Saturday, April 5, 8:00 p.m.
WORLD CONCERT: Inner Diaspora
Reeds and Japanese flute player Ned Rothenberg’s intensely personal take on Jewish Culture interprets the inner Diaspora as a place of learning and growth. Featuring his acclaimed trio Sync of Jerome Harris (bass guitar) and Samir Chartterjee (tabla), plus guest string players Mark Feldman (violin) and Erik Friedlander (cello), the music is rich in rhythmic invention, instrumental color and lyricism. Drawing upon his extensive experience in world music, Ned explores the possibilities of 21st century Jewish culture through the nuances of scales, modes and feelings of alienation and belonging found within the Jewish, Asian, and African-American traditions.

$10 suggested donation.

Thursday, April 10, 7:00 p.m.
Film: The Business of Being Born
Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to examine and question the way American women have babies. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal. (2008, 87 min.)

Free and open to the public.



Friday, April 11, 8:30 p.m.
JAZZ JAM with Alex Collins Trio
Jam lead by Teaneck piano prodigy Alex Collins and his rhythm section of drummer Chris Brown and bassist Gregg August. Come and sign up for a chance to join Alex and this month's featured guest musician, saxophonist Mark Gross, in performing Jazz standards for an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

$5 suggested donation.

Saturday, April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Art Opening: The Land Between Us
A new exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel through the eyes and experience of Jewish and Arab Israelis. Photography by Rachel Banai and Rauf Abu Fani, plus “Through Others’ Eyes” with photos taken by both Jewish and Arab Israeli teenagers. The opening reception will feature guest speakers Yoram Morad, the Israeli Consul for Cultural Affairs, and Israeli photographers Rachel Banai and Rauf Abu Fani, who is coming from Israel. Co-sponsored by Givat Haviva Educational Foundation Inc.

Free and open to the public.



Sunday, April 13, 11:00 a.m.
BRUNCH EVENT: Bagels, Schtick & a Play
Garage Theatre Group and the Puffin present: Play it Forward (or Bagels, Lox, and a Play…) In collaboration with the Garage Theatre, the Puffin Cultural Forum presents a new pre-show series that previews Garage productions. Actors and directors from the Garage Theatre Group, FDU’s resident troupe, come for an informal presentation about their upcoming performance of a contemporary adaptation by Alan Bennett of Kenneth Grahame’s book, The Wind In the Willows.

Free and open to the public.



Sunday, April 13, 4:00 p.m.
CLASSICAL CONCERT: Sharon Roffman
Our fifth On The Rise concert, with Thomas Osuga accompanist. This prize winner in the 2003 Naumburg Foundation International Competition, made her solo debut playing the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the New Jersey Symphony in 1996 under the baton of Zdenek Macal. Since then, Ms. Roffman has forged a unique career, equally sought after as a soloist, chamber musician and music educator throughout the United States and abroad. Ms. Roffman received a Graduate Diploma from the Juilliard School in 2003, where she was a student of Donald Weilerstein and Itzhak Perlman. The performance will include Beethoven's Sonata Spring for Piano and Violin Op. 24 in F Major, Bach's Sonata #6 for violin and piano, and Prokofiev's Sonata #1 for violin and piano.
Special pre-show concert by the JCC Thurnauer School of Music’s violin ensemble.
Pre-concert talk at 3:00 p.m.

Ticket prices:
Single Concert: $15 adults; $12 seniors & students; Children under 13 free.
Single Concert Family Plan: $25 for 2 adults and children (under 18).
Reservations Suggested.



Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m.
Film: Yossi and Jager
Romance blooms between two soldiers stationed in an Israeli outpost on the Lebanese border. A sociological study of two men in the Israeli army who are lovers. The others in the unit react to their situation, suspecting, but not always understanding. One will leave the military soon, a few months away, as a snowy and desolute outpost is guarded from attack. Winner of  2003 Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Actor Award. (2002, 65min.)

Free and open to the public.



Thursday, April 24, 7:00 p.m.
Film: Hamsin
Although this film was Israel's nominee for consideration for an Academy Award, it has rarely been seen in Israel. Hamsin is an Arabic word for the hot desert winds that sweep though Galilee and is a metaphor for the storm that engulfs Arabs and Jews in a farming community - people who have worked together for years until rumors of land confiscation fuel a tragic atmosphere of fear and suspicion. (1982, 88min.)

Free and open to the public.

Friday, April 25, 8:00 p.m.
TEEN EVENT: Poetry Jam
Slam Global Enterprises presents the seventh monthly Youth Poetry Slam of the season. MC is Big Mike or Gemineye from Slam Global. Teen poets, rap artists and spoken word performers are invited to participate in this spoken word performance event. Or just come and hear what the area's youth are expressing.

$5 suggested donation.

Saturday, April 26, 8:00 p.m.
Dance: YelleB Dance Ensemble
Continuing our celebration of Israel at 60, we present a NY-based dance ensemble lead by Israeli choreographer Ella Ben-Ahron in collaboration with Adi Shniderman and Matthias Neuman. "Rooms,"created especially for the Puffin, is a collaborative piece that explores cultural, personal, and imaginary notions of 'home'.

$15 suggested donation.



Sunday, April 27, 4:00 p.m.
CONCERT: David Glukh's Puffin Trio
Puffin Cultural Forum is excited to introduce the Puffin Trio, a truly unique blend of Piccolo Trumpet, Cello and Violin. Born as a musical experiment of trumpeter David Glukh, (who wowed audiences here with his Wholly Brass group), cellist Stan Orlovsky, and violinist Mikhail Kuchuk, their first concerts have earned this group rave reviews. They will perform their signature eclectic concert program consisting of Classical music, Jazz, and folk music from Greece, Eastern Europe, Klezmer, and Argentinean Tango.

$10 suggested donation.