Bob Dylan Scholar Seth Rogovoy to Explore Dylan’s Jewish Influences in Program at Albany Temple

Sunday, October 15th, 2017

Seth Rogovoy (photo Richard Lovrich)

(ALBANY, N.Y.) – Seth Rogovoy, termed “American Jewry’s greatest Dylan scholar” by Religion News Service and the author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet,” will present “The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan” – a multimedia program exploring the Jewish influences in the life and work of the recent Nobel Prize winner – at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany, on Saturday, October 21, at 7:30 pm.

There will also be a live music component to the event, featuring Seth Rogovoy as well as an ensemble from the congregation. The temple is located at 420 Whitehall Road, Albany; tickets are $10, available at the door. Books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.

With the aid of audio clips, video, still images and textual comparison, Rogovoy will illustrate how Bob Dylan’s songwriting has always been profoundly rooted in Jewish writings, including the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud and mysticism, fusing these inspirations into a genre of “rock ’n’ roll midrash.”

Along the way, the program will examine the Minnesota-born folksinger’s deeply religious and cultural upbringing; his commitment to Jewish practice and causes; and his decades-long connection to the Jewish outreach organization Chabad.

Attendees will learn that Dylan grew up in a Yiddish-speaking home in a family that was at the very nexus of his hometown’s Jewish community; how classic Dylan songs including “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Forever Young” have their lyrical roots in the words of prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and in Jewish liturgy; and view rare video footage of Dylan performing Jewish music and quoting from the Book of Psalms.

In addition, the audience will be treated to a concert of Dylan’s Jewish-influenced songs performed by resident B’nai Sholom folkies Rabbi Don Cashman and Phil Teumim and perhaps a special guest or two.

Author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet” (Scribner, 2009), Rogovoy is a familiar name to public radio listeners and Berkshire readers. He was a music critic and arts writer at the Berkshire Eagle for 16 years, was founding editor of Berkshire Living magazine, and his weekly cultural commentary has been heard on WAMC Northeast Public Radio for more than two decades.

Rogovoy also is an expert on klezmer, having penned “The Essential Klezmer: A Music Lover’s Guide to Jewish Roots and Soul Music” (Algonquin, 2000), the all-time best-selling guide to the music.

Rogovoy was awarded the 2016 Simon Rockower Award from the American Jewish Press Association for excellence in arts and criticism for his portrait of musician Leonard Cohen, published in the April/May 2015 issue of Hadassah Magazine.

Rogovoy is a contributing editor to the English language edition of the Forward, for which he has written for more than 25 years. His work has been published in Haaretz (Israel), Jewish Press (U.K.), Jewish Quarterly (U.K.), Tablet, Pakn Treger, Berkshire Jewish Voice, Newsday, Boston Phoenix, Chronogram, Woodstock Times, and others.

Rogovoy’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the October 21 program.

The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan Coming to Isabella Freedman on Dec 2, 2012

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

As part of the three-day retreat, “Blues for Challah: Second Set,” a “Grateful Dead Shabbaton” at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Conn., Seth Rogovoy will present his multimedia program, “The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan,” based on his book, Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet, on Sunday, December 2, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.

Seth’s program explores the rich, hidden (and not-so-hidden) Jewish themes infusing the life and work of Bob Dylan. Through recorded and live music, video, slides, lyrics, and spoken word, Seth traces the influence Dylan’s Jewish upbringing and lifelong studies of Torah, Talmud and Jewish mysticism on such well-known songs as “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Thunder on the Mountain.”

The Second Annual Grateful Dead Shabbaton at Isabella Freedman takes place on Friday, November 30 – Sunday, December 2, 2012. Registration information here.

 

 

Benefit for Musicians in Need Honors Memory of John Herald

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

(WOODSTOCK, N.Y.) The second annual Concert for The John Herald Fund and Family of Woodstock at Harmony Music (52 Mill Hill Rd.), takes place on Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 7 p.m., to raise money for artists in need of funds for some of life’s essentials.

Hosted by Charles Lyonhart and Brian Hollander, the concert – rescheduled after a freak snowstorm caused a cancellation last October 29 — features the Sunburst Brothers; Seth Rogovoy; the Saturday Night Bluegrass Band; the Princes of Serendip; Charles Lyonhart with George Quinn, T.G. Vannini and Chris Zaloom; and surprise special guests.

With Hurricane Irene leaving many people homeless, without food, money for their medical bills and other necessities of life and with unemployment still rising, the fund memorializes bluegrass-folk legend John Herald, who unfortunately was plagued by poverty in the final years of his life, by raising money for musicians in need in his name.

John Herald, a native of New York City, was a fixture on the Greenwich Village folk scene of the late-1950s and early-‘60s. He was a founding member of the Greenbriar Boys, along with Bob Yellin and Eric Weissberg, and played lead guitar and sang lead vocals for the group. It was in a support gig for the Greenbriar Boys at Gerde’s Folk City in the Village in 1961 that first garnered Bob Dylan recognition in a New York Times review by Robert Shelton.

A noted songwriter, Herald’s songs were performed by Linda Ronstadt, Maria Muldaur, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Herald lived in the Woodstock area for many years. He died at his home in West Hurley, N.Y., in 2005.

The concert begins at 7 pm.

Bob Dylan Tribute Concert, Talk and Photo Exhibition

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Music & More
Meeting House

Route 57
New Marlborough, Mass.
413.229.2785

Bob Dylan Celebration

Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday will be celebrated in words, music, and pictures with a talk and performance by Dylan author Seth Rogovoy and an exhibition of rarely seen photographs by Ken Regan, one of very few photographers given behind-the-scenes access to Dylan since 1966, as part of the Music & More Series at the Meeting House in New Marlborough on Saturday, September 24, at 4:30 p.m.

The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan: Multimedia Program, 70th B’day Tribute Concert and Booksigning, May 22, Club Helsinki, Hudson, N.Y.

Saturday, May 7th, 2011
Club Helsinki Hudson
405 Columbia St.
Hudson, N.Y.
518.828.4800
The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan
Multimedia performance with live music and booksigning
Through spoken word, digital imagery, recorded music, live music, and rare video footage, Seth Rogovoy — author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet” – will explore the Jewish Prophetic roots of and influences upon Bob Dylan’s life and music.
Immediately following the presentation, Seth Rogovoy and band will perform a 70th birthday tribute concert to Bob Dylan.
This event is part of Club Helsinki Hudson’s multi-evening celebration of Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, which continues on the actual birthdate, Tues, May 24, with “Forever Young: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Bob Dylan,” in which Seth Rogovoy will also perform.
There will be a Q&A and a booksigning immediately following the presentation. Stockbridge Library; Sun Feb 13; 5:30 p.m.

Club Helsinki Hudson
405 Columbia St.
Hudson, N.Y.
518.828.4800
The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan
Multimedia performance with live music and booksigning

Through spoken word, digital imagery, recorded music, live music, and rare video footage, Seth Rogovoy — author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet” – will explore the Jewish Prophetic roots of and influences upon Bob Dylan’s life and music.

Immediately following the presentation, Seth Rogovoy and band will perform a 70th birthday tribute concert to Bob Dylan. Following the concert, there will be a booksigning courtesy of Spotty Dog Books & Ale of Hudson, N.Y.

This event is part of Club Helsinki Hudson‘s multi-evening celebration of Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, which continues on the actual birthdate, Tues, May 24, at 7, with “Forever Young: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Bob Dylan,” in which Seth Rogovoy will also perform.