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April 30, 2004/Iyar 9 5764, Vol. 56, No. 32
Kollel brings women-only performer to Valley
JENNIFER GOLDBERG
Staff Writer
Local resident Tzipi Turner never expected to have a spiritual experience in the middle of a preschool classroom.
Before moving to Arizona in February 2003, Turner was a preschool teacher in Los Angeles. The mother of one of her students was Julia Blum, the Orthodox singer who will give a Mother's Day concert at Phoenix Community Kollel Sunday, May 9. Turner is one of the organizers of the event.
"It was her son's turn to be the Shabbos abba (father) at our weekly Shabbos party," Turner recalls. "His mother attended, and he asked her to sing."
The beauty of Blum's voice brought her to tears, Turner says. "She sang one song, and I was just totally blown away." So much so, in fact, that when Turner arrived in the Valley and learned that Rabbi Zvi Holland looking to build up the women's division of the Kollel, she suggested that the Kollel bring her to Arizona for a concert.
Blum grew up in Beverly Hills and began pursuing a career in show business as a young girl, landing roles in commercials and films like "The Karate Kid."
After graduating from Yale, Blum traveled through Europe and Israel, and returned home six months later an Orthodox Jew.
Today, she still performs, but following Orthodox tradition, she sings only for women.
Her one-woman show "tells her story of growing up in Beverly Hills and show business, and then how her life changed and her whole spiritual odyssey that she went on," Turner explains. "She acts and sings her own original songs."
Turner sees the Mother's Day concert as an ideal opportunity for Jewish women to take time for themselves to enhance their spirituality.
"I think that for a lot of women, it's hard to get out and do things. I know that for me, taking care of the house and the kids is a full-time job, plus I work full-time," Turner says. "We have to make more of an effort to get out there and explore our Judaism and our spirituality. I feel like Julia is going to be able to move and entertain people.
"It's an important thing to have events for women," she continues, "and I hope we'll reach a broad audience because Julia is wonderful. She's really going to inspire a lot of people."
Details
- What: Mother's Day concert with Julia Blum
- When: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 9
- Where: Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
- Cost: $15-$25. A dessert reception by Danziger Kosher Catering will follow.
- Call: 602-433-0300
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