Riverdale's most popular home-grown rock and roll band The TJ's (aka Traveling Jewburys) played their annual homecoming gig at Kelly Ryan's bar last Saturday night, and turned the night into a double-purpose fund-raiser.
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Over a hundred fans attended the annual gig, which benefited the Men's Organization of CSAIR (Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale, of which all the TJ's are members). The two sets at Kelly Ryan's raised funds for CSAIR and the Men's Organization.
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But the TJ's also used the night to collect separate funds for Haiti. Spurred on by an announcement from CSAIR's Rabbi Barry Katz, the audience pitched in to raise more than $700. Those funds went to District 14 City Council member Fernando Cabrera's ongoing initiative to help the earthquake-stricken country.
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CSAIR and Pastor Cabrera's New Life Outreach Church have enjoyed a unique and close association over the past few years, sharing many religious and secular programs. Prior to the Kelly Ryan's gig, during Saturday morning sabbath services at CSAIR, the congregation heard an emotional report from Cabrera's daughter Lissette. She discussed their emergency relief trip to Haiti, and their work with a group of French doctors at a makeshift field hospital there.
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On Sunday morning, CSAIR was the site for another fund-raiser, as well as a massive collection of infant and baby-care supplies that were airlifted by the Cabreras to the French doctors in Haiti during the week.
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Meanwhile, the TJ's did their part at Kelly Ryan's, delivering the goods on their usual repertoire of rock and roll, folk-rock, blues, soul, country, and more. Original material written by the band members is balanced by songs from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Creedence, Hank Williams, and many others. The TJ's comprise Arthur Levy, Kerry Elgarten, Dave LaDue, Ron Minkoff, Craig Robins, David Whyne, and Bill Yaggy, all Riverdale residents.
