[HANASHIR:16355] RE: Best of Friday Night

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

Yes, "BJ" is B'nai Jeshrun in NY.   The first time I attended services
there for kabbalat Shabbat I was really swept away.  The rabbis (always
2 together) work seamlessly together in connecting the parsha with the
events of today and draw the siddur text into it as well.  It's quite
fascinating and  beyond that, all is strung together with beautiful
music.  The first time I was there, about 60% of the music was
recognizable; however, by my 2nd service I was completely taken in.
Even without knowing ALL the tunes everything was accessible - lots of
usage of nigunnim, so it's immediately accessible.  I think the one
outstanding element there is the congregation's freedom and confidence
in singing in spontaneous harmony.  No matter where you sit you are
enveloped by a fusing of wonderful sound.    But again, it's more than
just "pretty music;" after all, we could go to a Unitarian service and
hear pretty music.   Their skill and sincerity in bringing our texts and
their meanings to the LAY person, to today's happenings in a very REAL
way and adding so much "spirituality" (I hate that word) makes one leave
quite elevated, truly ready for Shabbat.
It's always an honor and a pleasure to worship there.
Meris Ruzow

Meris (at) nycap(dot)rr(dot)com


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of Jacqueline Guttman
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 11:44 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:16353] RE: Best of Friday Night

Marsha,

BJ -- B'nai Jeshurun -- is in NYC on the Upper West Side and is renowned
far
and wide in these parts. They have a Friday night service that is all
music
and, I hear, really is amazing. One of these days I will go. My son and
daughter-in-law have attended, as have many of our friends. It attracts
many
(but not only) younger people from the area, unlike a lot of "regular"
services. 

Our own all-music services at Temple Emeth in Teaneck (cantor, band,
once in
a great while the choir) take place monthly. There is no question that
they
draw a good crowd, noticeably larger than most other services. Many of
those
in attendance -- not all -- are the younger families. In some respects
this
service feels like our monthly "family" services, primarily in who
attends.
Lots of kids are hanging out. There is also some dancing in the aisles
and,
what I really like, more dancing at the oneg. On the other hand, we have
other -- mostly more mature -- members who find that while it's fun, it
does
not uplift them spiritually. The services are also quite repetitive,
musically but this may change, as the rabbi, cantor and ritual committee
are
taking a look at them. For me personally, the jury is still out. I love
seeing and hearing the participation, but the lack of...something --
some
sort of intellectual rigor or something, leaves me unmoved in my heart
and
soul.

Michael Isaacson's talk expresses this very well, as did John Planer's.
Do
you have a copy of his talk at the same session? If not, and if you'd
like
it, e-mail me off the list and I'll be happy to send it to you.

Jackie Guttman

> From: Marsha Fensin <mfsings (at) ccr(dot)net>
> Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 16:19:54 -0600
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:16349] RE: Best of Friday Night
> 
> Hi all,
> Question.  I just reread Michael Isaacson's talk to at the Melton
> Archive Conference. Really an interesting piece.  Hope you all had a
> chance to read it.  Pardon my ignorance, but what is BJ ( I am
assuming
> it is a synagogue in New York)  and what is a BJ type of service?  I
can
> imagine.  I think I know, but, someone please tell me anyway.  Do your
> synagogues do a BJ type of service, often, occasionally, always?  What
> kinds of turnouts do BJ type services have where you are?  Do you
> balance these types of services with other kinds in the course of say,
a
> month, several months, a year?  What music do you do in a BJ type of
> service?  All Carlbach, a mixture ,etc.  Looking forward to your
answers.
> Marsha
> 
> 




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