Los Angeles Jewish Symphony

A Patchwork of Cultures at Breed Street Shul

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony andBreed Street Shul Project were pleased to present two live chamber concerts for students from two local elementary schools at the landmark Breed Street Shul in Boyle Heights on Thursday, December 14–the seventh day of Chanukah, the festival of lights–as part of the Symphony’s acclaimed education program, A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection

These concerts broughtA Patchwork of Cultures to the more than century-old Breed Street Shul, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. Since 1915, this significant Boyle Heights institution fostered a spirit of community among its congregation made up largely of first-generationJewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, living side by side with neighbors of Japanese, Mexican, and Molokan Russian heritage, among others. In 1999, Jewish community activists, with the support of the Shul’s now largely Latino neighborhood, launched BSSP to preserve the Shul, which was threatened with demolition, and transform it into a center of arts, culture, education and service for the current population of Boyle Heights and all of Los Angeles

Please enjoy photos from the concert below!

LAJS Teaching Artist, Leslie Lashinsky, teaches the students of Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492
LAJS Teaching Artist, Jonathan Rubin, shares the history of the language Ladino
Sadie Stallcup (vocals) beautifully performs “Ocho Kandelikas” in celebration of Hanukkah
Micah amazes the audience with his oboe solo during the Chamber’s performance of “Niloofar” arranged by Zinovy Gore
LAJS Managing Director and Education Program Coordinator, Audrey, Yoder (vocalist), dazzles the audience with “Scalerica de Oro” arranged by Joseph Ness

Photography by: RHIAN BRISTOL