Ofra Haza: Artist Yeshiva
Havurah Music Director Leah Dunn explores the life, music, and enduring legacy of Ofra Haza, highlighting her fusion of Yemenite heritage with contemporary sounds, global influence, and role as a cultural bridge across genres and communities.
Cindy Sherman: Purim and the Power of Disguise
As Purim approaches, its themes of disguise and transformation echo in Cindy Sherman’s work. Her portraits, like Purim itself, blur the line between reality and illusion—where costumes conceal and reveal, and joy and tragedy coexist.
Suzy Ultman is Playing with Purim
Two weeks before Purim, Eitan Gutenmacher, the creative director of Havurah, sat down with illustrator and artist Suzy Ultman to chat about play, Buddhism, war, and finding creative humanity within some of the darkest experiences we endure. Their transcription below has been edited for clarity.
The Whimsical History of the Purim Spiel
The story of Esther is full of cosmic winks and giggles, which is what made Purim Speils so hard to ban for Chazal, even when live theater was often violent and crude with the occasional on-stage murder. Sages of the Mishnaic and Talmudic eras condemned theatre for being frivolous, and yet, Purim Speils were relatively commonplace throughout Ashkenazi Jewry of the mid-1500s.
From Wool to Words: The Artistry of Frida Refael
In an intimate conversation at her boutique on Yona Hanavi Street, Ashley Finkel, explores Frida’s creative journey, inspirations, and artistic process. Read the full interview to uncover the story behind her craft
Mark Podwal: Artist Yeshiva
Mark Podwal used his art to preserve Jewish history and identity. In this interview, Lindsey LeBoyer talks with his son, Ariel Podwal, about his father’s legacy and enduring influence.
The Vulnerable Indie Pop of Slimdan
Carolyn Bernstein, covers a conversation between slimdan and Havurah Music director, Leah Dunn, about how a kid from a tight-knit Orthodox community learned to blend Judaism, rebellion, and humor into pop music that’s uniquely his.
Modesty in Manhattan
The intersection of faith and fashion offers a bold challenge to fast fashion’s cycle of overexposure and overconsumption. Kayla Mantell, Havurah’s Digital Media Manager, explores how Jewish modesty redefines style in NYC.
Nathan Altman: Artist Yeshiva – Chanukah Edition
A deeper look at Nathan Altman’s jugs, bottles, and pitchers will remind every Jew to cast an eye to our own vessels this Hanukkah, to pay deeper attention to the miraculous possibility already adorning our tables and our sinks.
How to Reinvent Judaica, with Dana Hollar Schwartz
As the creative force behind Via Maris, Dana Hollar Schwartz has carved a unique niche in the world of Judaica, merging the ritual objects she designs with a timeless modernist aesthetic.
Watch: RuPaul learns Chanukah Mysticism
In this clip, Jewish comedian and actress Sandra Bernhard lights the Chanukah candles on VH1’s 1997 RuPaul Christmas special. Bernhard takes this rare opportunity to teach RuPaul some Hassidic Chanukah Torah, openly admitting that she “only lights” oil menorahs, as they “bring down more light.”
Havurah’s Annual Je-Wish List
The season of infinite joy and fried foods is here. Each year, we present a list of the top Jew-ish (actually… very Jewish) gifts for all the characters in your life.
Margo Guryan: Artist Yeshiva
With the recent yartzeit of the cult-classic baroque pop musician Margo Guryan (4 Kislev 5782) and the release of the critically acclaimed tribute album Like Someone I Know by Sub Pop Records, we’re taking a moment to reflect on Guryan’s life, legacy, and her lasting Jewish cultural impact.
Watch: Young Troye Sivan Singing Ani Ma’amim
In this clip, a young Troye Sivan sings Ani Ma’amin, while wearing a large velvet kippah on his head. While today Sivan is best known as a global queer pop icon celebrated for songs that explore desire and identity, this video offers a glimpse into his less well-known modern Orthodox Jewish upbringing in Perth.
Clara Grusq finds Healing in Jewish Art
Born in Paris, France, and descended from Holocaust survivors and resistants of the Algerian War, Clara Grusq is a Jewish multidisciplinary artist, writer, and creative director based in New York.
Anita Stein’s Visual Universe of Ancient Jewish Wisdom
Anita Stein relishes in family life, raising five children of her own. She is also altogether an entirely different thing; A graphic artist and visualizer of ancient Jewish wisdom.
Ignacio Wer is Crafting Music for a New Jewish Era After October 7th
Havurah Music intern, Carolyn Bernstein, covers a conversation between Ignacio Wer and Havurah Music director, Leah Dunn, about his latest work, and contribution to Havurah's Common Blue Album.
A.G. Cook: The Sonic Architect Redefining Pop
A.G. Cook, the visionary producer behind Charli XCX’s summer anthem "Brat," has not only shaped the soundtracks of our summers but also the contours of contemporary pop music.
A Year after October 7th, a new Jewish Album Emerges
The Havurah Team discusses Common Blue, our debut record, set to release October 1, 2024. Common Blue is a collaborative album for this moment in Jewish history, and a collective love letter to our tradition.
Star Status: Wear your Jewish Jewelry on Campus
What we put on our bodies are powerful tools for self expression and identity. Havurah’s Digital Media Manager Kayla Mantell discusses Jewish pride on campus, and dressing the part.
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