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Notes from Cantor Avima Rudavsky Darnov

04/22/2025 10:45:06 AM

Apr22

Cantor Avima Rudavsky Darnov

Post-Pesach,   Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs

04/22/2025 09:48:34 AM

Apr22

     Passover may have "passed over", but I wanted an opportunity to share another musical feature of the holiday. During Pesach it is customary to recite the beautiful love poetry of Shir Hashirim- The Song of Songs attributed to King Solomon. The poetry is romantic and sensual, but as a religious text it is seen as an allegory of the relationship between God and the people of Israel. 

     You are...Read more...

MORE Passover songs... 

04/15/2025 01:10:53 PM

Apr15

     There are a few more days of Passover, and that is a good thing, because I have more songs to share with you!.  On each day of Passover (and other festivals) we recite and sing a group of Psalms that are known as HALLEL. For me, this has always been the highlight of the Yom Yov service I did not want to miss.There is a great explanation of Hallel  HERE . I hope to see some of you at services on the last...Read more...

Preparing for Passover, Part 2 

04/06/2025 06:34:05 PM

Apr6

     Last week I shared several links for seder songs for the part of the seder that comes before the meal, but a seder is ot complete without dessert  - and I am not referring to macaroons. I am referring to all the fun songs that come after the meal and at the end of the seder. 

     Here are some links to songs, feel free to play them at your seder karaoke style! Many of these videos...Read more...

Preparing for Passover 

04/01/2025 12:04:04 PM

Apr1

     I cannot conceive a seder without a lot of songs. When I scroll through my memories of seders past, as far back as my childhood all kinds of images appear in my mind's eye.  The seder table with all of its ritual objects and  place settings. We even had these great glasses collected from the Barton candy company which I still have to this day. Even though I have been a vegetarian from the age of 18, I can...Read more...

The Nightingale of Iran 

03/24/2025 11:43:06 AM

Mar24

     It is no secret that I live in Monmouth County which means I have a one hour (on a good day) commute and I usually come to Adath Shalom 6 days a week. I have acclimated to this commute and sometimes, when I become immersed in a good audio book or podcast, I actually look forward to the opportunity to hear the next chapter or podcast episode. About a year ago, our member Ellen Muraskin suggested I listen to the podcast "The...Read more...

Let's Sing Purim Songs! 

03/11/2025 10:18:11 AM

Mar11

     There are so many fun songs for Purim, many, many song parodies based on popular music, showtunes, etc... But some of my favorite purim songs are actually the Yiddish songs. Here is one I just found by typing "Purim songs in Yiddish" on youtube. And, who is that fellow in the back row, 2nd from the left? Our very own Cantor Brian Kalver! Makhts Of! Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus

     One of my...Read more...

On The Roof - Jazz Impressions  of Fiddler

02/21/2025 12:09:00 PM

Feb21

     Enjoy this beautiful article and music about a new album release featuring Cantor Jeremy Stein (flutist) and Mitch Shiner who plays a vibraphone on this album. I am not a big jazz fan, but I am definitely buying this one. Press play in order to hear the article read with musical...Read more...

Tu Bish'vat in Song! 

02/09/2025 12:45:36 PM

Feb9

     As we experience the snowiest week of our winter so far, it is hard to believe that in Israel the almond blossoms will begin to appear in a matter of weeks. Wildflowers and poppies will begin to pop up in the landscape. Tu Bish'vat, the "fifteenth of the month of Sh'vat" is a day to celebrate trees, produce of trees: fruit and nuts, nature, and the land of Israel. There are so many Hebrew songs about Trees. Here is a...Read more...

Shabbat Shirah! 

02/04/2025 07:04:10 PM

Feb4

     Shabbat Shirah is the favorite shabbat for many Cantors. The Sabbath of Song gets its name from the "Song at the Sea" which is a central feature of the torah portion, B'Shalach. This is the climactic torah portion when the Israelites miraculously cross the Sea of Reeds and escape from slavery. Upon crossing the sea, Moses and then Miriam lead the Israelites in joyous song. For decades, Cantors have seized upon this...Read more...

The Ben Wisch Trio Returns!!

01/28/2025 08:53:41 AM

Jan28

 

     I am very excited to to welcome back the Ben Wisch Trio in honor of Shabbat Shirah - The Sabbath of Song on Friday, February 7.  Shabbat Shirah/The Sabbath of Song is named for the Torah portion which is read in the morning which includes the "Song at the Sea" that the Israelites sang upon crossing the Sea of Reeds in their  exodus from Egypt.

      If you missed it this...Read more...

50 Years of Women in the Cantorate

01/21/2025 01:25:12 PM

Jan21

   

 I was "invested" as a Cantor (they didn't call it being "ordained" back then in 1989 by the Cantors Institute (now called the H.L. Miller School) of The Jewish Theological Seminary. The first two women to be invested as cantors by JTS graduated in 1987. But, the Reform movement ordained its first woman cantor in 1975 - 50 years ago. In honor of this milestone, the Milken Archives is...Read more...

Romemu - An Experience 

01/13/2025 06:25:49 PM

Jan13

     This coming Friday night, (Jan. 17, 2025), a number of us are visiting Romemu, a very special congregation on the upper west side of Manhattan. I have visited Romemu several time over the years and have greatly enjoyed their different approach to tefillah (prayer). It has been several years since I last visited and I will be interested to see how it has changed or perhaps not changed. The congregation was founded in...Read more...

Jimmy Carter   - Breaking  tradition!

01/07/2025 06:02:43 PM

Jan7

From Moment Magazine

After Jimmy Carter's 1977 inauguration as
President:  “No rabbi at Inauguration; over 20-Year Tradition Broken.”

Indeed, Jimmy Carter was the first president who did not include a prayer by a rabbi as part of the official proceedings of an inauguration ceremony since the tradition began in 1949. That’s when Harry Truman, a Democrat who was Carter’s favorite president, invited Rabbi Samuel...Read more...

I Have a Little Dreidel.. I made it out of....... 

12/22/2024 01:40:50 PM

Dec22

     If I had to pick the two most popular Chanukkah songs in the US, I am sure it would be "Oh Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah" and, of course "I have a Little Dreidel". But, how many times can you sing that dreidel song? Well it turns out that some clever, creative folks have written some fun new verses... My brother shared these with me and now I share them with you: 

I have a little dreidel, I made it out of sand, but...Read more...

Chanukkah -  Hanerot Halalu 

12/15/2024 03:06:07 PM

Dec15

     There are two traditional prayers/songs we sing after lighting the Chanukkah candles. One, of course is the well known song Maoz Tsur.  But, there is another prayer we recite reminding us of the purpose of the Chanukkah candles (to honor the miracles) and also a reminder that we do not use the light of the candles for any utilitarian purpose. In fact, one of the reasons we have a shamash is that the shamash is...Read more...

The Music of   Israel - 50th anniversary of Al Hanisim

12/09/2024 06:00:34 PM

Dec9

     The prayer Al Hanisim "For the miracles" is recited as part of the Amidah on Chanukkah, Purim and on Yom Hatzmaut. There are actually three versions of the prayer. They all begin the same: "We thank you for the triumphs, and for the miraculous deliverance of our ancestors, in other days and in our time."  This introductory statement is followed by a summary of each holiday, highlighting God's role leading to the...Read more...

Hodu Ladonai Chasdo -  Modeh Ani 

11/22/2024 01:27:20 PM

Nov22

      I am sure you all know the Hebrew word for "Thank you". We say "todah" or if we want to express  a bit more gratitude we say "todah rabbah". I thought in honor of Thanksgiving Day I would feature a few songs about gratitude. I want to start with the prayer that we say each morning expressing gratitude for another day: Modeh or Modah Ani. The word "modeh"  (for a male) "modah" (for a female) is derived from...Read more...

Geshem! Geshem! 

11/05/2024 10:19:47 AM

Nov5

On the last day of the holiday of Sukkot, we inserted a prayer for God to deliver rain during the winter months in the land of Israel.We continue inserting the words "mashiv haru-ach u'mo-rid hagashem" until the begining of Passover when we recite the prayer for dew.We could also use some rain in NJ. I thought it would be fun to explore some Israeli songs around the theme of rain - "geshem" (rain) and "mayim" (water) 

Probably...Read more...

MUSICAL EREV SHABBAT!  (Sneak Peek)

10/21/2024 07:11:49 PM

Oct21

     I am very excited about a special Friday night service, Nov. 1 at 7:15 when I will joined on the bimah by The Ben Wisch Trio. This service will feature some very exciting contemporary settings of the Friday night prayers. Here are just a few of the pieces we will cover. I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to them  - maybe even more than once, so that when you arrive on Nov. 1 ready to sing along! Please...Read more...

Musical Shabbat and   an Israeli Sukkot Song

10/13/2024 02:37:43 PM

Oct13

     I am very excited to feature `a special Musical Erev Shabbat Service on Friday, Nov. 1. I will be joined on the bimah by the Ben Wisch Trio. We have curated some beautiful contemporary settings of the Friday night prayers resulting in what I hope will be a very uplifting and engaging service. The Ben Wisch Trio has augmented Friday night services for other area synagogues. The trio includes:  

 ...Read more...

The Music of Israel - Part 11, Rosh Hashanah  and Yom Kippur

09/26/2024 03:35:12 PM

Sep26

As I write this, I am listening to the beautiful music of Yonina, a young Israeli - American duo. They live in Northern Israel. They have been creating weekly home or open air videos which they post on youtube. They often have one of their three children on their lap or nearby. They  sing so sweetly and are so comforting. Their repertoire runs the gamut from old Israeli songs to newer songs. I want to share their recording of the...Read more...

Another "Cantor Jack"

09/23/2024 10:31:38 AM

Sep23

Many congregants of Adath Shalom remember very fondly Cantor Jack Korbman. I have heard many lovely stories about him over the last two years. But, I too had a Cantor Jack in my life. When I was 10 years old, a very young Cantor, fresh out of the Jewish Theological Seminary Cantors Institute (where I studied many years later), began his tenure at our synagogue. It was this Cantor who taught me Haftarah trope, Megillat Esther trope (Purim),...Read more...

The Music of Israel, Part 10 - Nava Tehilah

09/16/2024 09:02:59 PM

Sep16

     Nava Tehilah is not a group or a person. Nava Tehilah is a renewal community in Jerusalem. Their website introduces the community as follows: "Nava Tehilah is a home  in Jerusalem for men and women of diverse backgrounds who desire to explore together the spiritual expression of the Jewish experience and are drawn to the collective creation of a Jewish-Israeli spiritual renewal. For the last 20 years, we have...Read more...

The Music of Israel - Part   9, Ishai Ribo 

09/02/2024 05:42:13 PM

Sep2

Today, Monday, September 2  from Zamir Choral Foundation. Usually these emails sent to commemorate special observances or holidays will feature a beautiful choral rendition of a Hebrew or Israeli song. But, today's email, featured the pictures of the six slain hostages and this message: THERE ARE NO WORDS. THERE IS NO MUSIC. FOR TODAY THERE IS ONLY GRIEF AND MOURNING. 

Indeed, I am sure we all feel this way...Read more...

The Music of Israel  - Part 8, Idan Raichel

08/21/2024 12:48:00 PM

Aug21

.     Idan Raichel, born in 1977 in Kfar Saba: producer, keyboardist, lyricist, composer and performer. What really stands out about Idan Raichel is all of the collaboration he has done. The list of his collaborations is so vast, that I would not know where to begin to list them. According to the "about" page of the idanraichelproject website,  "Idan  has entered into exciting collaborations with many...Read more...

The Music of Israel - Part  7, David Broza 

08/11/2024 07:31:46 PM

Aug11

      David Broza is truly a "world musician". Born in Israel, he grew up in England and Spain. His style of guitar playing is obviously heavily influenced by Spanish and Flamenco guitar. In fact, he has recorded several Spanish albums including an album of instrumental guitar music and he described t how difficult it was for him to write and perform music that did not include words. He said he worked on his guitar playing...Read more...

The Music of Israel - Part 6, Nurit Hirsh

07/28/2024 04:53:50 PM

Jul28

     I would not be surprised if the name Nurit Hirsh is not familiar to many of you. But you certainly know at least two of her most most well known compositions. (And, she has composed about 1,000 songs!). We sing what is probably her most famous song almost every week at services as do most congregations. It was written for the Hassidic Song Festival of 1968. The text is from last line of the Kaddish prayer. I think...Read more...

The Music of Israel - Part 5,   Chava Alberstein 

07/22/2024 10:50:05 AM

Jul22

One of the reasons I have been enjoying writing this series of blog articles is that I learning more about some of my favorite Israeli singers and song writers. I have always loved Chava Alberstein. She is truly one of the "Greats" who has been around for decades. She was born in Poland (1946) and immigrated to Israel with her parents when she was four years old in 1950. She started her musical career in 1964 and has released over 60 albums...Read more...

The Music of Israel, Part 4 - Arik Einstein

07/14/2024 08:18:43 PM

Jul14

Arik Einstein was one of the most beloved Israeli artists. He recorded over 500 songs and released, was featured in and collaborated on over 44 albums, far more than any other Israeli musician. He was humble, modest and a shy performer who preferred the studio to the live concert stage. His last live performance was in the 1980's, but he continued releasing albums into the 2000's. He passed away in 2013. When he died suddenly of a thoracic...Read more...

The Music of Israel,   Part 3  - Ofra Haza

07/05/2024 11:18:23 AM

Jul5

One of my favorite DreamWorks movies is Prince of Egypt. I would show it almost every year to my students. The music was amazing and included the voice of Ofra Haza voicing the role of Moses' mother, Yocheved. Listen to this clip: Ofra Haza Prince of Egypt. This was one of Ofra's last projects. She died in 2000 at the age 42 of AIDS. Because her illness and cause of death was hidden from the Israeli public, her death came as a huge...Read more...

The Music of Israel, Part 2 - Yehoram Gaon

06/26/2024 02:40:37 PM

Jun26

     If you don't recognize his name, I am sure you will recognize his warm, smooth voice. Listen to one of his most popular songs Od Lo Ahavti Dai (I Haven't Loved Enough)  This song, (I haven't Loved Enough) was written by Naomi Shemer,  recorded by Yehoram Gaon and choreographed as a dance by Yankele Levy in 1977. Yehoram Gaon was born in 1939 in Jerusalem. His father, Moshe David Gaon was born in...Read more...

The Music of Israel, Part 1 - Naomi Shemer 

06/16/2024 03:05:32 PM

Jun16

     I grew up listening to alot of Jewish music. My parents had a collection of record albums featuring the music of the early years of the State of of Israel. We would sing these songs on our long car rides from Massachusetts to Brooklyn to visit family and to the Poconos to go to summer camp. Hebrew music was as much the soundtrack of my formative years as was American pop, rock  and folk music. I still have some...Read more...

Shavuoth 

06/10/2024 11:16:46 AM

Jun10

Shavuoth was originally an agricultural  festival, marking the start of the wheat harvest.  In the Torah, the festival is referred to as "Chag haBikurim", the festival of first fruits in the book of Numbers, "Chag haKatzir", the festival of the harvest in the book of Exodus and "Chag haShavuoth", the festival of weeks also in the book of Exodus and Deuteronomy. . The identification of Shavuoth as "Z'man Matan Torateinu" doesn't...Read more...

Hebrew reading anyone??

06/04/2024 05:54:43 PM

Jun4

I am sure you have all learned about Rabbi Akiva, one of our greatest sages from the latter half of the first century. Rabbi Akiva is most famous for having been an adult learner. He was said to be an uneducated, illiterate shepherd until the age of 40 when he first devoted himself to the study of Torah. He eventually surpassed his teachers in knowledge and grew to be one of our most revered sages. We are about to celebrate the...Read more...

SWEET ENDINGS

05/21/2024 09:21:26 AM

May21

Gift Presentation in appreciation of our Rishon, Noam Vashdy
Presented by David and Laila Dienna in memory of their great grandparents, Charles & Belle Kesselman.

 

This past Sunday, the...Read more...

Hurricane 

05/15/2024 09:55:03 AM

May15

In spite of protests and controversy, Israel's song entry, "Hurricane" by Eden Golan,  placed  5th in the Eurovision Song Contest.  The song was originally written in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles and Stav Beger. When it was released on 10 March 2024,  it was titled "October Rain". The song lyrics and title had to be revised as it was originally deemed to be too political by...Read more...

Back to the Lower East Side

05/06/2024 12:38:47 PM

May6

     This past Sunday I had the privilege of accompanying the vav and zayin  students (6th and 7th graders) on a trip to the Lower East Side. We had a lot of fun and learned alot. We were led on a walking tour by Barry Judelson of NY Jewish Tours. I hadn't been to the Lower East Side in many, many years and I can tell you alot has changed. Precious history is being lost to gentrification, but luckily some important...Read more...

Where is Moses?

04/16/2024 11:52:55 AM

Apr16

Here's a little quiz for you:

What do we have 1.5 of in the Haggadah? 

Where is the number 2 mentioned in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 3 of in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 4 of in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 5 of in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 6 of in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 10 of in the Haggadah? 

What do we have 14 of in the...Read more...

Pesach Ala Mano!

04/08/2024 09:48:53 PM

Apr8

     We are officially midway between Purim and Pesach. We barely have time to recover from our Hamentashen Hangovers and catch our breath before our thoughts turn to Pesach. It seems like we have been in the month of Adar forever (for two months actually!) but, alas we finally welcome the month of Nissan.  In my house we started the countdown to Pesach as soon as Purim ended... it will be a month of freezer leftovers...Read more...

Cantors made it to Jeopardy 

04/01/2024 08:43:12 PM

Apr1

     

You know you have really been "seen":" when you are the clue on Jeopardy. The Cantorial world was all a happy buzz about a week ago when the following clue appeared: "Also called a Hazan, It's the person who leads a synagogue congregation in song". Although my colleagues...Read more...

PURIM IS HERE...  and it is not just for kids!

03/18/2024 11:17:28 AM

Mar18

     I have always enjoyed reading Megillat Esther "The Scroll of Esther". I first learned to chant a small passage of Megillat Esther in my teens and have made it a personal challenge to read more through the years and now I can say that  I have chanted the "gantze" megillah with trope (cantillation) many times.  I do  find I have to spend quite a bit of time every year refreshing,...Read more...

Kol Yisrael   ("The Voice of Israel") Virtual  Concert Series

03/07/2024 03:06:24 PM

Mar7

On March 14, 2024, the Cantors Assembly is launching a virtual concert series, Kol Yisrael (”Voice of Israel”) featuring contemporary Israeli musician artists presenting their music. With the current situation in Israel, most professional Israeli musicians have suffered a particular blow to their livelihood, on top of the national and personal trauma every Israeli is experiencing. Performances, tours, and students have been...Read more...

What Makes an  Organization "Work"?

03/05/2024 09:26:59 AM

Mar5

What makes a synagogue or school or organization work? This week's parshah, Vayakhel, describes the construction of the Mishkan (The Tabernacle) that the Israelites carried with them throughout their travels in the wilderness. The people are all asked to contribute all kinds of building materials: precious metals, linen, wool, ram and dolphin skins, oils, precious stones. However, one small phrase stands out to me. The words "And all of...Read more...

One   Child At A Time

02/27/2024 12:48:35 PM

Feb27

     The visit with Rabbi Rafi this shabbat was especially inspiring. I can't say enough about the  warmth and charisma of this man.  On Friday night we had our Gimel class service and our students received their siddurim with special covers and dedications prepared by their parents. A beautiful moment was when Rabbi Rafi recited a blessing for each child as they received their siddur. He insisted on not...Read more...

Transitions 

02/21/2024 08:31:37 AM

Feb21

Have you noticed brighter skies in the morning? I walk my dog every morning and I can't help but notice an increase in bird chatter as well.The angle of the sun has changed as too.  And, I noticed on my calendar that in just a few weeks we change the clocks. It is still cold and crisp, I am still wearing winter coat, hat and gloves, but....  there is a feeling of transitioning into  spring.  I have to say that for...Read more...

Adar Rishon - an extra month to prepare for Purim and The Art of Chanting the Megillah! 

02/13/2024 12:08:37 PM

Feb13

I love Jewish leap years. Yay! As both an educator and a Cantor I have a whole extra month to prepare! And I am not referring to baking hamentashen (although, yes, that too). When it is not a Jewish leap year, the late winter and early spring holidays come one month apart and it feels like quick succession. Tu Bishvat is followed exactly one month later by Purim followed exactly one month later by Pesach... but, this year we have two months...Read more...

Be Happy It's Adar  5784 

02/05/2024 06:42:07 PM

Feb5

Can you believe it is Adar again so soon? Well, not so fast, because if you are looking for Purim we still have to wait a few weeks as we are only about to begin Adar Rishon, the added month of the leap year. Purim is celebrated in Adar Shaynee which won't begin for several weeks.  I have to admit, that although we are supposed to increase our joy in the month of Adar, I am not quite ready for the silliness and antics of Purim....Read more...

Shabbat Shirah / Tu Bishvat 

01/23/2024 04:56:17 PM

Jan23

One of my covid hobbies was bird feeding.I actually started sometime before covid when I got a Nyjer seed sock that I hung on the frame of my sukkah. I was so excited to see the birds come and go and eventually I bought a bird feeder... then another and another. During covid I loved sitting at my kitchen window with binoculars and watch the birds. I had no idea what had been living outside my home - sparrows, doves, cardinals, woodpeckers,...Read more...

Day of Chesed  

01/15/2024 11:38:22 AM

Jan15

Cantor Avima Rudavsky Darnov

The Day of Chesed was a big success!  Our students together with students of the Religious School of Temple Beth Am made close to 200 (?) bags for nourish.nj,  made butterfly suncatchers to give as gifts to residents of Arbor Terrace, made cards and pictures to donate to  organizations that distribute them to hospitals, foster homes, assisted livings, etc.... We also baked cookies for the Dover Faith...Read more...

MLK Weekend and Day of Chesed 

01/09/2024 08:18:35 AM

Jan9

As we head into Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, our thoughts turn to social justice and equality for all in America. The song "Lift Up Every Voice and Sing!" written in 1900 is often referred to as "The Black National Anthem". This song is a reminder that a reminder for Black Americans that each generation has had to lift their voices, along with those within their community, to demand and protect their human...Read more...

First Mitzvah Project of the Year and Bring Them Home 

12/31/2023 11:48:16 AM

Dec31

The Religious School is sponsoring a Day of Chesed (Day of Kindness) on Sunday, January 14th. One of our projects will be to pack Purposeful Acts of Kindness Kits for nourish.NJ.We are requesting donations of the following items by January 14. Please place your donations in the large marked bin in the lobby. 
We need the following: pocket size hand sanitizer, bottles of water, protein bars, baggie filled with...Read more...

Postscript on Chanukkah

12/20/2023 09:02:18 AM

Dec20

Chanukkah has been over for almost a week as I write this. However, I want to memorialize one particular moment that filled me with hope and optimism. It was the moment on the last night of Chanukkah when our religious school students filled our bimah, held up colorful...Read more...

Maoz Tsur -Rock of Ages 

12/10/2023 05:03:23 PM

Dec10

Each Jewish holiday has an anthem associated with it, a  melody which serves as the leitmotif which is woven throughout the liturgy. Maoz Tsur, a poem written as early as the 13th century and the melody linked to it has been the anthem for Chanukkah for centuries! We sing the hymn in Hebrew and in an English translation as we watch the candles burning, we feature the melody in our hallel service and insert it in other parts of our...Read more...

The Chanukkah Songs That Keep on Giving by Karen Kamenetsky

12/04/2023 09:58:50 AM

Dec4

I asked our member Karen Kamenetsky to be my guest writer this issue. Please read her story and listen to her songs below.    

Songs are often gifts. They can spark joy, soothe pain, bring people together. The songs I wrote for my Chanukah album, “With This Flame” were gifts right from the start. The idea for the album came at a time when my Rheumatoid Arthritis was out of control. I had been...Read more...

Hanukkah or Chanukkah?? 

11/26/2023 11:31:32 AM

Nov26

Hanukkah or Chanukkah? Passover or Pesach? For that matter, Rosh Hashanah, Roshashanah  or Jewish New Year?

I have a bit of a pet peeve to air. It is time to take back the names of our own holidays. When did the name of our holiday, lose its most important sound... the "ch" of the first letter of the holiday... ? I mean just because non Jews have difficulty pronouncing the word, does that mean we should drop the most Jewish...Read more...

Happy Kislev! 

11/13/2023 08:54:39 PM

Nov13

It's official! Cheshvan 5784 is history. Welcome to the month of Kislev! This is the  month that  children all over eagerly await. I can smell the latkes already... but Chanukah doesn't arrive until the end of Kislev. So, we have plenty of time to practice our...Read more...

The Holiest Moments Outside of Our Sanctuary

11/06/2023 07:45:33 AM

Nov6

 

Sometimes we focus so much on what is happening inside our sanctuary that we might not notice the beautiful moments that happen outside our sanctuary. Yes, the sanctuary is truly the central focus of what brings us all together. Our Beit Knesset - our house of gathering, our Beit Tefillah, house of prayer is the reason we exist. But, what we do in our sanctuary is hopefully an inspiration for all the moments we spend outside of...Read more...

Letters to Israeli   Students 

10/29/2023 07:37:12 PM

Oct29

This past Sunday our Religious School students were asked to write letters to students in Israel. These letters will be translated, scanned and emailed to a school in Israel via our Rishon, Noam Vashdy. Our Rishon, (who goes by his last name, Vashdy) will share the letters with his mother who is a principal of an elementary school. I have to tell you, I was blown away by some of the letters our students wrote and I would like to share some of...Read more...

Prayer for  IDF Soldiers 

10/22/2023 07:21:10 PM

Oct22

We are all familiar with the beautiful prayer for the State of Israel we recite weekly and I am sure many of us have started reciting it on a daily basis. However, there is another beautiful prayer that was composed by the late Chief Rabbi and Chief IDF Rabbi, Shlomo Goren, asking God to protect the soldiers of the IDF and strike down their enemies. The accompanying song features popular Israeli artist Gad Elbaz’s musical rendition of...Read more...

HaftOrah or HaftArah? 

10/16/2023 12:29:20 PM

Oct16

Some of you may have noticed that I prefer to refer to the passage from the prophets that is chanted after the Torah reading as a haftArah rather than a haftOrah. Why is that? I mean, what is the big deal you might ask? It is true that the Ashkenazic pronunciation most of us grew up with is haftOrah with the accent on the middle syllable. However, I have found that this pronunciation leads to confusion especially among those who have no idea...Read more...

This was not how I planned to improve my Hebrew

10/09/2023 12:13:23 PM

Oct9

This year I set a goal for myself to read Hebrew literature in an effort to exercise my skills. We have many works of literature in our library to choose from from childrens books to short stories and a few novels. However, this last few days have found that facebook has provided me a lot of material. And it is not the kind of Hebrew  material I had planned to use to exercise my language skills. My feed has been flooded with...Read more...

Mental Snapshots

10/02/2023 09:33:25 AM

Oct2

   

 

 If I had a...Read more...

Hakarat Hatov - Sukkot

09/26/2023 01:08:15 PM

Sep26

Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur differ from Sukkot. On the Jewish New Year’s festival and Yom Kippur we are judged. We confess. We resolve. We feel defensive, vulnerable and fragile.

On Sukkot, the harvest festival, we rejoice. Anyone who has gardened knows this feeling many times more. Not only is there a thrill in seeing your garden’s yield—purple eggplant, orange carrots, green lettuce, red cabbage—but fruit of a home-grown...Read more...

A Rosh Hashanah to Remember! 

09/18/2023 10:48:49 AM

Sep18

Rosh Hashanah 5784 was definitely one for "the books"! There is a traditional saying:  

תכלה שנה וקללותיה - תחל שנה וברכותיה

"Tichleh shanah v'ki-l'loteh-ha, Takhel shanah u'vir-cho-teh-ha!" 

"May the (previous) year and its curses  end, and the New Year and its blessings begin". 

It strikes me that on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we...Read more...

Hakarat Hatov, Recognition of  Good

09/11/2023 03:30:37 PM

Sep11

When one has only one brief Religious School lesson in which to teach about the High Holidays, the holiest days on our calendar, what to we teach? That is the challenge with which we were faced this year with the challenge imposed by this year's Jewish calendar. I had a 30 minute period...Read more...

More High Holiday music! 

09/04/2023 11:46:34 AM

Sep4

Last week I shared with you a link for some basic Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur cantorial nusach (traditional liturgical melodies). This week I am excited to share a link for a wonderful program that was featured on National Public Radio. It is called "Music for the Days of Awe: An Observance of the Jewish High Holidays". This one hour narrated program contains some absolutely breathe-taking solo and choral masterpieces of the High...Read more...

Music of the High Holidays 

08/28/2023 11:29:43 AM

Aug28

Would you eat Latkes on Rosh Hashanah? You might, because, well, hey, latkes! But most of us might feel that eating latkes on Rosh Hashanah would just be weird. Why? Because the aroma and taste of latkes brings to mind all things Chanukah including the memories associated with Chanukah. How about eating matzah on Chanukah? More holiday confusion!! Our traditional melodies, called"nusach" calls for different melodies for different...Read more...

Words of Chesed and Emet

08/20/2023 04:54:35 PM

Aug20

I do not have an engagement ring. My husband opted for a necklace. He had a necklace made with part of a verse from Proverbs 3:3 which  loosely translates to "Chesed (loving kindness) and truth, they will not abandon you; Tie them  around your neck..."  In...Read more...

Olam Chesed Yibbaneh -The World  Will Be Built From Love

08/13/2023 08:01:47 PM

Aug13

There is a beautiful passage that we recite in our morning prayers found on p.68 of our Sim Shalom Siddur.  It is a rabbinic teaching on lovingkindness, "chesed". This paragraph describes a conversation between the great Rabbis Yochanan Ben Zakkai and his disciple Rabbi Joshua as they  lamented the ruins of the Temple. Rabbi Joshua says "Alas for us! The place which atoned for the sins of the people Israel through the...Read more...

CAMP!!

08/06/2023 08:25:59 PM

Aug6

Grilled cheese, tomato soup, potato chips and ice cream. Lakes, trees, dirt paths and cabins. Camp. Filled with Jewish souls, Hebrew, Jewish culture, Shabbat, Jewish values. Jewish summer camps! I was privileged to join a group of Educators on a trip sponsored by The...Read more...

An Attitude of Gratitude  - There's an app for that!

07/30/2023 09:21:50 PM

Jul30

My morning spiritual practice begins with the recitation of the traditional words of gratitude that many of us learned as children: Modeh (modah) Ani. The 12 words can be found on p.61 of our siddur. "I am grateful to You, living, enduring Sovereign, for restoring my soul to me in compassion. You are faithful beyond measure." Saying those words and taking a few moments to actually list things for which I am grateful in a little journal...Read more...

A Musical Congregation is a Spiritual Congregation

07/24/2023 09:04:38 AM

Jul24

One of my many goals upon stepping into my dual role as Cantor and Director of the Religious School  has been to help build upon and develop the musical element of our services and our general congregational life. To my delight, I was made aware of the many talented musicians among our Adath Shalom family and the many ongoing musical projects. I felt it was incumbent upon me to build on the momentum. With that goal in mind, we...Read more...

New Caje 14 

07/16/2023 08:12:07 AM

Jul16

Shalom, 

I will be attending the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education  ( known as NEW CAJE) in Montclair this week. I am looking forward to several days of connecting with educational colleagues and attending workshops. Here are some of the titles of the workshops I will attend: "What's the "new normal" in our post-Covid world?", "Help, I need Guidance to Reimagine Jewish Learning in My School", "The Future...Read more...

Each note  in a melody counts! 

07/09/2023 11:56:04 AM

Jul9

“In a Hassidic niggun, each note turns to the one behind him and says: ‘thank you for being my Rebbe.’ Then he turns to the note in front of him and says: ‘I bless you, and give you permission for being even more beautiful than I.”   Rabbi Nehemia Polen 

I first learned this beautiful teaching many years ago when I participated in a cohort of  The Institute for Jewish Spirituality. It came across my...Read more...

Mazal Tov to our Diller Teen Fellows! 

07/03/2023 03:05:54 PM

Jul3

Among the many wonderful programs offered by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest is the Diller Teen Fellowship program. 

Diller Teen Fellows is a premier leadership development program for Jewish 10th and 11th graders in Greater MetroWest NJ. The yearlong fellowship invites a select group of 20 teens to explore their Jewish identity and develop leadership skills towards social action and community...Read more...

Ma Tovu Oha-leh-cha Ya'akov, How Goodly Are Your Tents O, Jacob? 

06/26/2023 09:03:31 AM

Jun26

The terms bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah and b'nai mitzvah are possibly the most incorrectly used terms in popular usage. I too have been guilty of using these colloquialisms that are technically incorrect. The first thing to understand is that the term bar mitzvah is in itself a descriptive noun referring to a person, not a party or ceremony.  (ie. "I am going to a bar mitzvah".)

The term bar mitzvah refers to a male who has...Read more...

Happy Pride Month! 

06/19/2023 07:18:49 PM

Jun19

I had an opportunity recently to visit the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. I would definitely recommend this museum which covers the America Jewish Experience from the Colonial period through our own day. The gift shop alone is worth a visit! (I do love gift shops and I love Judaica... so what is not to like?). I lived in Philadelphia while in art school in 1981 and the following year (after I quit art...Read more...

Mazal Tov to a special Bar Mitzvah Boy! 

06/13/2023 10:42:54 PM

Jun13

Bar Mitzvah Boy Larry Edelstein with his dad, Sam

The end of June will mark the end of my first year at Adath Shalom. It is a good time to pause and to express my gratitude for the warm reception my husband and I have enjoyed. We truly feel we have...Read more...

The Power of Community

06/06/2023 07:55:02 AM

Jun6

Pirkei Avot teaches us: "Al Tifrosh min hatzibbur", "Do not separate yourself from the community".

The name of our congregation is "Adath Shalom". The Hebrew word "Adath" means community (of). Some synagogue names begin with the word "Beit" or "Beth" meaning house (of). We are more than a "house". We are a community. 

This past shabbat was a demonstration of how joyful it can be to be among community. In fact, for me this...Read more...

October 27, 2018 - Where Were You?

05/29/2023 09:00:57 PM

May29

Where were you on Shabbat morning, October 27, 2018. Once I remind you of the significance of that date, I am sure you will remember where you were as clearly as you remember where you were on the morning of 9/11/2001. October 27, 2018 - 18 Cheshvan 5779 - Parshat Vayera. On that date I officiated at a private bat mitzvah. When I emerged from the hall, I turned on my phone and saw my first alerts about the attack on Tree of Life Synagogue in...Read more...

Torah Trope  - Part  6

05/22/2023 09:00:57 PM

May22

One of the biggest challenges for Torah readers is mastering the reading of the Ten Commandments. If you look at some printed texts of the Torah which include trope symbols (te'amim), you might see what appear to be more than one trope symbol for each word in the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments appears in two places in the Torah. One is in the book of Exodus (chapter 20) and then again later in the book of Deuteronomy (chapter 5). I...Read more...

Torah Trope Part 5 

05/12/2023 06:06:48 PM

May12

     In English the word "trop" or "trope" is used to refer to the system of chanting the Torah, however, in Hebrew we refer to the symbols as "Ta'amay Hamikra", or simply "te'amim".   The word actually means "taste". The melodies are referred to as "n'ginot". We are all familiar with the "n'ginot" that the Lithuanian Jews brought with them when they came to America in the 19th century. In fact, the...Read more...

Let's do  this B'yachad!

05/09/2023 11:23:50 AM

May9

     May 7 was the last day of Religious School for this year. There are so many people to thank for our successful year. As I drove to school early in the morning I mentally planned my closing message. The word that continuously came to my mind was "B'yachad" - Together. This year could not have been successful without the guidance and help of so many. Our teachers, madrichim, parents, committee members, Pam in the...Read more...

Torah Trope Part 4  

04/30/2023 04:09:40 PM

Apr30

     The  system of trope includes  28 symbols which indicate not only melody, but syllabic stress and punctuation as well. The symbols are classified into two groups: one group being separators (disjunctives) and the other group serving as connectors (conjunctives). If  you learn to identify just two of these symbols and understand how they function to break up a pasuk (biblical verse - sentence)...Read more...

Torah Trope Part 3  

04/25/2023 02:52:50 PM

Apr25

I have been reading Torah for many, many years. For a long time it felt like an exercise in memorization since the vowels and the trope do not appear in the Torah. As you know, one prepares a Torah reading by using a book called a tikkun. The tikkun shows each column in the Torah in two ways: one without vowels and trope markings and one "dressed" with vowels and trope markings. The reader must not only prepare the correct...Read more...

Torah Trope Part 2

04/18/2023 03:10:35 PM

Apr18

     Who created the system of trope? Ezra the Scribe led a group of Jews back to the land of Israel from Babylonian exile. Ezra found the Jews had neglected the regular study of Torah and he instituted the public readings on Mondays, Thursdays, Shabbat and Festivals that we still follow to this day. Mondays and Thursdays were chosen because they were the days Jews gathered in public squares to buy and sell their wares. This...Read more...

Torah Trope 101

04/09/2023 01:08:10 PM

Apr9

Guest contributor: Rabbi Allen Darnov

     Adath Shalom can boast a host of Torah readers able to leyen (read) Torah on sabbaths and holidays.  These individuals have not only superb Hebrew skills, they have also mastered the “accents” or ta’amim attached to the Torah’s words which have crucial importance. Look at a line of Hebrew in the Bible: the signs that don’t appear to be vowels are musical...Read more...

Dayeinu!! 

04/04/2023 09:42:32 AM

Apr4

     How can I do a series of Passover articles about seder songs without mentioning everyone's favorite?  Dayeinu! If you use a traditional haggadah, you will see that the Dayeinu song actually consists of15 verses. We commonly explain that the word "dayeinu" which is sung as the chorus and nowadays, even as a standalone song means "it would have been enough for us". Each line describes an action of God for which we...Read more...

The Journey Song by Debbie Friedman 

03/26/2023 08:22:58 PM

Mar26

    In the mid 1990's, I served a congregation in Westchester, NY. In those years the ground breaking Jewish singer/songwriter Debbie Friedman was leading Passover seders for women. These sedarim inspired many communities to create their own womens sedarim (seders). Haggadot were compiled incorporating women's themes. In 2000, the first edition of  "The Journey Continues"  Haggadah   was published by...Read more...

REJOICE! BE HAPPY! IT IS SUKKOT

10/06/2022 08:46:42 AM

Oct6

 

     The first mitzvah after Yom Kippur is to build the Sukkah to prepare for the festival of Sukkot which is only 5 days after Yom Kippur. I now realize that my penchant of over scheduling myself may have roots in my Judaism... but I digress... Sukkot is a multi sensory holiday... a feast for the eyes, ears and I would argue it is the best smelling holiday.If you want to know more about sukkot please click on...Read more...

RIP OUT AND START AGAIN! 

09/28/2022 04:46:11 PM

Sep28

Some of you may know that I am a weaver. I have dabbled a bit in knitting and crochet as well. I once read the following in a book about crochet: "Ripping out in crochet is a way of undoing something that's been done incorrectly, a technique I would find very useful in life." 

I typed out this quote and keep on a bulletin board. Anyone who has sewn, knitted or crocheted, or woven knows that ripping out and redoing a section is...Read more...

INTRODUCING  OUR RISHONA!

09/19/2022 11:58:07 AM

Sep19

Each year, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, Federation brings a delegation of emissaries to Greater MetroWest to educate children, teens, and adults through the community about Israel, its people, and its culture. The   "Rishonim" are a cohort of teens  who are in their gap year between high school and army service. They are partnered with  synagogues and schools  such as ours to...Read more...

SHOFAR... SO GOOD! 

09/13/2022 06:34:07 PM

Sep13

My father always said: "All Beginnings are Difficult". Of course he said it in Hebrew, "Kol Hatchalot Kashot".  I always hear that statement as advice reminding me to keep stepping forward even when I am forging a new path of some kind. This summer I had a new beginning as the Cantor and Director of the Religious School at Adath Shalom. I am sure many of you are being challenged by your own "new beginnings". This month the sound of...Read more...

COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIP

08/31/2022 05:33:53 PM

Aug31

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST: What an amazing resource!! I am still getting to know the strengths of this community. This week I had the pleasure of participating in a meeting of Religious School Directors hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. I had the opportunity to hear about all the programs  being offered in support of  our Jewish community. As I listened to the many presentations of...Read more...

PURGING

08/23/2022 03:20:37 PM

Aug23

     My husband and I have been slowly purging some of the possessions we have accumulated over the years. We started almost a year ago and have continued to work through the clutter in fits and spurts. I have found that the constant decision making is exhausting, but once I decide to rid myself of an object and do whatever has to be done to remove the object from my home, I feel a great sense of relief. I realize I...Read more...

Take a "Chant"

08/17/2022 01:53:59 PM

Aug17

 

                                                  

Last Shabbat at Kiddush, Cantor Avima shared a beautiful spiritual practice- chanting. ...Read more...

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE!

08/09/2022 01:31:23 PM

Aug9

We are so thrilled to announce that you can now register your children for religious school through your shulcloud account.

Simply follow these instructions: 

1. Log into your shulcloud account and scroll down to "other info".

2. Look for tiles that say: "My Enrollments" and "Start School Enrollments".

3. Click on "Start School Enrollments" and fill in the information requested. Some information will...Read more...

08/09/2022 01:30:14 PM

Aug9

Update this content.

Learn Cantor  Avima's Top Tefillah Tunes, Religious  School News and more...

07/28/2022 04:35:29 PM

Jul28

A singing congregation is a bonded congregation! Music is such an important part of our tefillah experience. Being able to "join in" strengthens our connections to each other as a community. Please join us the second shabbat of every month beginning August 13 after services to learn Cantor Avima's top tefillah tunes.  Ability to read music or Hebrew NOT required, in fact, neither is a "good" singing voice! Have a special...Read more...

Cantor, you changed the melody and now I can’t sing along!

07/25/2022 12:03:59 PM

Jul25

 Every Cantor, upon beginning a new position, has the challenge of discovering the “Musical Minhag Hamakom”. “minhag ha-makom” loosely translates to “the custom of the place”. I have learned that Adath Shalom has some lovely customs unique to this community, such as reporting on recent events in Israel as we are about to offer the prayer for Israel after the Torah service. I observed that the person who holds the...Read more...

Tish B’Av, the 9th of Av

07/19/2022 06:44:28 AM

Jul19

 

    No matter when I eat a latke, even if it is in the middle of the summer, I am transported to Chanukah. I am not sure why I would eat a Hamentash in August, but, if I did, I would likely start thinking about every Purim memory I have. Likewise, particular melodies from the Jewish calendar evoke a similar reaction. This past Sunday, we began observing a three week period of mourning in...Read more...

“Ma Tovu”

07/12/2022 09:15:01 AM

Jul12

This week’s torah portion is best known for its famous blessing “Ma Tovu”.  The story reads like a comical farce. Bilaam, a diviner is tasked by Balaak, the king of Moab to utter a curse over Israel so that they would be weakened in battle. He tries to curse the Israelites but, each time only words of blessing come out of this mouth. In his final effort, we hear the words: “How goodly are your tents O Jacob, your...Read more...

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