[HANASHIR:2547] RE: following the Torah

[stern <stern...>]

I have used most of the songs already mentioned for our hakafot, and enjoy 
using several contemporary ones also, eg: Kol B'Seder's "Ashre Adam," and 
their "Al Shlosha".  We've sung "Halleluyah/Hiney Matov", "Eyt Dodim," "Dun 
Dai" (sp?),  Debbie Friedman's "Halleluyah," "Yismichu Hashamayim" (sp?) (I 
don't spell well in English let alone transliterated Hebrew!)and so on. 
 Most anything that is upbeat and speaks of praising G-d and Torah seems 
appropriate.  This is the time when we can begin to get our congregations 
clapping and dancing, if not literally, then figuratively.  With all the 
discussion recently about ruach and gospel, I'm surprised this part of the 
service hasn't been mentioned.  After all, we're already in motion, it's a 
time of celebration, and people are a little less formal during the 
procession. What a great time to introduce all the upbeat songs you can! 
 We generally choose a song and then repeat it, or at least parts of it, 
all the way until the Torah is undressed and the Rabbi asks the 
congregation to sit.  I do this with my volunteer adult choir, my junior 
choir and when I lead the music myself.  Our congregation joins the singing 
when they know it, and it really can be uplifting.

If I may speak a moment also about movement and prayer (I'm just coming up 
to speed after the weekend--my son's Bar Mitzvah!), Our Rabbi has taken the 
opportunity at several of our Shabbat services to have an "Ask the Rabbi" 
sermon.  During those times he has discussed quite a few of the movements 
that are traditionally done throughout our prayers--from greeting the 
Sabbath Bride during L'cha Dodi by facing the rear of the sanctuary and 
bowing, to the bowing during the Avot and Aleinu, and the steps back and 
front during the Oseh Shalom line of the Morners Kaddish.  Maybe we need to 
relearn some of what we already have in our tradition in addition to adding 
more from other sorces.

By the way, as to first name basis on the list, I must admit that being a 
new member can be a bit disconcerting, like entering the middle of a 
private conversation.  Sorry I put so much into this one note...guess I'm 
still a bit up from the weekend.

Kristin Stern
Hammond, IN

-----Original Message-----
From:   Rachelle and Howard Shubert [SMTP:shubert (at) internauts(dot)ca]
Sent:   Saturday, March 20, 1999 1:06 PM
To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject:        [HANASHIR:2503] following the Torah

I am looking for ideas for songs which my volunteer could sing in place of
or in addition to L'cha Adonai as the Torah travels up and down the aisles.
Our professional choir of four operatic voices does a fine and polished job
of L'cha Adonai with melodic variations but I would like to use the
strengths of the 15-strong volunteer choir -- less vocal training but lots
of ruach.

I welcome your suggestions.

Rachelle





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