Hagiggah.org project formally launches with a musical salute
“We are looking to raise money so that camps, temples and other religious organizations can hire music directors, art directors, theater directors, because, at least from my experience, I had the greatest joy of learning to be able to perform and to find my voice – which would not have been there – had I not had my mentors and teachers.”
That’s Hagiggah.org founder and President Paul Roberts at a celebratory kick-off of the Hagiggah project in an November 5, 2026 gathering in Tarzana, California before friends and donors.
The gathering was especially interested to hear from Nan Young, herself a one-time camper and counselor in her youth in Southern California, and started the Art Trek non-profit in 2006, supporting arts originally in the Newbury Park community, but now promoting and providing arts programming from Santa Barbara to San Diego to more than 100,000 people annually. It’s an inspiration for where Hagiggah hopes to go in the future
The attendees enjoyed stories and performances from a mix of artists all contributing to the community, all of whom have been energized by their own growth through mentors and teachers, including in camp and temple settings:
● High-energy Broadway and Hollywood actor and director Joshua Finkel, performing “Choise” by Wayne Moore and “Comes Once in a Lifetime” by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolf Green, accompanied by David Cohen.
● Brad Lebowsky, celebrating more than 50 years in music as a songleader, song writer and performer;
● Noted pianist Wendy Prober-Cohen, offering “Tempo di Blues” from Dutch composer Dick Kattenburg;
● Dr. Paul Schneider, an internist and medical ethicist, who has been a performer on multiple instruments, performing his own composition, “For Leonid,” saluting his musical teacher;
● Schneider then teamed with Roberts on Debbie Friedman’s “In Ein Ani Li Mi Li”;
● Ian Simpson, the songleader at Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp, performing “Some Day,” which he co-wrote with Jeremy Sipe.
Of course, there was the obligatory closing request for donations and support for the Hagiggah.org mission to help place arts, dance, drama and musical educators, performers and teachers in Jewish camps, synagogues and programs in California.
Development Chair Gary Cohn related that dreams that start at summer camps sometimes turn into directors of plays on the stage in front of much larger audiences. He added:
“On the fundraising side, we would like to raise $1 million over the first couple of years. All of the money we raise we are going to grant out to organizations in need. We already have two major gifts in with another gift coming next week. We are looking for our first $10,000 or $20,000 gift.
“Any gift that is meaningful to you, we appreciate. We also have a naming opportunity for a grant fund.”
It was a warm way to launch this new concept, well received from attendees who turned into donors and helped to jump-start the Hagiggah project.