From The TEMPO
Cantor Friedman's regular contributions to our Temple bulletin.

At this time in the Jewish calendar, we enter a period of introspection, taking stock of our lives, considering the changes we should undertake that would align our values and our actions, and thus bring us closer to God and to one another.

According to the Talmud with regard to the Book of Life, four things will cause God to tear up (ma’akirin) the decree of judgment which has been issued against a person: acts of righteousness, fervent prayer, changing one’s name, and changing one’s behavior. We see echoes of this in the High Holy Day prayer, Una Tane Tokef, which states that on Rosh Hashanah “it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed,…but repentance, prayer, and righteous deeds can transform (ma’avirin) the evil of the decree.”

Whether one actually believes that the Book of Life exists, the concept of Teshuvah – repentance, turning, and returning is connected to transformation. From the first blast of the Shofar on the first day of the month of Elul, we are called upon to look inward, to return to our best and highest selves, seek forgiveness of ourselves and others, and renew our connection to God.

There are two changes that I have been thinking about for quite some time, changes that will help me lead a more meaningful life.

For me personally, Teshuvah includes changing my last name from Merel to Friedman-Hurwitz. According to Maimonides, the great 12th century Jewish philosopher, changing one’s name is a way to repentance is “as if to say: I am another, and am not the same person who did those deeds.” I am different, I am transformed. Similarly if we look at instances of name changes in the Torah: Avram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Jacob to Yisraeil, they all involved major transformation.

During this coming year, there are changes in my role as cantor at Temple Sinai. I will be working a reduced schedule of 30 hours but will still be involved in teaching our B’nei Mitzvah students, leading worship services, officiating at life cycle events, working with our Adult Choir, visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved and connecting with various congregants at meetings or other temple activities. Helping out with some services and our confirmation class will be Cantor Josee Wolff, who is currently the Director of Student Placement and an adjunct faculty member at the School of Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She has served various Reform congregations in the U.S. and Europe for the past 15 years, and has also substituted for me in the past at Temple Sinai. Cantor Wolff has also co-authored The Art of Torah Cantillation, and the Art of Cantillation, volume 2 which we have used at Temple Sinai. In addition to Cantor Wolff, student cantor and teacher Kathy Gohr will be working with our Intergenerational Choir.

Another key part of transformation includes forgiveness. Asking forgiveness of others and ourselves with compassion and honest communication cleanses us and changes us. So if I have offended or hurt any of you this past year, I ask forgiveness.

May you and your families experience Teshuvah and renew yourselves through prayer, righteous actions, and turning towards God and others!

May 2009
WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSIC?

Temple Sinai’s Adult Choir will present contemporary settings of both secular and liturgical Jewish music during our Erev Shabbat service on June 5th at 7:30 pm. By contemporary, I’m referring to music written or arranged in the latter half of the 20th century through the present day. Jewish music is a mirror of the Jewish past and our people’s wanderings throughout the world. Jewish music is both a microcosm of the music from specific times and places in our history and a macrocosm of the music encapsulating all of Jewish history.

What is fascinating to me is that contemporary Jewish music continues to use older stylistic elements of Jewish music in modern settings. Layers upon layers have been added starting with Biblical cantillation, nusach (prayer mode), chazzanut (florid and improvised style), Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Chassidic, and American folk melodies. For example, composer Ben Steinberg’s V’ahavta combines elements of Biblical cantillation as well as western harmony. Cantor Charles Davidson’s V’shamru employs a Chasidic style and modern harmony. Cantor Robbie Solomon uses nusach, as well as chazzanut in his rousing setting of Yism’chu. The birth of the State of Israel has created an abundance of Israeli music about the struggles and yearnings for peace. Modern poetry, such as Leah Goldberg’s Lamdeini, inspired Cantor Benjie Schiller to compose a setting of this beautiful text.

Come celebrate Shabbat and explore the world of contemporary Jewish music during our service on June 5th.

March 2009
PASSOVER MEMORIES

So many of my favorite memories from childhood involve being with my large extended family at our Passover Seders. I remember the special foods and their smells that permeated my family’s kitchen. I remember the special prayers and melodies we sang around the table 40 years ago as well as new melodies recently introduced and sung by my younger cousins. As we grow and our families change and blend, it is up to each us to continue to be part of the link that keeps these melodies alive.

One of the melodies and prayers that instantly remind me of Passover is Adir Hu - God is mighty. An unknown poet wrote this hymn, an alphabetic acrostic, in the 6th- 7th century. Though the melody has gone through several changes over the years, the earliest existing music is found in the 1644 “Rittangel Hagada.” This same melody is sung today and is often adapted to Mi Chamocha during services during Passover.

The melody that is used for the Passover Kiddush and other b’rachot (blessings) is based on the Nusach (prayer motifs) for Shalosh R’galim – the Three Pilgramage Festivals: Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot. The Passover Kiddush sounds different from the Shabbat Kiddush or the Rosh Hashana Kiddush. The music gives you a taste of the holiday and just by listening you are tuned into the uniqueness of the holiday. Who can imagine a Seder without singing Dayeinu – it would have been enough. The sources I checked gave vague answers as to origins of this melody. One source said the melody is a thousand years old, another labeled it “an Israeli melody” and another labeled it a “traditional melody.”

So this year as you celebrate the Exodus from Egypt and celebrate freedom, pass on the “traditional” or special melodies and prayers from your childhood Seders that remind you of your heritage and of this special time year. May you have a sweet Passover!

Cantor Merel wishes to express her appreciation and thanks for all those congregants who donated to The Tribute Fund in honor of her daughter’s engagement.

January 2009
FEELING JOY IN 2009

I originally thought I would entitle this article “Finding Joy in the Secular New Year,” and then thought that it was more important to get to the result of actually feeling joy. This joy has to be precipitated by thinking about what really brings us joy during these challenging times. It means stepping back and taking a fresh look at how you spend your time and which things you do that are both meaningful and joyful and perhaps not costly. Can you identify those moments you feel joyful? Is it being surrounded by family and really listening to what they have to say? Is it cooking and sharing a meal with close friends? Is it seeing the wonder and discovery and growth of your children? Is the Temple Sinai community comforting during a time of mourning or illness? Does it know that you are not alone to face the ups and downs on the journey of this life? Is it noticing the phases of the moon and the fact that the Jewish calendar is tied to the lunar calendar? Is it holding the hand of your spouse or child? Is it hiking in the woods during the height of the colorful leaves in autumn? Is it entering your apartment or house and being thankful that you have a place you call “home?”

The ancient world of Plato and Aristotle believed in the power of music to affect our thoughts and behavior. The Greek doctrine of ethos was based on the notion that music affects character. I can feel joy while singing some liturgical or secular music, while conducting or singing with our choirs, and while praying with a community. Singing or listening to music, whether in communal worship or a choir, can bring joyful moments. Singing forces us to breathe, let go of tensions, express our emotions, and listen. Music and prayer have the power to heal. As you create vocalized sound, you have the opportunity to reinterpret and recreate the music in the moment.

So I encourage you to be open to feeling joy. Communal worship and/or singing in a choir gives you the opportunity to create a sacred space in time and the realization that you are not alone in walking the ups and downs of life. So carve out time to celebrate Shabbat and “refresh” yourself by coming to Shabbat services, joining one of our choirs, and meeting new people from the Temple Sinai community. Take the time to plan and create joyful and meaningful moments in your life. The Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesday evening from 7:45-9:15pm and the Intergenerational Choir rehearses on Sundays from 10:30-11:00am. I guarantee that you will have fun in these choirs. For a detailed schedule, for more information, check our temple’s website or contact me at Cantor@templesinainj.org.

September 2008
Jerusalem – Summer, 2008

I want to thank Temple Sinai for the gift of my sabbatical and the opportunity to live in Jerusalem.May/June, 2008
MUSICAL HAPPENINGS

Temple Sinai is blessed to have two dedicated and active volunteer choirs that beautify our worship and other special musical programs with their singing. Most recently, our Adult Choir performed at the annual choral festival sponsored by our URJ New Jersey-West Hudson Valley Region. Our choir was one of 14 other participating choirs and made Temple Sinai proud with their inspiring and enthusiastic performance of three Israeli songs.

On Friday, May 2, in addition to our Intergenerational Choir’s participation during our Shabbat service, several of Temple Sinai’s teens will present music by Jewish Broadway composers. This annual Broadway Shabbat will include music performed by Sophie Blumert, Nicole Bodin, Alyssa Fine, Molly Leighton, Sasha Nussbaum, Emily Porter, and Arielle Wortzel.

During our Shabbat service on Friday, May 9, in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary, our Adult Choir will present a collection of Israeli songs, including the familiar love song, Erev Shel Shoshanim as well as HaKotel, the wall, a stirring text and melody written after the six day war.

Both choirs offer opportunities to meet new people, learn new music, learn about specific prayers, and have fun! During the school year, the Intergenerational Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings from 10:30-11am and sings once a month during services. Our Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:45-9:15pm and sings during services and special music programs. Please let me know if you’re interested in joining either of our choirs in the fall.

I want to again take this opportunity to thank both choirs for donating their time and talents to our synagogue’s music programs!

January/February, 2008
2008 WELCOMES NEW REFORM PRAYERBOOK AT TEMPLE SINAI

During the last few years our services have included the use of multiple prayer books. On alternate Friday night services, we have used either Kabbalat Shabbat or Shir Chadash, both of which are our own creative liturgies; during the Saturday early morning Sharing Shabbat service, we have used a draft of the new Reform prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, and during the B’nei Mitzvah services we have used the Reform movement’s prayer book, Gates of Prayer. Beginning on January 4, we will be praying from Mishkan T’filah during all of our Friday night, Saturday Sharing Shabbat services, and Festival services.
Click here for this complete article (PDF 9K)

November/December, 2007
Community, Light, and Freedom, Temple Sinai Community Celebration of Chanukah, Friday, December 7, 2007, 7:00 pm

The Nadler Fund for Jewish Education has sponsored Temple Sinai’s annual Chanukah celebration for many years. The Nadler Family Foundation’s vision is to bring together our multi-generational community, while enriching and educating the community via special musical presentations. This year, our celebration will take place on Friday, December 7th, at 7:00 pm. Temple Sinai’s two choirs, Temple Sinai Rocks – our teen band, pianist Nancy Haimi-Cohen, guitarist Dr. Rob Wortzel, and bassist Clive Smith all are participating. The festivities will include special readings led by congregants on the theme of community, light, and freedom. Please save the date to join me in keeping alive the vision of Paul Nadler.

September/October, 2007
"HINENI – HERE I AM, EIFO ATAH – WHERE ARE YOU"

Life is a sacred pilgrimage – a sacred journey. During these High Holy Days, we join together with the Temple Sinai community, friends, family, and with Jews all over the world praying the same ancient liturgy and observing the Jewish New Year. As individuals, our sacred journey leads us to look inside ourselves to do a chesbon hanefesh – an accounting of the soul. It is as if God created these High Holy Days so that we have the space or permission to take the time and slow down to look within ourselves. Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom Hazikaron – the Day of Remembrance as well as Yom T’ruah – The Day of the Shofar Blast.
Click here for this complete article (PDF 6K)

November/December, 2006
“Why I Need Shabbat In My Life?”