A radical
look at
Judaism

Public welcomed
to debate sacred
Jewish texts

By NIKITHA MARTINS

Jewish journalist and edu-
cator is inviting people
from all backgrounds to

openly debate sacred Jewish texts
because he wants to challenge tra-
ditional interpretations of sex, gen-
der and spirituality.

Matthew Gindin has formed a
project called Radical Readings
which takes place just a few blocks
from Langara College at the Peretz
Centre for Secular Jewish Culture
from February until June.

“We find ourselves
living in different
times and places.”

— ADAM STEIN, RABBI

Radical Readings is meant to
expand knowledge of how these
sacred texts are seen in modern
society. Excerpts from the Hebrew
Bible and the Talmud are dissected
and explored in detail.

“We're gathering a diverse group
of people. We are studying together
and going in chronological order in
different strata of Jewish text. And
the question I am asking is what
radical or energizing message can
we find in this strata of text for to-
day?” Gindin said.

Gindin gathered support from
both atheists and figures within the
Jewish community including con-
servative Jewish Rabbi Adam Stein
from Congregation Beth Israel.

Rabbi Stein believes that inter-
preting the Jewish text as society
evolves is important.

“As Jews translate, we find our-
selves living in different times and
places. We've had to reinterpret our
text as we find ourselves in those
different situations,” said Rabbi
Stein.

Jewish activists like Alycia Frid-
kin, member of queer Jewish group
Yad b’ Yad, have found themselves
struggling with the Jewish text.

“I think there is a lot of oppres-
sive text of oppressive things around
anti-fascism, colonialism, coloniza-
tion, sexism and
violence. But I
do think there
is a lot that also
can drive our
pethical passage
in the world,”

 Fridkin said.
Matthew Gindin
NIKITHA
MARTINS

PHOTO

VANCOUVER, B.C. FEB.17 -- Flamenco dancers from Los Gitanos School of Spanish & Flamenco Dance volunteered to
support the Warm Hearts Variety Show at Metro Theatre. Proceeds went to a new curtain and sink. cLo£ LoGAN PHOTO

Dynamic show raises funds for big upgrades

By CLOE LOGAN

earts melted for Met-

to Theatre’s quest to

upgrade because the

55-year-old venue con-

tinues to put most of their funding
towards production costs first.

Volunteer performers came to-

gether last Saturday and presented

teering their time and by doing a
draw for a pair of donated tickets.

“These people have generously
donated their talents so Metro
‘Theatre can replace our backstage
sink and our cyclorama, an object
with over 60 years of use. I'd say it’s
time,” Schamberger said.

The stage was decorated with
gifted flowers. The torn cyclorama,

seven acts for a curtain that
their one- “ gives the effect
night-only Lots of people have of sky, was vis-
event called | ible behind. Su-
the Warm been going to the san Skemp, who
Hearts — Va- theatre for years a has _—_— performed
riety Show. with acts like Dal

The theatre is
non-profit and
relies on volunteer actors, producers
and directors to put on productions.

‘The show consisted of dynamic
performances including improv,
magic and singing. Flamenco
dancers from Los Gitanos School
of Spanish & Flamenco Dance
opened the evening while members
from 5/4 Rhythm, a tap dancing
group, brought the finale. Over 100
people attended the event.

Alison Schamberger, president of
the Metro Theatre and emcee for
the variety show, opened the night
by thanking performers for volun-

— MAYA SCHOFIELD, AUDIENCE MEMBER

Richards, had the
whole crowd sing-
ing Que Sera, Sera during her last
song.

Audience member Maya Scho-
field, who grew up in the area, loves
the intergenerational aspect of the
theatre and it’s retro feel.

“The theatre seems very commu-
nity oriented, lots of people have
been going to the theatre for years
and know each other. Plus the up-
stairs lounge was like a bar in a ‘50s
Bond movie,” she said.

Tracy-Lynn Chernaske produced
the variety show and said the the-
atre getting the funding it needs is

important for the community.
“It provides a community space
for people to come in and hold

conferences, talks and all kinds of
things like that. I don’t think Mar-
pole or South Vancouver has a lot
of spaces like that,” Chernaske said.

Metro Theatre was able to raise
the funds they needed but was un-
able to provide exact amounts.

Comedic performances from the
Dirty Betty Show, an all-female

group and Luigi's Improv Troop, a
group of ninth and 10th-graders.

Metro Theatre's upcoming pro-
duction from Feb. 24 to Mar. 17.

A magician who uses cognitive
psychology to create mind-bend-
ing illusions.

SOURCE: METROTHEATRE.COM

7

Our black
history is
Canadian

A response to the
frequently asked ques-
tion: Where are you
REALLY from?

By AGAZY MENGESHA

lack artists, writers and so-
B cial activists shared their
experiences about growing

up and living in Vancouver with the
public because they say black cul-
ture is underrepresented in the city.
A panel discussion at the central
Vancouver Public Library called
Where Are You Really From?
On Being Black in Vancouver
was hosted on Feb.13 by Chelene
Knight, an SFU graduate and man-

aging editor of Room magazine.

“This event is really
important because
we don't see
ourselves often.”

— CHANTAL GIBSON, VISUAL ARTIST

Knight said she had noticed an
obvious need for events like this in
the city.

“Black History Month events in
Vancouver tend to cover the same
topics and the same people every
year,” Knight said in an email to The
Voice.

“One of the biggest issues is that
there is no real marketing around
these events. They all tend to be put
together last minute by people who
feel like they should do something
because it’s February and to me that
is not good enough.”

Knight said that she chose the
VPL in particular because she felt
that they had failed to showcase
black literature and art enough in
previous events.

Librarian
Broadus Mat-
tison helped
organize the
event and said
that the VPL |g
was working to &
better repre-
sent the diverse
communities of
Vancouver.

“T know our focus now is to en-
gage those communities and lift
their voices up,” Mattison said.

Chantal Gibson, a Langara
College alum and visual art-
ist, was one of the five panelists.
She shared her experiences about
confronting racist imagery in lit-
erature while attending UBC and
how her work speaks to represen-
tations of blackness in old Cana-
dian text.

According to Gibson, Canada’s
awareness of black history is di-
vided across the country, partly
because of population and geog-
raphy, but also because of inter-
est.

She said in areas like Toronto
and Montreal, there is more be-
ing done to showcase works of
black artists and writers beyond
Black History Month.

“That’s why this event is really
important because we don’t see
ourselves often. Black History
Month comes and then all of a
sudden there are spaces,” Gibson
said. "But really this is an ongo-
ing conversation."

Gibson is currently part of a
first ever art exhibit at the Royal
Ontario Museum celebrating
black Canadian contemporary art.

Broadus

Mattison
VPL LIBRARIAN