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Perhaps it's because I am so taken with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s song “Shallow”, but I have been absolutely preoccupied lately with music. Whether it is the music playing in the car on the way home that detaches me from the day, or the music that plays in the background during sermon writing, I am very intentional and deliberate about my musical choices, as I am sure is true with each of us. Our musical tastes reflect the soundtrack of our lives, and often we are transported back to a time in our history when we hear a particular song or melody.
 
While I have been a fan of Beth Schafer’s for a long time, I recall that my first true encounter with her was when we sat together at Camp Coleman planning a Shabbat morning service. Beth, her ever-present guitar at arms reach, introduced me to a truly haunting version of our prayer for peace, Sim Shalom. The stair-step presentation of the notes and the deliberate application of each string used to make a chord simply complemented the vocal melody and subsequent harmony. I had only heard more “peppy” versions of that prayer previously and they often left me flat. This piece, however, paused the world for me and I took notice.
 
It turns out that the piece was written by Julie Silver, an incredibly talented and gifted singer/songwriter/poet/liturgist/and-so-much-more, who will be present at Temple Sinai this weekend. Julie will join our clergy team on the Bima for Friday evening services, she will teach our B'nai Mitzvah students a special Torah Study on Shabbat morning, and she will headline a benefit concert for the Community Assistance Center on Sunday afternoon. I am personally very excited to welcome her to Sinai and am incredibly grateful to Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer for putting this weekend together. To put it simply: this is not one to miss.
 
Click here to view the full menu of activities featuring Julie this weekend and seize the opportunity to engage with her at one or more of the opportunities presented.  You will not be disappointed.

Shabbat Shalom,

 Brad