AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 27
O
ne year ago, the
community lost a
beloved mentor and
past president of JHSM (Jewish
Historical Society of Michigan):
Judith Levin Cantor. Almost
immediately, Judy Cantor’s
niece, Peggy Daitch, and the
leadership of JHSM began a
search for an appropriate and
unique tribute to launch the
Judith Levin Cantor Legacy
Fund.
They hit on an interesting
connection between George
and Ira Gershwin and the
University of Michigan. The
Gershwins’ grand-nephew,
Todd Gershwin (son of
Marc George Gershwin) is a
U-M alumnus. He initiated
a partnership between the
Gershwin estate and U-M’s
School of Music, Theatre &
Dance, to create critical editions
of Gershwin compositions and
offer a variety of courses and
musical performances. The
Gershwin Initiative, which
also holds dozens of Gershwin
scores, was born.
“This is just the kind of local
connection to Jewish history
Judy Cantor would have loved,”
said Jeannie Weiner, JHSM
president. “Making a program
out of it was a very easy
decision.”
The hottest ticket in town is
scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 10,
from 2-4 p.m. at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield as
JHSM presents, “Fascinating
Rhythm: An Afternoon of
Gershwin,” a spellbinding mix
of music and remarks.
At the keyboard will be
Bay City resident Kevin Cole,
internationally regarded as
the foremost interpreter of
Gershwin compositions. One
reviewer has raved, “When
Cole sits down at the piano, you
would swear Gershwin himself
was at the work.” Cole has
had a distinguished career as
a music director and arranger.
He is a graduate of Interlochen
Arts Academy.
Cole will be joined by
three Gershwin Initiative
faculty: Associate Professor of
Musicology Mark Clague, who
serves as the critical editions’
editor-in-chief, as well as
managing editor Andrew S.
Kohler and soprano Caroline
Helton, a clinical associate
professor of music. Several
students are also slated to
perform.
Composer-pianist George
Gershwin (born Jacob
Gershwine) and lyricist
Ira Gershwin (born Israel
Gershovitz) together and
separately created some of
20th-century America’s most
memorable music. “They
were known for innovative,
genre-bending melodies and
clever wordplay,” said JHSM’s
executive director, Catherine
Cangany, PhD. “We are
anticipating a high-energy
afternoon of music and history.”
Sponsorships and tickets
are available. Sponsorship
donations begin at $180 and are
earmarked for the Judith Levin
Cantor Legacy Fund for future
outstanding programs. Tickets
are on sale for $100 (JHSM
members), $118 (nonmembers)
and $36 (students).
For more information or to
register, visit www.jhsmichigan.
org/calendar or call (248) 915-
0114.
The Hottest Ticket in Town
Join JHSM for ‘Fascinating Rhythm’ — a Gershwin concert.
‘Springboard to
Success’
A free four-week program
for Metro Detroit women
who have been out of the
workforce and need to learn
basic computer skills, essen-
tial for many employment
opportunities, as well as job
search skills, will have an
informational meeting on
Sept. 7 at Gesher Human
Services, 29699 Southfield
Road, Southfield.
The program, Springboard
to Success, combines the
nonprofit’s successful
Women to Work program,
which has helped thousands
of women obtain work since
the 1980s, with Gesher’s
Computer Basics Class for
job seekers. Springboard to
Success will begin on Sept.
12 and run on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 9 a.m.
to noon, ending on Oct. 5.
For more information go to
www.geshermi.org/women-
towork.
“With inflation so high, we
know that many moms are
now thinking about going
back into the workforce this
school year to help their
family’s budget,” explained
Employment Specialist
Judy Richmond, who is the
Women to Work coordinator.
“There can be many obsta-
cles to a woman getting
appropriate employment,
especially when their chil-
dren are young, and we are
able to provide the vital skills
they need to land a job that
works for them, whether
it is full-time, part-time or
remote.”
The program is completely
free. For more information,
reach out to class coordina-
tor Judy Richmond by calling
(248) 233-4232 or emailing
jrichmond@geshermi.org.