Opportunities knock Next Dor

Some months ago a friend mentioned how her son, who graduated from college in May, had moved back home to “save money” while he looked for a job. When I ran into my friend again a couple of week’s ago, she reported that her son was still a fixture in the house and hadn’t yet found a job. Suffice it to say, she was not pleased.

Sure, she loves her son dearly and understands how hard it is to find work, especially in today’s economy. But his laissez-faire approach to picking up after himself and an ability to perpetually nap were driving her nuts, and I’m guessing she’s not exactly his dream date, either.

I thought of my friend when Matt Neufeld, the managing director of Metro Theater Company, emailed about what sounds like a great opportunity for young Jewish professionals and artists in St. Louis.  Matt’s on the Search Committee of Next Dor, the house in the Central West End that serves as a space for Jewish twentysomethings to meet and network as well as a place for their organizations to put on events. 

According to Matt, the committee crafted up to three year-long opportunities to support emerging Jewish leaders.  Each of the positions includes free housing for the duration of the program.  The three positions are:

Program Director – who facilitates programming at the house, provides strategic outreach into the community, builds relationships, and is responsible for day-to-day house operations. Position is paid by a stipend.

Creative Connections Resident – who executes a creative endeavor based on his or her area of expertise. The project will support Next Dor’s mission. Project examples include: media, entrepreneurial, culinary, Jewish study, etc.

Artist in Residence – an emerging young Jewish artist who will create a body of work and actively connect the St. Louis arts community with Jewish young adults.

Those interested must provide a resume, cover letter, three work samples (digital format only) if applicable, and a personal statement to Next Dor (at nextdorstl.org) by November 1. Selected applicants will be asked to provide a full project proposal to be completed during the year-long residency.

If this sounds right for you – or if you know of someone who would be a good candidate – an application can be downloaded on the Next Dor website. You might also suggest that he or she get busy because I have a friend, who has a son, who is planning to apply . . . as soon as he’s done napping.

Nothing crummy about this

A new Jewish website geared to youngsters and their parents is now up and running at www.challahcrumbs.com. The site tries to supplement formal Jewish learning by connecting families to the weekly Torah reading and offering them activities in conjunction with it. Parents can download Jewish-themed crafts, word finds and mazes related to the Torah reading as well as five-minute “Parsha Podcasts.” The site also offers numerous recipes that are child friendly, along with recommendations for children’s books and giveaways.

Creator Devorah Katz explained that as the mother of five, she is constantly juggling and wanted one-stop shopping for all things Jewish as they relate to children and families.

Dancing with the stars

To celebrate the opening of the new musical “Burlesque,” Screen Gems, MTV and Z1077- FM are looking for the best dancer in the country.  If you are between the ages of 13 and 30 and think you fit the bill, consider auditioning from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Chesterfield Mall (food court).

All forms of dance are welcome. The winner will score $300 and VIP seating at the advance screening of “Burlesque” for them and 10 friends and will qualify for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize and a spot on MTV.  Everyone who performs will receive passes to the advance screening of “Burlesque,” featuring Cher and Christine Aquilera, in November.

To pre-register, email [email protected] or call 314-266-1100.

A musical trip back in time

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus will perform “Transitions – From Babylon to Jerusalem,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov 14 at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road in Creve Coeur. The concert features music inspired by Jewish tradition and the Hebrew Bible, with psalm settings inspired by J.S. Bach, Salamone Rossi and Herbert Sumsion, along with a musical depiction of the Israelites’ deliverance from Babylon in Darius Milhaud’s cantata “Les Deux Cités.” There are two new works, one by composer-in-residence Clare Maclean and a world premiere by the British composer Judith Bingham, who will be traveling to St. Louis from the United Kingdom for the program.

“A Bird Is Singing,” by Bingham, was commissioned by a couple celebrating 40 years of marriage. It is a deeply romantic piece, using Belarus folksong and the imagery of Marc Chagall’s stained glass windows to depict the search for our true soul and for our “soul mate.”

The second commissioned work is a setting of the Hebrew text of Psalm 137 by Maclean. This piece was commissioned last year to honor Cantor Seth Warner of Shaare Emeth. It is woven from many strands of the composer’s life and imagination, including a piano work by Schumann, a Lutheran chorale, birdsong and synagogal chant.

General admission tickets are $27 and student tickets are $10. Both can be purchased at www.chamberchorus.org. For more information, call 636-458-4343