Chaverai (My Friends):
I want to bring you up to date about some classes and musical opportunities.
As this newsletter arrives, we will be preparing for Simchat Torah — our holiday of rejoicing with the Torah after a year of reading through the cycle of Torah parashiyot (sections.) Jewish tradition is to read the final paragraphs of Deuteronomy, describing the death of Moses and the Israelites inheritance of their promised land and then reading the opening verses of Genesis — the story of creation. Reading from the Torah is a rewarding, satisfying component of Jewish practice. It connects us with a part of our tradition which is the fixed foundation around which we can explore our heritage and our connection with faith. It is the unchanging basis for unending creative expression and interpretation.
Many of you know that I have been offering a Torah cantillation class for several years. As our B’nai Mitzvah program has grown, the cantillation classes have gone through some changes too. The next class will begin on Sunday, October 10 and run for five Sundays from 5:00-6:30pm at Adat Shalom. Contrary to what many may think, reading Torah is just that —reading— it is not singing and does not require a musical ear or remarkable singing voice. The only requirement is Hebrew reading ability. All ages and stages are welcome.
Also in this month, I will offer a workshop for those who currently lead or who wish to lead shivah minyanim. A minyan in the home of a mourner is a structure through which a community offers support, compassion and companionship during a difficult time. This past summer, I experienced sitting shivah in my own home for the first time. Having a context in which to say familiar prayers was an important part of beginning to deal with a painful loss in my family. The shivah minyan workshop that I will offer will cover some of these affective issues, but will also focus on the actual structure (matbe’ah) and musical style (nusach) of the weekday evening service.
The workshop for shivah minyan leaders will be on Wednesday, October 27th, @ 7:30 p.m. — please sign up for this or the cantillation class by contacting Eva Settle at officeadmin@adatshalom.net or (301)767-3333 x106 so that we can prepare the appropriate materials for you.
This year at our Rosh HaShana Yachad service, we had the pleasure of hearing our new Yachad Choir. This is a group for kids and adults singing together (b’yachad.) The group prepared a special setting of Avinu Malkenu for the Yachad service and will continue to meet to learn and sing Jewish music to be shared with our community. The group is geared towards kids in grades 3-6 and their parents, but younger and older siblings are welcome as well. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact me at cantorrachel@adatshalom.net or Linda Reinisch at lcrt@comcast.net.
As always, I remain grateful to serve a community that takes real joy in singing and sharing the music of our tradition. May we all take delight in this rich heritage.
B’Shirah (In Song),
Hazzan Rachel