The Torah of Blues with Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Jerron Blindboy Paxton

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

This event was held on May 26, 2021 at 8 pm ET
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Wednesday, May 26 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT
Free with suggested $10 donation
See “Ways to Watch” below

“There is so much Torah in this music that we Jews can learn”
-Rabbi Sandra Lawson

The Blues is an essential form of expression and storytelling, a vehicle for learning, and passing down cultural history and heritage. The immediate predecessors of Blues were the work songs of enslaved people in America which had their origins in West Africa. During this program, Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Blues musician and historian Jerron Blindboy Paxton—two Americans at the intersection of Black and Jewish identities—will explore stories and lessons of Torah (the Hebrew Bible) that can be uncovered through examining this unique musical form that has influenced just about every genre of American music.

Join us for good conversation and, of course, a little music in the form of short performances and demonstrations throughout the program from Jerron Paxton.

Rabbi Sandra Lawson is a Rabbi, activist, and the Inaugural Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion with Reconstructing Judaism. Jerron Blindboy Paxton is a virtuosic multi-instrumentalist Blues musician and historian.

Ways to Watch

Facebook: Look for the LIVE post on the Museum’s Facebook page at 8pm ET. You do not need a Facebook account to view the program.

NMAJH website: A little before the program start time, the livestream will also be available at the top of this page. You will be prompted to enter your email address. Please note that you may need to refresh your screen and press “play” on the video—the static image will be replaced with the live feed before the program starts.

Zoom: Registration is required to receive the link–click here. There are a limited number of Zoom slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Zoom will cut off registration when the limit has been reached. Should that occur, please use one of the other methods listed above instead—they are all free and have unlimited capacity.

This program is presented by the National Museum of American Jewish History in partnership with Jews in ALL Hues, and Reconstructing Judaism.