Music
At Congregation B’nai Shalom, music infuses all of our Shabbat and Festival celebrations with added depth and beauty. In addition to two talented Cantorial Soloists, Sharon Brown Goldstein and Lisa Marcus Jones, we are blessed with a musical clergy team and many members of the congregation who enrich our community gatherings with their musical talents. Below are some of the ways that you can contribute to or enjoy the rich musical experience at Congregation B’nai Shalom.
CBS T’Fillah Band
Under the direction of Lisa Marcus Jones, our T’filah Band plays approximately 5 times a year, and generally rehearses once for each service. With guitars, bass, rhythm, brass and wind sections, playing rock and jazz settings of prayers arranged by Lisa, our all-volunteer band consists of High school teens and adults. Please contact Lisa Marcus Jones if you are interested in joining the band.
CBS Klezmer Band
Our Klezmer Band leads the congregation as we dance with the Torah scrolls every Simchat Torah. This high energy group bring a great deal of joy into our festive celebration. The band usually rehearses once or twice just prior to Simchat Torah each year. Phil Leavitt leads the band. Please contact Rabbi Gurevitz to learn more.
High Holy Day Choir and Special one-time Choir Shabbat services
Anyone who enjoys singing is welcome in our High Holy Day Choir. The choir rehearses twice a week for 5 weeks in the lead up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and sings a musically rich morning service for each festival. In addition, the choir sings at a Shabbat service during the year. This service provides a great opportunity for congregants to sample the choir experience without a large commitment. Contact Lisa Marcus Jones, our choir director, to learn more.
Lead Singers
Several times a year we invite congregants to assist with our Shabbat worship. A lead singer is a member who has learned the core musical repertoire of the congregation and has been given some training to help lead the congregation, usually in partnership with Rabbi Gurevitz. To learn more, please contact our Cantorial Soloist, Sharon Brown Goldstein.
B’nai Shir and our Youth High Holy Day Choir
B’nai Shir is our third and fourth grade choir, led by Sharon Brown Goldstein. They meet during Religious School hours and sing at special school programs and several Shabbat Rishon (family Shabbat) services a year. Additionally, every year we recruit a group of Middle and High school students to join Sharon to enhance the musical content of our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur early morning Adult High Holy Day services. This group rehearses several times with Sharon to prepare for these special occasions. To learn more please contact Sharon Brown Goldstein.
Cantorial Soloist Lisa Marcus Jones’ composition featured at the 2016 Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music
The piece was inspired by two women who came together to guide their synagogue through a time of turmoil. I turned to famous words that Ruth spoke to her mother-in-law Naomi in the Book of Ruth: “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God”. The piece celebrates women’s strength and commitment to each other in the face of uncertainty.
10 Year Tribute to our Cantorial Soloists
On a cold, snowy night in January, 2016, we filled our social hall with warmth and the wonderful sounds of Sharon Brown Goldstein, Lisa Marcus Jones, along with special guests from among their musical friends, and talented members of Congregation B’nai Shalom. A great time was had by all!