Winter 2013 - Shir Tikvah

Singing praise for
““I loved looking
at congregants’
faces as they
joined in the
singing. Eyes
closed or wide
open, bodies
swaying,
families
together,
holding
children,
smiling and
clapping with
the sounds and
rhythms.”
— Verna Lind,
seen at right
“
New service offers fresh Shabbat experience
By Katy Campbell
Over 175 Shir Tikvah members joined
together singing and swaying at the
October debut of the First Friday Shabbat
service. The new service, which meets the first
Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m., includes several
new melodies that will be repeated at forthcoming
First Friday services throughout the year.
In the new worship format, chassidic chanting
and niggunim (melodies) combine with drums and
rhythms to bring our traditional Reform liturgy to
life in a fresh new way. The kavanah (intention) is
to deepen the experience of Shabbat and express
the congregation’s diversity through music.
“We want the music to carry the service,” said
Music Director Wendy Goldberg. “The rhythms
and tunes are meant to touch your heart.”
To introduce the new music, congregants and
guests received CDs (with corresponding Mishkan
T’filah prayerbook pages noted) at the High Holy
Days. CDs are still available to congregants and
guests at the synagogue.
Music team member Chris Bargeron noted,
“We’re learning by doing; learning by ear. While
the music may initially sound unfamiliar, I would
tell people to hang in with the tunes over the next
few months as the music is repeated. I hope people
can internalize it, and it can become a meaningful
part of prayer life.”
In the past, Shir Tikvah did not hold Shabbat
services on the first Friday of the month. The
T’filah Committee saw this as an opportunity
to bring something new to the table. A group of
tzofim (scouts) went bi-coastal during the past year
researching what was driving other congregations
to create inspiring and transformational worship
services. “Much of what we experienced at Ikar in
Los Angeles, and Rommemu and B’nai Jeshurun
in New York is what we’ve incorporated into our
service,” explained Wendy.
New melodies
Niggun Andalus
Hinei Ma Tov
Shir L’adonai
Rom’mu
L’Cha Dodi
Mi Chamocha
V’shamru
CDs are still available and can be requested in
the Shir Tikvah office.
Enter melodies like “Niggun Andalaus” by
Joey Weisenberg and his Spontaneous Jewish
Choir. When Joey visited Shir Tikvah in July,
he taught about building singing communities
and explained that America has become a TV
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