Join us!
We are proud to join forces with Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel (CABI) and partner with Idaho's Jewish Festival, the event formerly known as Deli Days, to launch this year's public event festival on September 1, 2024. Rest assured, CABI has not taken the "Deli" out of Deli Days. Kosher style deli sandwiches will be available, along with bagels, knishes, beer & wine, and other CABI-made delectable desserts.
Idaho’s Jewish Festival promotes awareness, appreciation, and celebration of Jewish culture in Idaho. The festival will weave a theme of diaspora, the dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland, throughout this public event. The festival will include seminars, dancing, tours of the historic synagogue, and other elements showcasing Jewish art and literature.
Scheduled on August 29 (Thursday), the cultural and historical seminar - The Past, Present and Future of Ladino Culture (presenter: Nani Vazana) - will focus on the Sephardic Jews, many who spoke the Ladino language, and their dispersion from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to destinations around the globe. Please scroll down to the schedule of events to #LearnDiscoverExplore more and join us on August 29 for this special seminar and September 1 to continue the Idaho's Jewish Festival celebration. This seminar program is presented in partnership with Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, Idaho’s Jewish Festival, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University.
Entertainment NEAR and FAR
This year's headliner entertainment is Nani Vazana (aka Nani). Nani is an internationally recognized artist known for her captivating performances. Nani is a maestra in the Judeo-Spanish tradition known as Ladino, a Jewish culture dating back to medieval Spain. Nani is a professor at the London Performing Academy of Music and the Jerusalem Music Academy. #LearnDiscoverExplore www.nanimusic.com.
The Moody Jews of Boise play high-energy klezmer (Eastern European), Jewish-American jazz, Sephardic (Middle Eastern and Spanish) and Israeli tunes. Audience favorites at events like Idaho’s Jewish Festival, World Village Festival, and Hyde Park Street Fair, the Moody Jews of Boise have entertained and educated listeners about the multi-faceted world of Jewish Music.
Hot Club Les Bois brings you Gypsy Jazz to Boise Idaho. Their vintage jazz swing music from the 20s-40’s features songs by Jewish-American composers, and the connection between Gypsy Jazz and Klezmer music.
SWITCH IN TIME BIG BAND Jazz Orchestra will round out the musical entertainment for Idaho's Jewish Festival. Their big band repertoire has been described as “Old Wine in New Bottles” with music from Jewish-American composers and arrangers.
Photo credits: Oliver Thompson, CABI, and Nani Vazana
Idaho's Jewish Festival
August 29 and September 1
Date and Time: Thursday, August 29, 2024 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Event: Seminar | The Past, Present and Future of Ladino Culture
Presenter: Nani Vazana
Location: Boise State University-Yanke Research Park | 220 E Parkcenter Blvd (Room 207), Boise, ID 83706
Registration required: Access here
Registration cost: $0
Description: Through examination of literature, music and firsthand experiences, seminar participants will explore the culture of the Ladinos, a people of Judeo-Spanish heritage who originated in North Africa and Spain during the Middle Ages. The seminar will focus on the Sephardic Jews, many who spoke the Ladino language, and their dispersion from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to destinations around the globe. This presentation is free to Osher members and non-members.
Date and Time: Sunday, September 1, 2024 | 9:30am - 9:00pm
Event: Idaho's Jewish Festival
Location: Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel (CABI) campus at 11 N. Latah | Boise, Idaho
09:35am - 10:35am | Celebrating the Morning - Wellness Flow
10:15am - 10:50am | Experiencing Wellness - Nature Walk
11:00am - 12:10pm | Hot Club Les Bois
12:30pm - 01:40pm | Nani Vazana
02:00pm - 03:10pm | The Moody Jews of Boise
03:40pm - 04:55pm | Switch in Time Jazz Orchestra
05:00pm - 05:30pm | Dance Performance
05:40pm - 06:50pm | The Moody Jews of Boise
07:10pm - 08:20pm | Nani Vazana
To see additional calendar events hosted by CABI, click here. Idaho Jewish Festival on Facebook, click here.