DC Synagogues: Shirat HaNefesh High Holy Day Services to Draw From Iraqi, European, South American Musical Traditions

DC Synagogues: Shirat HaNefesh High Holy Day Services to Draw From Iraqi, European, South American Musical Traditions

"Spiritual Drumming on Selichot, instrumental, choir music invigorates focus on repentance, transformation, renewal," says Cantor Tasat

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Distinguished instrumentalists from Russia, Venezuela, and the Washington, DC area will give Shirat HaNefesh's High Holy Day Services "a vigorous new focus on repentance and renewal by drawing on Jewish musical traditions from Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Europe, and South America," said Rabbi Gerry Serotta and Cantor Ramon Tasat.

"Uniting Jewish musical traditions from across centuries and continents can invigorate our focus on the spiritual tasks of repentance, transformation, and renewal at the heart of the High Holy Days," said Cantor Ramon Tasat. "The shifting modes and melodies of the music facilitate the change that is fundamental to our capacity to repent."

"Combined with our prayers, music has the power to embrace and amplify the full range of Jewish spiritual expression," said Rabbi Gerry Serotta. "Prayer, song and music together can take us from the grand celebration of the world's creation on Rosh Hashanah to the quieter intimate tensions of communal atonement and individual transformation on Yom Kippur."

Joining Rabbi Serotta and Cantor Tasat starting with Selichot Services on September 20 is Steve Bloom, a renowned Washington, DC area percussionist who will lead a 45-minute participatory Spiritual Drumming service for all ages starting at 9:00 pm during Selichot services on September 20, 2008. Bloom has performed and recorded Celtic, Cuban, Nigerian, and Persian Sufi drumming styles across the world over the past four decades.

"Bloom uses 'nesting' rhythms that are easy to master, lend themselves to call- and- response, and create a meditative environment ideal for preparing for the High Holy Day services to come," said Tasat. "This is a very different approach to Selichot that will have broad appeal, especially to families, and introduce many of the spiritual and musical motifs that will recur throughout the High Holy Days."

For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, three more accomplished musicians will join Tasat and Bloom. They are Eugenia Shiuk, flute, formerly of the Sverdlovsk Opera Theatre and other Eastern Europe orchestras; and Ramon Gonzalez, a Venezuelan master of piano, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican cuatro, mandolin, and other string instruments. Bloom, Shiuk, and Gonzalez frequently perform internationally as well as at the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution and other Washington D.C. venues.

In addition, Kolot HaLev, a new Jewish community choir Tasat founded earlier this year will join Shirat HaNefesh for Selichot and all High Holy Day services.

Selichot, High Holy Day Services Schedule, Locations

Selichot services will be held on September 20 at the Woodside United Methodist Church, 8900 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.

Selichot services begin at 8:30 pm with Havdalah, followed by the Spiritual Drumming service at 9:00 pm, discussion and dessert at 10:00 pm, and a traditional Selichot service at 10:45 pm. Selichot services are free and open to Shirat HaNefesh members and non-members alike.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services will be held at Christ the King Church (Social Hall), 2301 Colston Drive. Silver Spring, MD, 20910.

For Rosh Hashanah: September 29 evening services begin at 7:30 pm; September 30 morning services begin at 9:30 am and evening services at 7:30 pm. October 1 Second Day services begin at 9:30 am.

For Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre begins at 6:45 pm on October 8; Yom Kippur Morning Services on October 9 begin at 9:30 am, followed by Yizkor & Neilah Services at 3:30 pm.

Both Woodside United Methodist and Christ the King have ample parking and are near the Silver Spring Metro Station.

Tickets are required for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and can be obtained by contacting Shirat HaNefesh at info@shirathanefesh.org or 301-582-2722.

Shirat HaNefesh, an unaffiliated Jewish community based in Silver Spring, Maryland, draws from all Jewish traditions and denominations to express its faith through music, prayer, lifelong learning, and repairing the world (tikkun olam). Shirat HaNefesh members include traditional and non-traditional families, including Jews by choice and birth, and interfaith families who seek the Jewish spiritual experience Shirat HaNefesh offers. For more information about Shirat HaNefesh, visit www.shirathanefesh.org.

Source: Shirat HaNefesh

CONTACT: Brad German, +1-703-772-0106, for Shirat HaNefesh

Web Site: http://www.shirathanefesh.org/

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