MARCH 4 • 2021 | 33
“I PLAN ON USING
MY EXPERIENCES TO
STRENGTHEN THE
SYNAGOGUE’S MUSICAL
TRADITIONS.”
— GAVRI YARES.
and teaching positions at the
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day
School in Maryland.
He also has performed
in secular venues, touring
North America, Europe and
the Middle East while work-
ing with his brother, Ami.
The Brothers Yares present
Americana and Middle
Eastern repertoire.
Yares was a musician,
prayer leader and teacher at
Adas Israel Congregation
and the historic Sixth & I
Synagogue in D.C. As a lay
leader, he was an active mem-
ber of Ohev Sholom — The
National Synagogue and DC
Minyan.
MUSICAL ROOTS
“My musical interests were
a product of the public
schools I attended in New
Jersey,” said Yares, whose
main instrument is the bass.
“When high school came
about, I knew it was some-
thing I wanted to pursue
professionally.
“I had a lot of music
teachers who also were
professional musicians, and
I was able to see that they
could teach and perform.
Because of that, I pursued a
degree in music education at
Rutgers University.”
After graduation, Yares
taught at a New Jersey pub-
lic school and then took a
hiatus in Israel, where he
performed with ensembles
in addition to the one with
his brother.
The move to Michigan
came in 2018 after his wife,
Laura, accepted a religious
studies professorship at
Michigan State University.
The couple are raising their
two children — Nadav, 4,
and Jonah, 1 — in Oak Park.
“The hiring of Gavri
will allow us to further the
future of our thriving and
growing institution, pro-
moting the renaissance of
Jewish Detroit,” said Arlene
Frank, synagogue executive
director. “Gavri’s deep com-
mitment to our local Jewish
community — paired with
his musical and spiritual
knowledge, experience and
enthusiasm — will support
the Downtown Synagogue’s
growth as a hub of Jewish life
in Detroit.”
Silverman is pleased Yares
applies his teaching skills,
especially during Zoom ser-
vices.
“Gavri knows how to take
kids off mute, and I watched
children remind him when
he omitted a regular part of
a service,” the rabbi recalled.
“He led them in what was
omitted and taught them
about encores.”
As music becomes more
integrated into Downtown
Synagogue services, antic-
ipated podcasts will make
encores accessible to the
community.
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