Dear Hearts of Pardes Levavot,

A series of rare and wonderful Jewish events are coming to Denver in February!

If any of you were at either of the last two Kallah's, you had a chance to hear an amazing young singer who specializes in Mizrahi music. You may have heard her perform at Cabaret both years, or attended Daniel Siegal's 2007 Shabbat Shaharit service at which she served as hazzanit or attended her week-long class in 2005. Zalman and Jack Gabriel say, "She's terrific! And what a voice!"

Her name is Galeet Dardashti and next month she will be in Denver under the sponsorship of the Center for Judaic Studies at DU. She is the February scholar-in-residence in their series, Shema: The Sounds of Judaism. Here's the schedule:

Friday, February 15 @ 5:30. "A Mizrahi Kabbalat Shabbat " at DU Hillel.

Saturday, February 16 @ 7:30 Performance by Galeet and the group she founded, Divahn. at Oriental Theater in NW Denver (I'll bet some of you have their CD, "Divahn.")

Monday, February 18 @ 7:30 Free public lecture "Mizrahi Piyyutim: Middle Eastern Prayer Poetry" at DU. Reservations required (303-871-3660)

Tuesday and Wednesday, February 19 & 20 4-6 pm Free Master Class in Judaic Studies: "Performing Arab and Middle Eastern Music in Israel." Open to the public, but reservations required (303-871-3600).

Galeet & Divahn received the 2005 Jewish Music Award for Best Middle Eastern Blend. Galeet is one of only five young Jewish musicians to receive the newly established Six Points Jewish Arts Fellowship financial award from the Foundation for Jewish Culture in NYC. Besides serving as Hazzanit in an Ashkenazic synagogue in New Jersey, she leyns Torah in both Ashkenazi and Persian trope

DU writes in its brochure: "Join us for a week of Middle Eastern and Sephardic Music with one of the most noted artists and scholars in this field---Galeet Dardashti and her all female band, Divahn!" If you can't get to anything else, go to the concert Saturday night. It's only $18 and there may be a chartered bus from the Boulder JCC. Check with the JCC. But GET THERE---DIVAHN WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!

If you want more information about Galeet and Divahn, or details about each of the events and their exact addresses, go to du.edu/cjs/public_programs.html

AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR NON-PARDES FRIENDS.

Shula Weisz