"Aaron's lively, provocative translations of biblical Hebrew, his showmanship and signature humor will transform your Torah service into story time!"

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Trained by Amichai Lau-Lavie and the famed Storahtelling Ritual Jewish Theater, a veteran National Public Radio commentator and an alum of Chicago's internationally acclaimed Second City Comedy Troupe, Aaron is also co-creator of the popular online weekly, The Comic Torah.

With the craft of a Storahtelling trained and certified Maven and the performance skills of a professional Standup comedian, Aaron will give your congregation an experience of Torah like no other and deeper appreciation of the greatest stories ever told.

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Aaron is an artistic associate of Ritual Jewish Theater

Jewish humor http://aaronfreeman.com torah maven meturgeman

 

 

 

From JewishEncyclopedia.com

MAVEN/METURGEMAN

With the return of the exiles from captivity the religious instruction of the people was put into the hands of the Levites (Neh. viii. 7-9; II Chron. xvii. 8, 9; xxxv. 3). These functionaries were called ("teachers"). In all probability the language of instruction was still Hebrew (Friedmann, "Onkelos," p. 81, to the contrary). How long the Levites continued in the office of teachers and how long the Hebrew language remained intelligible to the masses are unknown; but at a later time, when Aramaic had become the vernacular, and religious instruction had ceased to be the exclusive privilege of the priesthood, the Levitic ("teacher") gave way to the lay ("interpreter," "translator"), called also or . The official was paid probably by the community (comp. Pes. 50b; Rashi ad loc.). This seems, however, not to have been always the case, since the Halakah speaks also of a minor acting as meturgeman. Back to Top or read more.

 

 

AMICHAI LAU-LAVIE (EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ACTOR) is the founder, executive and artistic director of Storahtelling. An Israeli-born teacher of Judaic Literature and performance artist, he is described as 'one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world" by the NY Jewish Week, 'iconoclastic mystic' by Time OUT NY, and "a Judaic Pied Piper who spins gold out of the inherent drama of biblical legends and scripture' by the Denver Westword.

Amichai studied at various yeshivot, including the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Elul Center in Jerusalem. Between 1992 and 1996 he directed the summer programs at Melitz: the Jewish Zionist Centers in Jerusalem , focusing on the integration of Jewish education via the arts. His theatrical experience as a writer and performer includes the Theatre Company Jerusalem, The Acco Theatre Group in Israel and the Avodah Dance Ensemble in the U.S. Between 1997-2000 he served as Artist-in-Residence at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City. Back to Top or Learn more about Amichai

 

 

Nehemiah Chapter 8

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

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Storahtelling Ritual Jewish Theater

Storahtelling promotes Jewish cultural literacy through original theatrical performances and educational programs for multi-generational audiences. Using twenty-first century performance art techniques, Storahtelling brings personal contemporary meaning to 5,000 years of Jewish tradition.

We have developed four program models to accomplish our mission: synagogue-based ritual performances (Shultime), theatrical productions that adapt Jewish myths and rituals for a popular audience (Showtime), training programs that familiarize artists and educators in local communities with the Storahtelling technique (Schooltime), and a re-imagined worship arena for the 21st century (RituaLab). Back to Top or read more.

 

 

The Second City - From Wikipedia

The Second City is a long-running improvisational theatre based in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.

The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959[1] and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto, metro-Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. The Second City has produced television programs in both the US and Canada including SCTV, Second City Presents, and Next Comedy Legend. The Second City Las Vegas is scheduled to close on Aug. 1, 2008.[2]Since its debut, Second City has consistently been a starting point for several comedians, award winning actors, directors, and others in show business. Back to Top or read more

 

The Comic Torah

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For Immediate Release


COMEDIAN AARON FREEMAN BECOMES
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL TORAH MAVEN IN 1000 YEARS

Aaron Freeman, for years one of Chicago's leading comedians and personalities, is now the midwest's foremost Torah Maven. The Maven, or Torah interpreter, is one of Judaism's oldest professions. After the Babylonian exile, most Jews could not speak or read Hebrew. The Jewish bible might as well have been in Greek. For Judaism's first fifteen hundred years, Mavens translated and interpreted the biblical stories in lively and creative ways that brought the tales to life.

Amichai Lau-Lavie and the Storahtelling Ritual Jewish Theater are reviving the ancient profession by training Mavens around the world to lead synagogue Torah services in the uniquely theatrical Storahtelling style.

Jewish standup comedian, commentator and comic creator Aaron Freeman is among the first graduates of the program. And, as newly designated, "Resident Maven" of Congregation Aitz Hayim in Highland Park, IL, Aaron is the first professional, congregational Maven in a thousand years.

The reading of Torah once functioned as the central opportunity for education in the Jewish community. Although still performed weekly, the ritual has clearly lost much of its historic vitality. By incorporating innovative translations, dramatic commentary, and live music into the weekly reading, the Maven ritual brings Torah front and center once again as an inspiring and creative part of Jewish life. Maven rituals are typically presented in synagogues during the Saturday morning or afternoon service, corresponding to the traditional place and time of the Torah Reading, but are also appropriate for weekday presentations at summer camps, day schools, and conferences. In these presentations, Aaron incorporates innovative translations, dramatic commentary, modern stagecraft and even live music (if customary) into the traditional chanting of Torah. Aaron's Maven rituals are often combined with a full Shabbaton program of events, including study classes, lectures, talkback sessions, Havdalah, and training workshops.

Aaron offers a variety of Maven presentations, including his "Bat/Bar Mitzva Maven Experience," a "Comic Torah Maven Fundraising Shabbaton"and much more . This combines a Friday night exploration of modern midrash, featuring The Comic Torah (the weekly online comic he creates along with his wife, artist Sharon Rosenzweig), Shabbat Torah service Maven ritual, plus a Saturday evening comedy performance and auction. It is a weekend synagogue event that can more than pay for itself!

Maven events engage a multi-generational and cross-denominational population through interactive participation in the theatrical performance. Aaron recognizes that each congregation is different, and works with each community's halachic and customary needs in regards to length of Torah reading and musical accompaniment, often provided by Aaron's Maven partner Marge "Marge the Maven" Eiseman.

Aaron will conduct monthly Maven rituals with Aitz Hayim at the Highland Park Community House. On other Sabbaths Aaron intends to literally offer his Storahtelling Maven services to congregations across the country.

For more information or to book Aaron's Storahtelling Maven ritual at your synagogue visit his web site, http://aaronfreeman.com or call 773.230.7861.

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