Storahtelling Booking

Storahtelling restores ancient stories for new generations, bringing contemporary relevance to 5,000 years of Jewish heritage. The weekly Torah Service, a 2,500 year-old, ongoing tradition, once functioned as the primary educational experience for the Jewish community, transforming local synagogues into centers of learning for all ages. Although this weekly tradition is still performed worldwide, over time the ritual has lost much of its historic vitality and educational potential.

Storahtelling restores the Torah Service to its original stature through a revival of the lost techniques that accompanied this ritual of sacred storytelling. The result is an interactive, vernacular translation of Torah that empowers modern communities to merge their personal narratives with the collective story. Since 1999, Storahtelling has transformed the Torah service, bringing these dramatic and interactive techniques to thousands of synagogues, schools, summer camps, and conferences worldwide, introducing ’a revolutionary approach to Judaism’ (The Jewish Journal).

1. Storahtelling bridges past and present by reclaiming the historical profession of the M’turgeman or Maven - Aramaic and Hebrew, respectively translated as ‘intermediary’ or ’expert’. First mentioned in the Bible as scholars who translated Torah in their local communities, Mavens were trained orators who used storytelling to convey not only the text of the Biblical heritage, but also the context of its timeless and contemporary relevance. The Maven tradition gradually disappeared from synagogue life in the Middle-Ages, and has been reclaimed by Storahtelling, lifting Torah off the page and back onto the stage.

The team of Storahtelling Mavens includes skilled educators, performers and musicians, offering a range of styles of presenting the modern Maven to diverse audiences in multiple settings.

Mavens are available for BOOKING for the 2009-2010/5770 Season. Invite us now and make Torah come alive in your community!

Storahtelling bridges past and present by reclaiming the historical profession of the M’turgeman or Maven - Aramaic and Hebrew, respectively, translated as ’intermediary’ or ’expert’. First mentioned in the Bible as scholars who translated Torah in their local communties, Mavens were trained orators who used storytelling to convey not only the text of the Biblical heritage, but also the context of its timeless and contemporary relevance. The Maven tradition gradually disappeared from synagogue life in the Middle-Ages, and has been reclaimed by Storahtelling, lifting Torah off the page and back onto the stage.
Led by Amichai Lau-Lavie, the team of Storahtelling Mavens includes skilled educators, performers and musicians offering a range of styles of presenting the modern Maven to diverse audiences in multiple settings.

Mavens are available for BOOKING for the 2008-2009/5769 season. Invite us now and make Torah come alive in your community!

Two-Day Maven Shabbaton
One-Day Maven
StorahShows

Two-Day Maven Shabbaton
The highlight of a Maven Shabbaton is the Torah-Reading Ritual in which one or two Storahtelling Mavens bring the Torah to life through a fresh fusion of Hebrew chanting, dramatized English translation and interactive commentary.

A Maven will work within the structures of your synagogue’s existing Torah service ritual, consulting with your leaders to develop an inspiring and relevant retelling of the Torah reading of the week, suited to the specific needs of your congregation. (45-60 minutes)

In addition to the Torah-reading ritual, Maven programs include additional possible programming items:

Talkback: A formal Q&A session which follows each MAVEN Torah-Reading ritual and is a vital opportunity for the congregation to learn more about the Storahtelling method and it’s possible local application. (20-30 minutes)

Setting the Stage - A Taste of Storahtelling: An introduction to Storahtelling and Torah translation. This program is usually set as a Friday night d’var during services, but is easily customizable to a dinner setting. Led by a senior company member, it often includes a history of Storahtelling as well as an interactive ritual experience that briefly demonstrates the Storahtelling technique with translation, drama, ceremony, and/or song. This is an opportunity for your community to get a taste of Storahtelling, encouraging congregants to return throughout the Shabbaton weekend for additional programming. Setting the Stage is a great introduction to a Shabbaton weekend full of Storahtelling ritual reinvention. (10-30 minutes)

Workshops:

Option One - Gained in Translation is an interactive study session open to congregants and community members interested in acquiring a greater understanding of the ancient art of Torah translation and its contemporary relevance. Using Judaic and literary theory and commentary, participants explore the exciting possibilities offered by oral translation and dramatic interpretation of ancient Hebrew texts. (60-90 minutes)

Option Two - Backstage with Storahtelling. An on-your-feet interactive workshop designed to inspire participants to experiment with Torah translation and to increase comprehension and relevancy of Judaism’s ancient texts using theatre exercises and translation techniques. This workshop can be tailored for adults, educators or students. Maximum 30 participants. (90-120 minutes)Option Two - Backstage with Storahtelling is an engaging and interactive workshop, designed to inspire participants to experiment with Torah translation and to increase comprehension and relevancy of Judaism’s ancient texts. Using theatre exercises and translation via the performing arts. This workshop can be tailored to student groups. (1.5-2 hours, Max size 30 participants)

One-Day Maven
Available primarily for the NY metropolitan area, the ONE DAY MAVEN program features an interactive Torah Reading Ritual, conducted by one or two Mavens, followed by a talkback session. This program is suitable for synagogues, schools and other venues on either Saturday or weekdays.

Two-Day Maven Shabbaton (including Setting the Stage, Maven Torah Reading Ritual, Talkback, and either Gained in Translation or Backstage with Storahtelling workshops

One Maven - $3,000
Two Mavens - $3,600

One Day Maven (including Maven Torah Reading Ritual and Talkback only).

One Maven - $1,750
One Maven + an additional Maven or Musician - $2,000

NOTES ON PRICING:
* Fees do not include travel and accommodations for performers.
* Fees assume one overnight for performers. Additional programming may require additional overnights at an added cost.

Optional Programming Additions:
Spice to Go: A Musical Havdallah
Usher in the new week, Storahtelling-style and join us as we celebrate the separation of Shabbat from the week, the sacred from the mundane, and the past from the future with music, stories, spices, fire, and wine. (20-30 minutes) $500

Educators Workshop
Inspire and empower your community to experiment further with creative Torah transition. Go backstage and between the lines with Storahtelling professionals as participants get on their feet and experiment with their own Storahtelling-inspired dramatization of a selected Torah passages. This workshop is ideal for lay leaders and lifelong learners as well as those interested in pursuing more formal training with Storahtelling. (4 hours. Max size 25 participants) $1,000

Storah Shows Are:

Becoming Israel - Three parallel lives intertwine to discover their shared story and their common name—Israel—“The One Who Struggles with God”.
Leah, a Biblical wife, meets Rachel, a Holocaust survivor, and Jake, a young American on his first trip to Israel. Fusing sacred scripture with contemporary stagecraft. Becoming Israel examines the intersection between individual identity and collective memory, inviting audiences for a closer look at the legacy of Israel in a global reality. Features original soundscore, adaptations of biblical text and historical narrative. It is designed for a teen and adult audience. 60 minutes in length.

One Giant Leap - The Sea of Reeds splits open but who will leap first into the waters of the unknown? Make ONE GIANT LEAP into one of the worlds’ oldest stories and discover miracles. Featuring actors, giant puppets, live music and audience interaction, Storahtelling brings Torah to life. ONE GIANT LEAP is suitable for children 4-10.