Culture & Community | Faith & Spirituality | Guilford | Arts & Culture | Youth Arts Journalism Initiative
As the members of Simply Tsfat strummed their guitars, people in the crowd began to clap their hands to the beat. The notes chased each other across the stage, high to low, short to long. Just short of 10 minutes in, guitarist Elyahu Reiterborn came down from the stage and continued to play in the audience. Around him, a few listeners stood and started to dance.
Sunday, Simply Tsfat was one of three bands to play the main stage at the 18th annual Shoreline Jewish Festival, held on the Guilford Green in what has become a beloved summer tradition. Organized by Chabad of the Shoreline, the event marked an afternoon-long celebration of Jewish food, music, and culture, with performances that ranged from traditional folk songs to American classics.
In addition to music, food vendors, artists, and several organizations presented their work throughout the day.
“We believe that Judaism is about joy and love,” said Rachel Baila Yaffel, who organized the festival alongside her husband, Rabbi Yossi Yaffel. “This is an open place for people from all stripes of life to join the community. We want more love in the world and that is why festivals like this are important.”
She and Yossi organized the festival with the help from others associated with Chabad of the Shoreline and many volunteers. “Putting this together is a lot of work. We are so proud that this is the 18th year of holding this festival,” she said.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees drifted in and out of a music tent to hear Simply Tsfat, a self-described “klezmer rock” band inspired by the Kabbalah and rich tradition of Jewish mysticism. As they took the stage, three guitars (played by Reiterborn, Yonatan Zarumborn and a special guest on bass guitar) meshed perfectly with Yoni Lipshutza’s violin.
Outside the tent, kids ran across the green, meeting new people and making arts and crafts. Some stopped to play in multiple bouncy houses; others gravitated toward face paint. Beneath tents meant to keep them cool, vendors sold everything from jewelry to tupperware. The smells of falafel, knishes and other kosher food wafted through the air.
“My family and I were in the area and saw this event and came for fun,” attendee Mira (she declined to give her last name and did not want to be photographed) said while eating some french fries. Her two children had just gotten their faces painted with bright blue and red colors in the shapes of dragons and butterflies.
“Festivals such as these are a great way to reach out to the community,” said Elanit Linder, aging adult coordinator for Jewish Family Services of New Haven (JFSNH). “People have fun, meet new people and share an appreciation for the culture.”
As she listened, Alissa Wurtzel, the chief executive officer of JFSNH, agreed with her.
By 1 p.m., the festival had drawn a crowd. Visitors bought tickets that could be traded in for snacks like donuts, cotton candy and water. They got in line for face paint, henna tattoos and other crafts. They made their way to the main stage and listened to music, sometimes dancing along.
One of the vendors, CTeen Haven (or Chabad Teen Network), had carnival games for children to enjoy. Co-Director Bracha Cheruff explained that the organization helps Jewish teenagers socialize with each other. “We think it is important for teenagers to socialize and learn about their heritage,” she said.
Back in the music tent, Simply Tsfat was finishing its set, and the crowd asked for an encore. “Ok,” one band member said, “but we are going to need your help with this one.”
The band played a couple of notes and the crowd clapped in response. “When we play this-” The band played the notes again. “You go-” The crowd clapped again. People who were waiting for food joined in.
“It was fun,” Reiterborn said in a phone call with the Arts Paper afterwards. “Good people. Good food. Good energy.”
This article comes from the 2024 Cohort of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative. Ruby Szekeres is a rising sophomore at the Sound School.