It is said that it takes all kinds of people to make a world. It also takes all kinds of
music to make up an inspiring worship service. For a service to have musical
impact, it needs to invoke active and passive participation. Sometimes it is inspiring
to listen to the Hazzan sing an elaborate cantorial piece, giving expression to the
liturgy as is only possible by a master of both Tefilah and music. It is also necessary
to provide for more simple, melodious melodies the congregation can easily learn
and sing to increase their level of active participation. It is also important to have a
choir and multi-voice music that can give many levels of meaning that the solo voice
cannot.
On behalf of the congregation, I wish to thank all those who are participating this
year to inspire us during the High Holidays. The Sh’lichey Tzibur: Mark Sussman,
Charles Berris, Daniel Wiener, Steve Rabinovitz and Ira Harris; the Baaley Kriah:
Les Goldstein and Nathan Roth; and the members of the choir: Ira Harris, Mark
Rafsly, Steve Mondrow, Mark Sussman, Steve Rabinovitz, Dan Braude, Len
Wanetik, Larry Katkowsky, Larry Gunsberg and Zach Mondrow as well as Youth
Soloist Steve Hurvitz, all under the direction of Charles Berris.
This year as part of the L.I.F.E. program, I will be training a Youth Choir on
Mondays, which will participate in some Shabbat morning services during the
second part of the year and which, God willing, will serve as the basis for a group to
be used next Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This group also will be open to
children who are not part of the synagogue school who in grades 3-6. For
information contact me or our new Education Director Daniella Harpaz-Mechnikov.