Submitted by Alice Deane.

As war rages in one of the cradles of Yiddish culture, we join together to sing the songs and tell the stories of our shared homeland. Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. “Songs of the Heartland” takes place at the San Juan Island Grange. The cost is $20 at the door.

In this program, Klezmer musicians and Yiddish singers bring us this diverse repertoire of songs and tunes to paint a picture of Jewish life in Ukraine and stand in solidarity with our friends fighting for their freedom. Michael Alpert, a well-known contemporary Yiddish culture bearer and leader in the revitalization of Yiddish music and dance, teams up with Craig Judelman, Seattle native now living in Berlin helping to drive the active Yiddish music scene, and touring to push this rich culture in it’s continuing evolution. This rare West Coast tour allows us to enjoy the music and raise money and awareness for Ukraine. There also will be edibles and collectibles for sale with proceeds going in support of Ukrainian charities.