Arts & Entertainment

Act Of Friendship

Long-term relationship with rabbi brings Peter, Paul & Mary to Temple Beth El.

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Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News

fight One Candle" — the single
clearly Jewish song to be per-
formed by Peter, Paul & Mary at
their upcoming Michigan concert — has a
direct connection to Rabbi Daniel Syme of
Temple Beth El.
Peter Yarrow, the only Jewish member
of the long-popular folk trio, consulted
the rabbi as he was writing it. Although
planned for a performance at the time
of Chanukah, the song communicates an
overriding message of peace.
The group, combining music and social
messages since 1961, will be appearing at
6:45 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Temple
Beth El in Bloomfield Township, where
the rabbi considers the concert an act of
friendship.
"We'll be performing the Peter, Paul &
Mary repertoire, which includes many
of the songs that so many people know
— 'Puff (The Magic Dragon),"Blowin' in
the Wind' and 'If I Had a Hammer:" says
Yarrow, 68, who schedules some 20 con-
certs a year.
"There's also a repertoire that continues
to grow with songs from younger writers,
and it has been our delight to introduce
that work. We perform 'The Kid' by Buddy
Mondlock and 'Have You Been to Jail for
Justice?' by Anne Feeney.
"I went to [Rabbi] Danny Syme when I
was writing 'Light One Candle' because I
wanted to know if I, as a nonaffiliated Jew,
had the right to write about Chanukah,
and he gave me permission:'
Peter (born in New York City), Paul
(Noel Stookey, an MSU almunus who
grew up in Birmingham, Mich.) and Mary
(Travers, a Louisville, Ky., native) met
in Greenwich Village after Yarrow had
completed psychology studies at Cornell
University.
They made their debut self-titled album
in 1962, and went on to make eight gold
and five platinum albums. They car-
ried their messages around the country,
appearing at music festivals and political
rallies.
After going their own ways in the early
1970s, they reunited in 1978, and went
on to many appearances and record-
ing projects. Just last year, they received
the Songwriters Hall of Fame Lifetime
Achievement Award.

Peter, left, Paul & Mary perform March 1 at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township.

Dream Concert

"This concert is always something I
wanted to bring to Temple Beth El," says
Rabbi Syme, who has worked with the
trio on social causes, particularly suicide
prevention. "It will be their only concert
in Michigan in 2007, and probably their
smallest venue."
Rabbi Syme met Travers when they
were both visiting Florida in 1978. They
were staying at the same hotel, and he
approached her to say how much he liked
the group's music.
As soon as she learned that he was
a rabbi, she asked if he knew anything
about the writings of Elie Wiesel because
she wanted to discuss them. After an

hour's conversation, she asked if he would
continue their talk when he traveled to
New York.
Those conversations branched out as
the rabbi got to know the other members
of the trio, and the friendships grew.
"Mary came to sing at my installation
as a rabbi, and Peter sang at my wedding','
Rabbi Syme recalls. "Years ago, I arranged
for them to go to Israel. When Mary was
diagnosed with leukemia, I stayed in touch
during the time she was undergoing treat-
ments in 2005:'

Many Causes

When Peter, Paul & Mary began their
association, their prime causes included

anti-war initiatives, the civil rights move-
ment and farm worker issues. While the
promotion of peace stays at the forefront
of their concerns, Yarrow has taken on a
school program that encourages tolerance
and acceptance.
"I founded an organization called
Operation Respect and a program called
Don't Laugh At Me',' explains Yarrow, who
will be performing the program's name-
sake song at the Beth El concert.
"We work very hard in a comprehensive
way to help shift the educational paradigm
so that respect and ridicule-free class-
rooms nurture the academic, social and
emotional growth of children throughout
America and other countries.
"We're in discussions with Israel to
have the Don't Laugh At Me program in
elementary schools. The program is in
Croatia, Hong Kong, Canada and many
other places."
Yarrow believes there is less political
activism today because "people have been
frightened by the current administration's
tactics, reminiscent of blacklisting." He
also points to a focus on individual sur-
vival and the acquisition of wealth.
While Yarrow grew up in a household
that did practice Judaism, he believes the
ethos of the religion comes across through
his musical activism.
"Music can affect people in ways that
the spoken word cannot:' says Yarrow, who
is glad that his songs remain part of the
North American Federation of Temple
Youth program.
"What we are advocating and singing is
very much consonant with the ethical pre-
cepts and legacies of Judaic culture.
"I've become more involved in
Jewishness. It has evolved pretty naturally.
I find meaning, comfort and community
in it.
"The Jewishness of the cultural variety
is in my heart. The rituals are there but
not with consistency. The ethical impera-
tives that Judaism espouses are part and
parcel of everything I do." II

Peter, Paul & Mary perform
6:45 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at
Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph,
in Bloomfield Township. $75-$100
tickets are still available. (248) 865-
0617.

February 22 • 2007

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