CALENDAR
CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES
Parshah Shoftim
Friday, Aug. 21, light candles at 7:59 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22, Shabbat ends at 8:55 p.m.
Parshah Ki Tetze
Friday, Aug. 28, light candles at 7:51 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Shabbat ends at 8:46 p.m.
An Immigrant’s Song
Felder brings Irving Berlin to life
By Cady Schulman
[email protected]
Felder, who has a background as a
concert pianist and actor, began creating his one-man shows in 1997 when he
ewish composer Irving Berlin rose took on the character of another Jewfrom his place in a Russian fam- ish composer, George Gershwin. Since
ily who immigrated to the United he began portraying Berlin, he has
States in 1893 and started life over with performed his well-reviewed show for
nothing in New York City to become more than 200,000 people.
one of America’s greatest songwriters.
“They like it,” Felder said. “I’ll just
For almost
say that. It’s a re20 years, enterally good show
tainer Hershey
because it tells a
Felder has told
really good stothe stories of varry.”
ious
American
Stephanie
icons, including
Williams, a FedBerlin. Felder has
eration spokestraveled across
woman, said the
the country to
organization is
tell Berlin’s story,
excited to partwhich he calls inner with Judy
credible.
Zaban Miller and
Hershey Felder, a trained concert pianist and
On Sunday,
Lester Miller to
actor, becomes Irving Berlin to tell the stories
Aug. 30, the Jew- behind some of America’s best-known songs. bring Felder to Atish Federation of
lanta.
Greater Atlanta is
“We felt it
bringing the one-man show “Hershey was a great opportunity to bring our
Felder as Irving Berlin” to the Buck- community together and share some
head Theatre.
American Jewish history,” Williams
“You get 100 years of some of the said. “It’s an amazing story. Irving Bermost amazing music and American lin was one of the greatest musical conhistory rolled into a very fun, I would tributors of all time.”
say really remarkable, story,” Felder
Bringing shows like Felder’s to
said. “It’s one of the great stories of all Atlanta is one way for Federation to
times and a great immigrant story.”
strengthen Jewish community connecFelder initially took on the project tions.
of portraying Berlin’s character after a
“Because Atlanta is so demographrequest by his family.
ically dispersed, any opportunity we
“The more I dug into his story, have to bring the community together
the more I realized it’s one of the great inside the Perimeter or outside the
American immigrant stories,” Felder Perimeter is a great opportunity,” Wilsaid.
liams said. “This brings people outside
Berlin’s songs, including “God of the Jewish community to underBless America,” “Easter Parade” and stand more about our background.” ■
“White Christmas” — which Felder
said