Music, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught, provides the catalyst for connecting the disparate elements of the finely woven tapestry of (Kevah) the fixed words of liturgy – and (Kavanah) our deepest, truest intentions to reach and serve God. At Temple Ramat Zion we continuously search for ways to fill Kevah with Kavanah. We explore the possibility that music can function in many ways including:
- Praising God
- Providing a deeper understanding of our sacred texts.
- Resonating with our community
- Linking us to our history
- Connecting us to our coreligionists around the world
- Allowing us to explore the awesome nature of God
- Creating moments of introspection
- Deepening our relationships within our family
Here at TRZ you will find music infused into every aspect of our community’s life. From learning of all ages (Pre-School, Religious School, and Adult Education) to chant Torah, Haftarah (Yad Squad) and davening (T’fillah Troupe), to our tremendous TRZ Mah’keilah (Adult Choir), now 24 strong and growing, that is active throughout the year participating in four Kabbalat Shabbat services as well as our Community Wide Thanksgiving Unity Service, annual Yom Hashoah Memorial Remembrance and High Holy Days. From our TRZ Zimriyah (Youth Choir), now 18 singers strong and growing, to our four times a year Shabbat Experience at which we engage local talent to create a new, exciting, and unique musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, not to mention our ever-evolving, once-a-month KOLOT Shabbat designed inspire our Religious School families, there are opportunities to connect with the musical life of Temple Ramat Zion. We even have a terrific once-a-month Tot Shabbat for our young children, and congregants that are beginning to share their instrumental musical talents as I work to introduce a new Ruach Ensemble dedicated to providing an opportunity for those of us who have skills on an instrument like guitar, drums, piano, flute, violin, trumpet, and yes, even bagpipes.
As it says in the 150th Psalm…
Hal’luyah, Hal’lu El B’kodsho…
Hal’luhu B’teka Shofar, Hal’luhu B’nevel V’chinor,
Hal’luhu B’tof U’machol, Hal’luhu B’minim V’ugav,
Hal’luhu b’tsilts’lei shamah, Hal’luhu V’tsilts’lei T’ruah
KOL HAN’SHAMAH T’HALEL YAH, HAL’LUYAH!
And in English…
Hal’luyah, Praise God in His Sanctuary…
Praise Him with trumpet calls (the shofar), with harp and lyre, Praise Him.
Praise Him with drum and dance, with flute and strings, Praise Him.
Praise Him with clashing cymbals, with resounding cymbals, Praise Him
LET EVERY BREATH OF LIFE PRAISE GOD, HAL’LUYAH!
Let us always remember to come together in song, in praise, in prayer, in celebration, in memorial and always with Kavanah. Let us hear you, loud and strong. Join us.
As always, I look forward to seeing you at Temple.
B’shir,
Cantor Daniel Eli Friedman
