Students come to Ohio State from a variety of backgrounds and almost naturally seek out others like themselves; thus the hope of student groupings finding diversity ends before it gets a chance to develop. To combat this cycle, the Schottenstein Chabad House is hosting their fourth annual “Herb Schiff Afro-Judaic Concert and Ribfest,” a celebration of jazz and food.
The event, open to all, was founded by Schiff’s grandson David Hershorn to honor Schiff’s devotion to bringing people together, and is scheduled to take place 7 p.m. tomorrow at 207 E. 15th Ave.
“The inspiration was basically my grandfather’s emphasis (on diversity) and initiating it as part of my life to look at people of different kinds and from different areas and say ‘what can you teach me, and what do you want to learn from me?'” Hershorn said.
Hershorn’s former New Orleans surroundings helped make it all happen.
“It is easy for me to find people who enjoy going to other cultures because that’s what people from that area do. Around the world they plug in the poignant heritage of that Louisiana region, and it’s just such a great thing to watch people from around the world, especially Americans, see the origination of culture from an area,” Hershorn said.
Hershorn sees a connection between cultures.
“Jewish culture is very strong. The culture from down there is musically strong, and the two seem to fit very well,” Hershorn said.
Rabbi Zalman Deitsch appreciates the diversity Hershorn has brought to the Chabad House in the past.
“He’s come down with a very diverse group of musicians, and it’s always a good time. We also have a little jam session where different students who bring along their different musical instruments show their thing. It’s very positive,” Deitsch said.
Melissa Rosenfield, a senior in personalized studies, attended last year’s Ribfest and said she remembers an amazing time.
“It was a really nice mesh of people from everywhere hanging out and having a good time together. In Columbus, we’re so used to our little worlds, living in our little bubbles, and it’s really nice when everybody is so enthusiastic to come together over music and food which transcends any culture,” Rosenfield said.
Coming together is an important concept to grasp because as Hershorn points out, the population may grow, but the size of the earth will not. How people deal with that dilemma will be their decision.
“You either want to discover new culture, embody and enhance that culture by championing culture and the differences of those cultures, or you allow the homogenization of those cultures which is what is happening now in a lot of Western and American settings. I prefer the former,” Hershorn said.
This year Hershorn is bringing guitarists Phil DeGrey and Carl LeBlanc to fill the jazz slot. To fulfill its end of the deal, the Chabad is having kosher ribs flown in from Brooklyn. Both components will feed unity within diversity.
“As soon as we understand having differences doesn’t make us bad or good I think there will be peace on earth,” Deitsch said. “That’s something we should all root for.”
