To Life!

Figh tin

BA

Suzanne Chessler

Special to the Jewish News

hree high-powered jazz
musicians and five cantori-
al singers soon will add up
to a concert to benefit New
Orleans firefighters.
The concert started out as
Cantor Joel Colman's way of say-
ing thanks for the help his family
has had in Michigan since escap-
ing Hurricane Katrina. The idea
expanded as he worked with
Temple Israel's Cantor Michael
Smolash.
The community is invited to
attend the New Orleans
Firefighters Fund Benefit Concert,
which begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Temple Israel.
Joel Colman, cantor of Temple
Sinai in New Orleans and chap-
lain of the New Orleans Fire
Department, will be joined on
stage by Cantor Smolash as well
as Cantors Stephen Dubov of
Congregation Chaye Olam in
Bloomfield Township, Meir
Finkelstein of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Oakland
County and Jennifer Roher of
Congregation Shomer Emunim
in Toledo. Also performing will be
Cantorial Soloists Neil Michaels
of Temple Israel and Rachel
Gottlieb of Temple Beth El in
Bloomfield Township. The pro-
gram will range from cabaret
songs to Jewish music.
The musicians, also relocated
to other cities because of the New
Orleans storm, are jazz pianist
Rachel VanVoorhees, principal
harpist with the Louisiana
Philharmonic Orchestra; clar-
inetist and saxophonist Clarence
Johnson; and guitarist John
Rankin. All three have worked
with Cantor Colman.Temple
Israel accompanist Shawn
McDonald also will take part.
"We wanted to open the con-
cert to the whole Metro Detroit
community because individuals

T

•"'
November 10 2005

have been very supportive of the
people of New Orleans," Cantor
Smolash says. "So many here have
given once, and we hope to pro-
vide a way for them to give
again."
Cantor Colman, a former Oak
Parker, came to Michigan with
his wife, Jackie, and teenage son,
Josh. They stayed with friends
Elissa and Hal Leider of
Commerce until a Novi apart-
ment was provided.
The cantor has. traveled back to
New Orleans and conducted reli-
gious services for Jews who either
have returned to the area or have
arrived to provide emergency
assistance.
"I think it's important for con-
certgoers to know that all the
money raised will go directly to
the firefighters, and we will dis-
tribute it among the neediest':
says Cantor Colman, who pro-
vides pastoral care for a group
that includes two Jewish firefight-
ers.
"There were no problems with
these city workers, who essential-
ly are based in a temporary stag-
ing area. They have been separat-
ed from their families, and many
of their homes were destroyed."

Returning Home

The Colman family, adopted by
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield,
will be based in Novi until the
end of the school year. The cantor
will return to New Orleans on a
continuing basis after
Thanksgiving to help restore
Temple Sinai operations.
"New Orleans has suffered
through other disasters, and the
people came back strong and
resilient': says Cantor Colman,
part of a Jewish community that
numbers 12,000."Each time I
return, I want to give a message
of hope and the promise of
beginning again."

Temple Israel hosts benefit concert
to aid New Orlea: s T1 efi riters.

Cantor Colman, whose home
was damaged but not destroyed,
has returned to conduct Shabbat
services in New Orleans and head
up an informal religious school.
Because the Temple Sinai rabbi
was committed to lead Kol Nidre
prayers in Baton Rouge, La.,
Cantor Colman presided in New
Orleans, where 400 people
attended in a chapel meant for
125.
The area has five congrega-
tions: three are Reform, one is
Conservative and one is
Orthodox. While they all sus-
tained loss, the Orthodox syna-
gogue is ruined.
Cantor Colman reports that
beyond the heavily damaged
area, most of the power has been
restored. The water is potable, but
the gas in his ZIP code area is still
limited.
Rachel Gottlieb has seen New
Orleans in better times. She
attended a recent convention of
cantors, where she met Joel
Colman. "I think this concert is a
great way for the community to
come together': she says. "I think
ifs important to help the firefight-
ers who are struggling with
rebuilding.
"I will be performing a cabaret
song, `Welcome the Rain, with
lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music
by Zina Goldrich. I chose it
because the text seemed appro-
priate to me. The basic message is
not to be afraid of the power of
life, and there's a passage that
says 'I'll match the wind roar for
roar."

❑

The New Orleans Firefighters
Fund Benefit Concert, co:
sponsored by Temple Israel
and the Detroit Jewish News,
begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 22, at Temple Israel, 5725
Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield. $36. Tickets:
(248) 661-5700.

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Soloist Gottlieb

Soloist Michaels

Cantor Dubov