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To read Rabbi Feingold's
past messages, click a date below. |
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Rabbi Dena Feingold Last year’s High Holy Day services brought
a welcome change with the participation of Cantor Menahem Kohl. For many of
you, his traditional hazzanut (cantorial style singing) brought back memories
of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services of your youth. Others appreciated
the contemporary music that he brought us, including the occasional use of
guitar and halil (Israeli recorder). We all enjoyed Cantor Kohl’s natural ability
to connect with the congregation and the warmth and love of Jewish tradition and
music that exuded from his presence on the bima. We are delighted to be able to
welcome him back again this year. By design, the High Holy Days nusach (musical
theme) and liturgy (prayer texts) are very different than the Shabbat melodies
and texts with which we are more familiar. The music changes for a reason,
reflecting the mood of the season. There is logic to the sequence of prayers
and a beauty in the themes they address, following a progression from the eve
of Rosh Hashanah through the final blast of the shofar on Yom Kippur. There is
a story and particular significance behind the way things are done and when
they happen in the services. Having Cantor Kohl in our midst gives us a
special opportunity to learn about the High Holy Day music and liturgy (prayer
texts). Therefore, on Saturday night, September 20, we will offer a program
preceding Selichot services—a workshop that will help us to get more rabbi’s
message out of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur season. Cantor Kohl and I
will co-lead participatory sessions that will allow for both teaching and
discussion, giving you greater insights into the way we worship on the Days
of Awe. There will be a preview of some of the High Holy Day melodies and a
chance to learn them with their texts. Participants will be provided with
take-home materials to guide them in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur. An added attraction of this Selichot
workshop will be a chance to learn how to make some of the traditional High
Holy Days foods from Beth Hillel’s own Esther Chulew. Widely regarded as one
of the most talented cooks in the congregation, especially when it comes to
classic Jewish recipes, Esther will share some of her best recipes and her Jewish
cooking secrets. Again, this session will be participatory and you will go
home with recipes and new skills. As the High Holy Days approach, there are
many ways to prepare. Certainly, the most important is our internal spiritual
and moral “check-up” or “cheshbon hanefesh.” But preparing in more practical
ways, learning to sing, to pray — and even to eat — with greater knowledge will
be a great asset to our High Holy Day experience as well. L’shanah Tovah Tikateyvu, May you be inscribed for good in the coming
year!
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© 2008 Beth Hillel Temple |
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