I
Spirituality
Song-Filled Shabbat
Temple Israel releases CD recording of its Friday-night music.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
T
emple Israel, among popular
centers of worship in America's
Reform movement, is known to
have large Friday-night Kabbalat Shabbat
services, especially when the warm weath-
er moves the congregation and guests out-
side to the Wasserman Pavilion.
The prayer is dramatic and musical
with established singers and instrumen-
talists inviting participation from every-
one in attendance. That can mean a cho-
rus of as many as 2,000 joining together in
a united expression of spirituality.
As the rabbis and cantorial leaders get
this year's seasonal services off the ground
at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 27, they will cel-
ebrate a new project that offers members
and nonmembers a way to hear — and
also join in with — the chanting in the
privacy of their own homes.
A new CD, Kavanat Haruach
("Focusing the Spirit"), which features
the voices of Cantor Michael Smolash and
Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels, is being
released and offered for sale. Proceeds will
help provide religious school scholarships
for needy families.
"We wanted to create a world that con-
nects people to prayer:' Smolash explains
about the innovative services now cap-
tured on CD. "We got the idea for the
recording from comments made after
services, when people would ask if we had
a CD with the music?'
Bill Faber, Chuck Freedman, Howard
Katz
Kol Ami Volunteer Feted
On June 6, Temple Kol Ami in West
Bloomfield held a Volunteer Appreciation
Dinner and Installation Service. Those in
attendance were members who volunteer in
all aspects of temple life, working on social
action projects such as Relay for Life, assist-
ing in the temple office, developing adult
A34
June 19 • 2008
1., -
Cantor Michael Smolash and Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels at the Dearborn
Heights recording studio where they made Kavanat Haruach.
The recording reaches from new ver-
ning to end?'
sions of the traditional "Ein Keloheinu"
Helping to make the CD sound profes-
and "L'cha Dodi" to the
,__
sional was co-producer
more modern selec-
Ari Posner, a Toronto
avatta
tions of Rabbi Shlomo
composer who has won
rtinn ram
Carlebach's "Nigg le
Juno and Gemini awards
("Ki Va Moed") and Rick
and was nominated for
i
Recht's "Mi Chamoca."
i
an Emmy for the best
"Our tracks come from
song in an animated TV
all the years of trying
show.
material and noticing
The work was done at
how people responded:'
Studio
A Recording in
focusing the spirit
the k.htiaiit thabbat mufic
or temple Watt 9
Michaels says about
Dearborn Heights, where
the project started in
costs were underwrit-
January and completed in April. "We
ten by temple members Shari and Stanley
wanted it to be professional from begin-
Finsilver, Nancy Katzman and family and
Hilary and Edan King. Engineer Todd
Fairall holds a Grammy for his work on a
gospel album.
"I believe that we have great musicians
to support the vocals, and I'm pleased that
a number of talented people participat-
ing in our services and on the CD are
volunteers:' says Smolash, a planner of the
Friday night programs that run until the
end of August.
The 15 tracks come together with differ-
ent styles, moods and sounds. The cover
was chosen from pictures taken at Friday
night services by David Tisdale, executive
director of Temple Israel.
"We thought this through carefully and
recorded almost all of the pieces in one
day:' Michaels says. "It's been a wonderful
experience to share this music and cre-
ate something that reaches beyond our
temple?' 0
,,,,..*
learning programs, planning fundraising
events and serving on the temple's board of
trustees.
Bill Faber of Orchard Lake and Howard
Katz of Bloomfield Hills, co-presidents, pre-
sented Chuck Freedman of Walled Lake with
the Temple Kol Ami's 2008 Volunteer of the
Year Award for outstanding work on many
temple committees. His expertise is technol-
ogy so he helps to manage the temple's Web
site and sits on the technology committee.
He is also an active member of the adver-
tising and membership committees and is
on the board of trustees. He spearheaded
the formation of the temple's men's softball
team.
On Sundays, Freedman organizes the
Shmooze Room for parents waiting while
their children are in religious school.
Beth El Sisterhood
On May 28, Lucille
Gersten was installed as
president of the sister-
hood of Temple Beth El,
Bloomfield Township. She
has served as co-admin-
istrative vice president
Lucille
and on Sisterhood's Social
Gersten
Action, Spa Day and
Donor Luncheon com-
mittees and the annual Crooz and Schmooz.
Also installed were administrative vice
presidents Harriet Cooperman and Dolly
Lax, programming vice president Carolyn
Silverstein; membership, Betty Schare; and
social action, Sandy Beigler and Harriett
Hollander.
Other newly installed officers include trea-
Kavanat Haruach can be obtained
Friday evenings
at Temple Israel, 5725
Walnut Lake Rd., West Bloomfield. In
observance
of Shabbat, money ($18) should be
sent in later. Recordings also can be
purchased by calling
Susan Toohy at (248) 661-5700 or
by e-mailing
stoohy@temple-israel.org .
surer, Rochelle Nelson; assistant treasurer,
Miriam Cohen; corresponding secretary,
Lois Freeman; and recording secretary, Sue
Lepler. Program heads include Jill Gurwin
and Suzette Chaiken, Party Planning
Showcase; Sue Goldsmith, gift shop; Karen
Lowen, high school liaison; Shelly Fogelman,
Purim Carnival; nursery school liaison
Myra Harper; education committee liaison
Harriett Hollander.
Elected to the board are Sharyl Ackerman,
Cindy Bolokofsky, Marla Canvasser,
Cindy Cohen, Marilyn Dizik, Barbara
Edelman, Mary Epstein, Jane Foreman,
Renee Jablonski, Karen Kaczander, Phyllis
Loewenstein, Judy Martens, Joyce Meckler
Miller, Sandy Moss, Karen Myerson, Laurie
Nedelman, Anne Weiner and Debris
Weinstein-Hall.