Cantor Debbie Katchko Gray would like to introduce you to a new piece for the High Holy Days 5780
Jan. 24 was the 18th of Shevat and the yartzeit of the date of remembrance of two individuals whose lives continue to bring meaning and lessons for me. They never met, but each one had a profound impact on our world and on our lives. Jan. 24 is the anniversary of the passing of Elie Wiesel’s father of blessed memory, Shlomo ben Eliezer Halevi Wiesel z”l, and my grandmother, Rachel Glicenstein Epstein, z”l.
My teacher and mentor of blessed memory, Professor Elie Wiesel spoke often of the impact of his beloved father, and the experiences they shared in the sweetness of childhood and the darkest of days in Auschwitz. His descriptions of his father in his now classic book, “Night,” are seared into our hearts. The love for his parents was literally enshrined in the magnificent Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies at Boston University, where I spent many years soaking up words, stories, lessons, and kindness from my inspiring teacher and mentor.
Growing up in Stamford, my best friend and mentor was my grandmother. She came to this country in the l920s from East End London and never lost her English accent, or her love for all things British, including fine china and tea parties. She was a brilliant student and was offered a full scholarship to the London School of Economics to study German, but WWI broke out, and she could not attend. Her studies with Max Nordau, historian and the chief rabbi of the British Empire, Rabbi Hertz were tremendous sources of pride.
My grandfather was smitten with her as he trained to be in the Jewish Legion in 1917, stopping in England for training on the way to then Palestine. This highly educated woman left her beloved England with the passionate Jewish soldier who had helped Ben Gurion, Jabotinsky, Col. Patterson, and others secure Palestine against the Turks in 1917-1918. She arrived in Stamford and helped build the Jewish community.
I’ve always been so proud of my grandmother’s courage. She never drove a car, but managed to be president of countless organizations and helped found the Hebrew Ladies Educational League, which gave interest-free loans to poor Jewish immigrants and gave the seed monies to begin schools and organizations, such as the Bi-Cultural Day School, which I attended as a child. She was president and Sen. Joe Lieberman’s mother Marcia was treasurer. She worked all her life in her husband’s moving business, then the Stamford courts, and then volunteered for the Red Cross and Hadassah, earning the title Zionist of the Year.
When I hear the anti-Semitic hatred and bias against Zionism I often think of my gracious, brilliant and kind grandmother who helped so many people of all nations and races.
At this time, I remember the two individuals who helped shape my life — Elie Wiesel’s father and my grandmother Rae. Perhaps they are having a discussion over tea in heaven, hopefully not weeping over the state of our politics and bias, but dreaming of better days with hope and faith.
Congregation Shir Shalom begins the new year 5779 with a calendar full of musical guests and specially themed services and programs. Spirit and Soul at Shir Shalom is a series of special musical services throughout the year
Celebrating the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah on Dec. 7th 6 pm, Mattan Klein, an Israeli jazz flutist will return for a special evening of jazzy Israeli and Hanukkah songs. On January 18th, the annual MLK Memorial Spirituals Shabbat will include the Serendipity Chorale with Gigi Van Dyke, conductor for the 16th year, and a new guest choir- the Keys Chorus, with Rob Silvan, director. The Keys program is a fabulous program in Bridgeport, CT that gives lessons and instruments to gifted students as well as opportunities to perform. Sharing spirituals with both choirs will be a unique experience, along with the community choir where anyone is welcome to join us that evening.
Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday was celebrated this year, and we are continuing the celebration with a musical Tribute to Leonard Bernstein on March 22 7:30 pm. Claire Simard, the Director of Wooster School’s Theater and Music program will be the guest artist along with our own Carrie Chanin, mezzo-soprano and Brian Besterman, pianist and arranger.
Jamie Bernstein, the daughter of Leonard Bernstein will be coming to discuss her book, Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein on Sunday, April 28th at 2 pm. The series concludes with an Israeli Celebration of Song with Shlomo Shai, accordion on May 17th 7:30 PM.
In keeping with supporting the arts in our community, Shir Shalom is hosting two classical concerts from the Danbury Music Centre on March 31 and June 2. Sundays at 3 pm.
Cantor Debbie will lead two folk community singalongs at the Ridgefield Library Sundays
Dec. 16th and Jan. 6th 3:30-5.
All the services and programs are open to the community. Members of the congregation are welcome to join the Adult Choir or participate as an instrumentalist. Please contact Cantor Katchko-Gray if interested. All programs are supported by donations and are free of charge. For more information please contact the temple office 203 438 6589. www.ourshirshalom.org
Syrian refugee to speak at synagogue’s Oct. 18 service
October 15, 2019 by Webmaster • Articles, Blog, Our Shir Shalom Blog, Shabbat, Social Action Tags: Jewish Music, Social action •
Syrian Refugee to Speak at Synagogue’s Oct. 18 Service
Jewish Musician Beth Styles and ‘Pizza in the Hut’ Sukkot Celebration Also on Program
A refugee from Syria is the guest speaker Friday, Oct. 18, at the Sabbath service of Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Also scheduled is live music performed by refugees and immigrants.
The special service, known as “Welcome the Stranger” Shabbat, says Rabbi David Reiner, “is in partnership with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and the North American Immigrant Justice Campaign sponsored by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.”
It will include music and prayers written by refugees and personal accounts from congregants, as well as prayers and reflections written by Shir Shalom’s religious school students as they learned about refugees.
The Shabbat program, from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., includes a separate music performance by composer and singer Beth Styles, whose music is “a soulful mix of Jewish gospel with deeply spiritual and lush melodies,” says Cantor Debbie Katchko-Gray. Ms. Styles, who is founder and music director of inspirational choir New World Chorus in Stamford, is producing a new CD of Jewish music.
To top off the evening, there is “Pizza in the Hut,” the temple’s annual Sukkot program for congregants of all ages. In addition to the food of choice, it features crafts activities.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society “works around the world to protect refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of who they are, including ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities.”
The Religious Action Center’s Immigrant Justice Campaign “seeks to promote permanent protection, dignity and respect for all 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the USA.”
For more information: info@ourshirshalom.org; (203) 438-6589.