thank you so much for joining us this evening.
we hope you enjoy
Sounds of jewish america: The brill building era & beyond
Welcome! My name is Joe Alterman and I’m the Executive Director of Neranenah. We’re thrilled that you’re here for tonight’s show. Let me take a moment to introduce (or reintroduce) you to Neranenah. As a touring jazz pianist with a life-long fascination with Jewish contributions to music, becoming Executive Director of this organization (which was called the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival until 2020) created another fascination for me: the confusion surrounding defining the term “Jewish music.” After much thought, research and receiving 300 different answers from 300 different people when asked “What Is Jewish Music?”, I came to believe that the Jewishness of music comes not necessarily from a melody, but a story. As legendary musician Wynton Marsalis told me when I mentioned the question to him, “Jewish Music…fascinating. Not really a thing, but all over American music.” Exactly.
So, as our offerings shifted from the difficult to define “Jewish Music” towards “Jewish Contributions to Music,” our name didn’t exactly match what we do. We needed a name that better reflected the inclusivity of our programming, allowing us to present all sorts of Jewish cultural arts programming (not only music, but comedy, spoken word, panels and conversations as well) and attract a broader audience. And we found it with “Neranenah.”
You may recognize the term from the Jewish song of celebration, “Hava Nagila,” and it means, in Hebrew, “let's come together and sing,” which is what we’re all about. We honor tradition, but are far from traditional. Our minds and ears are open; the fingerprints of Jewish culture can be found all around us. We seek not to define Jewish arts and culture, but to embrace its diversity, subjectiveness, and personal nature to create a space open and inviting to all. Welcome!
We hope you enjoy the show!
Joe Alterman
ABOUT THE FINAL SHOW OF THIS SPECIAL SERIES
This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s an exploration and celebration of the creativity, resilience, and cultural impact Jewish artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs have had shaping the soundtracks of our lives. From the golden age of songwriting to the Brill Building and beyond, this series promises insights, music and stories that will surprise and inspire. A must-see for music lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about the deep connections between culture and music!
Tonight we will explore how Jewish songwriters shaped the pop sound of an era, and why Bob Dylan could be called the “Lenny Bruce of music.”
A HUGE thank you to The Zalik Foundation, The Dupree and The Gerry & Vicki Benjamin Charitable Foundation for supporting this special series.
next up for neranenah -
bela fleck with
the atlanta symphony orchestra
june 11, 2025
save the date for this special performance including
george gershwin’s “rhapsody in blue”
Interested in becoming a sponsor for this unique performance? Learn more.