Community
Cover Story/Spirituality
families with young children, is a
to which all synagogues aspire. Family
involvement in the synagogue is
encouraged in different ways. Youth-
oriented services, which are generally
less formal and shorter in duration,
are becoming more popular.
Come As You Are
At Congregation B'nai Moshe in
West Bloomfield, the Conservative
congregants are invited on a
"Shabbat Odyssey," a spirited come-
Debbie Gattone of
as-you-are Friday night service
Atlanta and her
orchestrated by Cantor Earl Berris
daughter
Allison, 3,
and Rabbi Elliot Pachter.
dance to kle.ziner
Musical instruments, such as tam-
music at an
bourines, guitars and electronic syn-
outdoor service at
thesizers, are used before the actual
Temple Israel
beginning of Shabbat. Congregants
are encouraged to sing, clap their
Oak Park, Rabbi David Nelson says,
hands, and get up and dance as the
"We have very innovative ways of gain-
spirit moves them.
ing the attention of the young chil-
A specially prepared siddur, wh
dren." A family service is held once a
includes instructions and translitera-
month at the Conservative synagogue.
tions, makes the service accessible to
During weekly Shabbat services, the
those with no knowledge of Hebrew.
kids are enticed with a portable ark,
Snacks are provided and the service
complete with animals, during the
concludes by 7 p.m. so everyone can
Torah portion relating to Noah. A felt
stay for a boxed supper or get home to
board with stick-ons to represent the
enjoy Shabbat dinner with family and
12 Tribes of Israel is also used.
friends. Outdoor Friday night
"For people under the age of 40,
"Odyssey" services are being held this
there is no question that music is the
summer, weather permitting.
best way to reach them," says Rabbi
At Congregation Beth Shalom in
Sherwin Wine of the Birmingham
0
7/13
2001
54
Temple in Farmington Hills. Although
this Secular Humanist congregation has
always had "creative celebrations," Rabbi
Wine says they now use more music,
especially modern music, in the services.
"One of our favorites is Naomi
Shemer, a popular Israeli songwriter,"
says the rabbi. "We use a lot of music
from Israel, in addition to poetry from
writers like Leah Goldberg and David
Rokeach, whose words can easily be
set to music."
Other contemporary Jewish song-
writers widely used today include
Debbie Friedman, Craig Taubman,
Paul and Sol Zim, and especially
the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach,
who wrote more than 400
melodies, including the popular
Shalom Aleichem.
"His music is catchy, fun,
upbeat, joyful, easy to learn, easy
to dance to, soulful and celebrato-
ry," says Rabbi Sleutelberg. "It's
like nothing else in the Jewish
prayer world; it has the potential
to bring Jews of all denominations
together."
At Congregation Shaarey
Zedek B'nai Israel in West
Bloomfield, Conservative Rabbis
Donna Figi and
Scott
and Amy Bolton started a
Marty Bernstein of
monthly
Kabbalat Shabbat
Birmingham with
minyan
last
fall; it features "Reb
4'/2-year-old
Shlomo
Carlebach-style"
prayer.
Victoria Bernstein at
At Congregation Beth Ahm,
an outdoor service at
also in West Bloomfield, Rabbi
Congregation Shir
Charles Popky and Cantor David
Tikvah.
Montefiore have instituted a
"Hassidishe Kabbalat Shabbat Music
Service." The cantor leads the congrega-
tion in chassidic melodies tied together
with recurring chassidic niguitnim, songs
without words, accompanied by musi-
cians from the congregation.
"The response has been multigener-
ational and overwhelming," says
Cantor Montefiore. "People are spiritu-
ally elated." The next chassidic service
slated is Aug. 10.
New Expectations
Cantor Stephen Dubov of Temple Beth
El in Bloomfield Township agrees that
his Reform congregants have moved
from a "preach-at-me" to a "pray-with-
me" mode. "People want to be includ-
ed in their services; they want to feel
that the Torah belongs to everyone.
Music is a natural bridge.
"What we've done here," says
Cantor Dubov, "is make the music
more accessible to the congregation.
Instead of the traditional high keys,
which we still use occasionally, we try
to use musical keys that are comfort-
able for most people, so the congrega-
tion will feel included in the worship
experience."
One of the most innovative local
services is the annual Jazz Shabbat at
Temple Beth El, where a filled-to-
capacity sanctuary prays and rocks to
the rhythm of the New Orleans
Klezmer All Stars.