Shearith Israel Rocks Shtetl in Style

Congregation Shearith Israel celebrated the installation of Rabbi Ari Kaiman on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20, with the help of scholar in residence Rabbi Brad Artson, the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and vice president of American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Rabbi Artson is Rabbi Kaiman’s teacher and mentor.

The weekend culminated with a capacity crowd at Emory University’s Miller-Ward Alumni House. The “Rock the Shtetl” party featured the Old Fourth Ward Afro Klezmer Band and gourmet Lower East Side kosher catering by The General Muir.

The upscale shtetl delicacies included potato knish and gefilte fish round hors d’oeuvres, a pickled vegetable table, a hand-blended chopped chicken liver bar, amazing latkes, an extensive spread of smoked fish, including sable and trout, and an indulgent brisket dinner.

Photos by Leah R. Harrison

: Emily Kaiman surprises her husband, Rabbi Ari Kaiman and brings down the house at the party with a rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song,” which her husband played for her in an airport when they were dating.

: Shearith Israel President Rick Kaplan, Sharon Neulinger, and Ana and Eric Robbins are all smiles at the end of the evening.

: “Rock the Shtetl” event organizers Robin Rosenberg, Howard Zandman and Sara Duke celebrate a job well done.

: Rabbi Ari Kaiman can barely contain himself as Michael Rosenzweig emcees a visit from the mystic from the East, aka Howie Slomka, in a throwback to the Carnac the Magnificent shtick performed by Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”