Music

Music is a vital part of our spiritual life at Shaarai Shomayim!  For those who love to worship through music, we have many opportunities.

Chavrai Zamir: Chavrai Zamir, our volunteer Congregational choir, has been providing beautiful vocal music for more than 20 years.  Under the direction of Alan Levine, the choir sings at all Saturday morning B’nai Mitzvah services and High Holidays services.

If you are interested in joining Chavrai Zamir, please contact Alan Levine.

Shir Chadash Chorale: Our newest choir. No music expertise is required, just a love of music and singing! The Shir Chadash Chorale sings under the direction of Cantorial Soloist Steve Dropkin and performs at select Shabbat evening services.

If you are interested in joining Shir Chadash Chorale, please contact Steve Dropkin.

Shaarai Kochavim: Our junior choir, translating to "the gates of the stars", gives our young students a chance to participate in Shabbat evening services musically!

Miller Music Festival: In 1991, congregants Rosanne and David Selfon endowed the annual Miller Music Festival in memory of her parents, Madeline and Lester Miller.  To perpetuate their love of much, the annual Festival features nationally recognized Jewish musicians in concert at the Temple.  Each year, the weekend opens with a special Shabbat service on Friday night and culminates with a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon performance and reception.

Purimshpiel: In 1998, congregant Linda Whipple asked Rabbi Paskoff if she could organize a Purimshpiel, something that had not been attempted at Shaarai in many years.  The Rabbi was delighted, and Linda corralled Barry and Carol Kornhauser and David Stameshkin to assist in the writing. The formula since Shpiel V has been to take an American musical comedy, parody its songs, and meld its plot with the Book of Esther.  Thanks to the musical direction of Alan Levine and the outstanding performance of the 20+ member casts of Shaarai Shpielers, the shpiel scripts of producer/writer Stameshkin have played to a full and happy house each Purim.

If you are interested in joining the next Purimshpiel cast, please contact David Stameshkin.