Notes from Cantor Avima

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 holidays. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are rich with ancient musical traditions and I do not just mean the melody of Kol Nidre. If you are a shabbat regular who comes close to the beginning of the service,  you are familiar with the melodies of the shabbat shacharit service. But, if you come early enough to the Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur service, you will find that the melodies for shacharit have a different flavor. And, even though the first day of Rosh Hashanah is on shabbat, you will hear mostly the High Holiday melodies. I look forward to these melodies every year because to me they are the flavors of the High Holidays. The melodies transport me into that special place and special memories where I want to be on the High Holidays. If I were to sing the "regular" shabbat morning melodies, I would not FEEL like it is Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur. I hope they will do the same for you. Here is a taste of the nusach for shacharit chanted beautifully by Cantor Asher Hainovitz. Shacharit for High Holidays sung by Cantor Asher Hainovitz