May 06, 2008
With song, dance and celebration, more than 350 adults and children will join together on Thursday, May 22, in a celebration of Israel.
The free 90-minute program, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, will be held at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
It will feature both children’s and adult choirs from synagogues and institutions throughout Middlesex County, as well as a 12-piece band comprised of members from various synagogues.
“We’re celebrating Israel in many different ways,” said Gabriela Sadote Sleppin, director of the federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council. “We want to respond to Israel’s 60th with as many events as possible, and music is the universal language. We are rejoicing with song and dance.”
Jules Frankel, the program’s artistic director, said up to 150 adults and more than 200 children will join together as a community chorus for parts of the program to transmit the history of Israel through music, dance, slides, and narration.
“This is an opportunity for the entire community to come together as one to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday,” said Frankel, who has put out two CDs of Jewish music and is musical leader of Chavurot Kol Haneshama in East Brunswick. “We did something similar 10 years ago on Israel’s 50th and it was a very meaningful thing.”
Frankel noted the program is being held on Lag B’Omer, a holiday that interrupts the 49-day period of mourning between Passover and Shavuot and a time when tradition permits musical celebrations.
Marlene Herman, chair of the federation’s Israel 60th anniversary committee, said adults and children from all sectors of the community have been anxious to join the celebration.
“Over the weekend I spoke with someone who goes to an independent Hebrew school,” she said. “This kid is going to come and sing with one of the temple choirs.”
Cantor Sheldon Levin of Neve Shalom, the program’s musical director, said he has been rehearsing with all choirs involved.
“It will be just a joyous celebration with some wonderful sentimental moments,” said Levin
Getting there
Israel@60: A Musical Celebration will take place Thursday, May 22, at 7:45 p.m. at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
In addition to performances by local choirs and bands, it will feature a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Mordechai Berman; and dancing by members of Young Judaea from throughout the state. David Bravo, the husband of Rabbi Deborah Bravo of Temple Emanu-El in Edison and musical coordinator for singer Debbie Friedman, will be the primary keyboardist. Carl Kaplan is serving as concert musical coordinator and Bobbi Blumenthal is stage director.
Among the congregations and organizations participating in the musical salute are: Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick; Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley, East Brunswick; Congregation Neve Shalom, Metuchen; Temple Emanu-El; Congregation B’nai Tikvah, North Brunswick; Temple B’nai Shalom, East Brunswick; East Brunswick Jewish Center; Congregation Beth-El, Edison; Clearbrook adult community, Monroe; and Makhelat Hamercaz, the Jewish Choir of Central New Jersey led by Cantors Anna West Ott of Anshe Emeth and Sheldon Levin of Neve Shalom.
Contact the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County at 732-432-7711 for more information.
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