thank you so much for joining us this evening.
we hope you enjoy
an evening of music & conversation with jonah platt
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 SHOW
An intimate evening with Broadway star, renowned podcaster, and Guiness world record holder Jonah Platt accompanied by and in conversation with pianist, Joe Alterman, as he shares his Jewish journey through song and story.
Jonah Platt is a multi-platform performer whose career spans stage, screen, and sound. He is also known for his insightful commentary on Jewish identity, representation, and current events as the host of podcast “Being Jewish.”
On stage, Jonah is best known for role as Fiyero in Broadway’s Wicked, along with starring roles in The Engagement Party (Geffen Theatre), A Walk on the Moon, Found, and Hair at the Hollywood Bowl.
the next show in the 2026 season line up
May 7, 2026
Julie Benko & Jason Yaeger - GET TICKETSAbout the Artist & Show: Julie Benko is a New York–based actor, singer, and writer best known for her celebrated Broadway run as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. She performed the role over 180 times, earning the Theatre World’s Dorothy Loudon Award, being named the New York Times 2022 Breakout Star for Theater, and appearing on Variety’s “10 Broadway Stars to Watch.” She will be accompanied by husband Jason Yeager on piano. He is an award-winning musician and professor at Berklee School Music.
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