Irena Klepfisz: Poetry Reading, Isle of Klezbos "Full Blossom" show, El Sol Brillante Garden 7/13/25

Irena Klepfisz reads three poems as special guest for the "Full Blossom" concert by Isle of Klezbos on Sunday afternoon, July 13, 2025 at El Sol Brillante Garden in NYC's East Village . Irena starts her reading with "Responsibility" by Grace Paley. Next she reads "Gate A-4" by Naomi Shihab Nye. Irena concludes with a work by Yiddish poet Rokhl Korn, first reading her own translation ("On the poem's other side"). She then finishes by reciting in Korn's original mameloshn: "Fun yener zayt lid" [פֿין ײַענער זײַט ליד]. This footage begins Irena's remembrance of a "Yentl" stage-play adaptation performed in the 1970's at Brooklyn Academy of Music starring young Tovah Feldshuh. Irena referenced this cultural highlight of Brooklyn Jewish dykedom since Isle of Klezbos had just played two pieces from a later musical version of this theatrical work in tribute to singer-songwriter Jill Sobule [January 16, 1959-May 1, 2025]. Jill's own "Music from Yentl" songs -- created originally for a later version of the same play which Irena saw decades earlier at BAM -- had featured Isle of Klezbos as Jill's house-band in 2014-2015. A hartsikn dank to our MC, poet Irena Klepfisz! ISLE of KLEZBOS bandmates: Debra Kreisberg, clarinet & saxophone Pam Fleming, trumpet Melissa Fogarty, vocals Shoko Nagai, keyboard & accordion Eve Sicular, drums | bandleader & guest bassist Dave Hofstra Klezbos.com Videographers: Mary Patierno & Harriet Hirschorn Video editor: Mary Patierno Producer: Eve Sicular Still photos by Logan Murtha & Eve Sicular Isle of Klezbos sextet's "Full Blossom" concert at El Sol Brillante Garden was made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by the funding agencies The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council; The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the Howard Gilman Foundation, and administered by LMCC.