Rabbi Elliot Pachter
gets the kids up and
dancing at Congregation
13'nai Moshe Shabbat
Odyssey service. Dancing
are Hope Shepherd, Rabbi
Pachter, Leah Shepherd,
Hannah Fine, Samantha
Fine and Elayna Zack.
Making Music
Conservative synagogues, where musi-
cal instruments are traditionally not
used during Shabbat, have found inno-
vative ways to incorporate music into
their religious programming.
Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday
and Elissa Berg, director of education
and youth at the Beth Achim Religious
School at Mat Shalom Synagogue,
doing harmony and vocals.
Rabbis Jay Strear and Herbert
Yoskowitz serve as "excitement builders,"
often coming down from the bimah and
.
nights are becoming a popular way to
usher in the Sabbath with music, group
singing, clapping and dancing. Once
Shabbat officially begins, the instru-
ments are put away and those in
mourning are invited in to join the
congregation.
In winter months,
when sundown is earlier,
many synagogues offer a
musical Havdalah ser-
vice, which marks the
end of Shabbat on
Saturday night.
Adat Shalom
Synagogue in
Farmington Hills was
one of the Conservative
forerunners of this con-
cept with its Shabbat
Rocks and Havdalah
Rocks programs.
Both services include
lively, toe-tapping music
performed by the clergy
as well as guest musicians
from the congregation.
Featured regulars are
Cantor Howard Glantz
on bass guitar, Rabbi
Daniel Nevins on drums,
Staff pho to b
movement, which manifests itself in
many different ways, depending on the
congregation.
"The trend is definitely turning
from 'praying by proxy,' where the
rabbi and cantor recite the prayers, to
more personal involvement," ys
Rabbi Sleutelberg, or "Rabbi Arnie" as
he is known to his Reform congregants
at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy.
"People today want to be involved
in their own prayer. There is a differ-
ent aspect when we pray together as a
community," he says. "By sharing our
spiritual energy with others, we create
a sum total that is greater than oi,r
individual parts."
Although congregations differ in
how music is used in their services,
most spiritual leaders agree that music
is a universal way to bring people
together.
grabbing a congregant's hand for the
Jewish equivalent of a do-si-do.
Says Rabbi Nevins, "As a traditional
synagogue, we abide by the halachic
ruling against using musical instru-
ments during Shabbat, but we're very
aware of how instrumental music can
add excitement and inspiration."
Attendance at the Shabbat Rocks
and Havdalah Rocks services has
steadily increased because of the infor-
mality and family-friendly formats.
According to Cantor Glantz, these
services are "a vehicle to bring people
who would not ordinarily be attracted
to services, and then hopefully expose
them to the more traditional services."
Introducing children to religious ser-
vices at a young age is a goal for every
congregation. Cantor Glantz said he •
feels that the "Rocks" programs are
instrumental in enticing children and
young families to attend services on a
more regular basis.
"Every positive Jewish experience we
give our children is insurance for our
future as Jews," says Cantor Glantz.
"Having the rabbi play the drums is
a big deal for the kids."
Cantor Glantz moves through the
aisles, handing out instruments to chil-
dren and adults alike during the musi-
cal portion of the service.
Increasing membership and partici-
pation by younger people, including
Cantor
Howard
Glantz of
Adat Shalom
Synagogue, on
guitar at a
Shabbat Rocks
service.
';.TVZY
7/13
2001
53