Storytelling event coming to Skidmore

SARATAOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents its 10th annual Matthew M. Neugroschel storytelling event at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 3 in the Falstaff Building at Skidmore College. It will also be available on Zoom.

Neugroschel, died in 2020 at the age of 49, was known as a creative storyteller and a frequent contributor to Saratoga Jewish Community Arts and the Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival.

This year’s program, made possible with the support of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, features local and regional bards telling both traditional and contemporary tales. What they all have in common is that they love storytelling and use it in multiple ways throughout their daily lives and on March 3, they share their passion with a wider audience, event organizers said.

The storytellers confirmed so far are:

• Temple Sinai president, event coordinator and emcee Beth Sabo Novik (storyteller, teacher, and massage therapist)

• Shawn Banner (teacher and graphic artist)

• Jeannine Laverty (teacher of ESL and storytelling)

• David Liebschutz (consultant, coach, teacher)

• Sandor (Sandy) Schuman (storyteller, musician, and educator)

• Lydia Watkins (student and teacher)

• Martina Zobel (teacher and director of Skidmore Jewish Student Life).

Each of our storytellers has teaching in their background and an array of skills and talents that they ultimately use in their storytelling.

As members of a distinct ethnic community, Jews tell and retell their stories, and it is a way to relive bygone days and create an enriching history, the organizers note in their announcement.

“Storytellers have a captivating gift,” says Saratoga Jewish Community Arts program Director Phyllis Wang. “Theirs is not just a reading or recitation of a story. It is a passionate interpretation of a tale so that the listener is transported through time and place.”

A $10 donation per adult and $5 per child is requested at the door. Zoom participants may mail a donation to Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. The evening starts with a selection of desserts and beverages.

To register or learn about other upcoming programs, visit us on Facebook or go to the SJCA home page at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/Db0zvtj/sjcahomepage.