From Jewish puppets and brisket to Yiddish folk music, Jewish culture will be showcased today at Howard County's first Jewish Festival inside and outside the Galleria at Howard Community College in Columbia.
Strains of centuries-old shtetl (village) life and modern Israel will permeate the college parking lot with an array of ethnic foods, art, entertainment and children's activities.
The event is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Howard County, the umbrella group for Jewish organizations in the county, and the HCC Jewish Students Union.
About 3,000 visitors are expected.
"We thought it would be a good way to get our community together," said festival chairwoman Margy Klein of Columbia. "We tried to get everybody we could involved.
"Because we don't have a Jewish Community Center and most synagogues meet at interfaith centers, there are no gatherings for the Jewish community. There's also a lot of people in Columbia not affiliated with any congregations. They don't know what the Jewish community offers."
More than 35 county Jewish organizations, including B'nai B'rith, the Jewish National Fund and local synagogues and religious schools, will set up information tables.
Kosher Traditions of Columbia and Baltimore and Gabe "The Falafel King" will offer corned beef and brisket sandwiches, foot-long frankfurters in the blanket, knishes (potatoes wrapped in baked dough), kugel (potato or noodle pudding) kasha (buckwheat served with onions and noodles) and kishke (stuffed derma).
Vendors from Columbia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington and New York will display and sell Judaica and Israeli crafts, art and woodwork; Hebrew software; and religious articles such as talliot (prayer shawls), kippot (skullcaps) and Hanukkah menorahs.
BTC County entertainers will perform Yiddish and Israeli folk music and dance.
"I wanted to highlight local people and show people the talent here," said entertainment coordinator Michael Kushner of Columbia. "We'll get people clapping and dancing."
Dressed in traditional costumes of white shirts, black pants, caps and vests, the 20-member Klezmer Orchestra, artists in residence at the Baltimore Hebrew University, and its six-member ensemble group, Neir Schpielers, will perform traditional Jewish music.
"Klezmer music is Jewish music of Eastern Europe that was played by itinerant musicians," said Mr. Kushner, a member of both Klezmer bands.
