jewish mysticism and religion, the key developments in our history." (Jonathan Wolken, artistic director of Pilobolus) Saturday, January 6, 8 pm Sunday, January 7, 4 pm Power Center • Ann Arbor FREDERIC BRENNER Special to the Jewish News W hen I set out for Ethiopia in April 1983, I knew very little about Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community. Fascinated by this community's zealous adherence to Judaism despite its prolonged isolation from the rest of the Jewish world, I set out to record its way of life through the eye of my camera. I began my Ethiopian journey in the villages of Wolleka, Ambober and Abba Entonis in the vicinity of Gondar. In the 17th century, many Jewish craftsmen took part in build- ing, the city of Gondar, the capital of the Christian kingdom. Until recently, most of the Jewish inhabi- tants of the area were still engaged in crafts like metalworking, pottery and weaving. From Gondar, I went on to the Semien Mountains. There, several days' walk from any urban settle- ment, between high, steep moun- tain ridges, the Jews had maintained their independence for hundreds of years, making their living from agri- culture and herding. My destination was the village of Shevvada. The journey was exhausting, but my exciting meeting with this commu- nity was ample reward for the effort. I did not attempt to document the life of the community in a sys- tematic way, rather to record my impressions using the camera as a kind of notebook or diary In my photographs, I tried to express the elation I felt in the presence of this ancient community. Although at the time of my jour- ney I did not know of Ethiopian Jewry's imminent immigration to Israel, I felt that I had been entrust- ed with a mission: to create a bri dge between this special Jewish tradition and the rest of the Jewish world. Now, when this traditional way of life has almost become a thing of the past, these photographs can also serve as a bridge between the past and the future generations of the community Known for their innovative combination of acrobatics and dance, the dancers of Pilobolus come to Ann Arbor for two evenings of aston- ishing performances. Their program includes one of Pilobolus' newest works, A Selection. Based on the Holocaust, this piece features a score by Hans Krasa and Pavel Haas, two Czech composers who died in Auschwitz, and sets by Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are. The performances also feature Davenen, a UMS co-commission with live music by The Klezmatics. Davenen reflects the development of American Jewish culture and features the extraordinary musical work of Hasidic New Wave and Klezmatic composer and trumpeter Frank London. The commission of Davenen is made possible by Ford Motor Company university musical society urn Gr4un,onnril fur 734•7642538 Outside the 734 area code, call oll-free BORDERS® 800.221.1229 UMS BOX OFFICE HOURS M-F 10AM-6PM, SAT LOAM-IPM Moment No. 1223 Check out these exciting events this week at your closest Borders! Call for more information on any specific event. Downtown Birmingham 34300 Woodward Ave. 248.203.0005 Saturday 1/6 Sunday 1/7 Arctic Express Jr- Kids 11 am Make a Warm & Fuzzy Snowman * Kids 2 pm Paul Vornhagen ♦ Music 8-10 Beverly Hills + 31150 Southfield Rd. 248.644.1515 Monday 1/8 Study Group * 10 am Doug Wood Ir Music 2 pm World of Bats ♦ Kids 11am Writer's Mix * 7 pm Mother/Daughter Book Group 8-12 + 7 pm Farmington Hills * 30995 Orchard Lake Rd. 248.737.0110 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 1/9 1/10 1/11 Storytime * Kids 10 am Friday 1/12 Psychic Fair 7 p.m. Irwin Cohen: Echoes of Detroit Signing 6 pm Maria Shaw Astrologer 7-9 Metro Singles * Book Grp 7:30 Creative Writing 7 p.m. Pandora's Puppets ♦ Kids 7p.m. Two Regular Guys Cookbook ♦ Signing 7p.m. Jelly's Pierced Tatoo * Music 8-10 tt: 1/5 2001 63