The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires' Connecting with Community series presents One Man Show – “Stories of the Greenfielder Rebbe and Other Surprises” with Maggid (Storyteller) David Arfa.
They say that the Jews of Greenfield and the Jews of Amherst are as different as day and night. Amherst is
filled with scholars and Greenfield lives closer to the Earth. Come and hear how these old world tensions play out in the Berkshire foothills of Western MA. Maggid David Arfa invites all to listen in and hear ancient mythology and midrash, medieval folktales, Old World Yiddish tales and other surprises.
Arfa is dedicated to Judaism’s storytelling heritage and ancient environmental wisdom. He has produced two
storytelling CDs, “The Birth of Love: Tales for the Days of Awe,” and the collection of light-hearted stories, “The Life
and Times of Herschel of Ostropol: The Greatest Prankster Ever To Live.” His full-length storytelling performance,
“The Jar of Tears: A Memorial for the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto,” won the Charles Hildebrandt Holocaust Studies
Award in honor of its artistic excellence, depth of vision and technical mastery.
Arfa’s workshop ‘Try Stories for a Change’ trains organizations to build volunteers and raise funds through authentic
storytelling and listening circles. A little known fact about him is that he is a “Shretelech guide” (Yiddish for the magical little people). He draws on his experience as an environmental educator and leads “Shretelech
Expeditions.” Kids spot the kindly Shretelech easily, however adults usually have less luck. At the very least,
everyone enjoys the quiet pleasures of field and forest, a taste of Judaism’s ancient environmental wisdom, and a
few good stories. Arfa lives in the Berkshire foothills of Shelburne Falls, MA and is currently the director
of education for Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams.
This free program is part of the Federation’s Connecting With Community Series and will be followed by a kosher hot lunch. Lunch is a $2 suggested donation for adults over 60 years of age or $7 for all others. Advance reservations are required for lunch and can be made by calling (413) 442-2200 before 9 a.m. on the day of the program.