Clergy Reflection: Cantor Rosen & Rabbi McCarroll

Sacred Music in a Time of Solidarity

 From Cantor David Rosen & Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

For those of you who took part in the UJA’s walk with Israel this past Sunday, perhaps you too felt a sense of solidarity that was both empowering and embracing. The sight of 50,000 people walking to show their support not only for Israel but for our local and global Jewish community just felt so right…something that all of us need during a time when we have been feeling quite isolated. It was also so wonderful to see many non-Jewish participants who came to show their solidarity and support.

Despite the dark cloud that hovers over our people and the State of Israel, we also know that music can play an integral part in making us feel whole at times when we feel broken. As the Chassidic teaching, found in our Siddur Pirchei Kodesh, goes: “Say your prayer in the melody that is most pleasant and sweet for you … because the melody will draw your heart after the words spoken from your mouth”. This speaks to the power of music to say and make us feel things that words alone sometimes cannot accomplish. It can also bring faiths and different beliefs together through song and harmony, something that every one of us can feel good about.

Over the next 5 days, Holy Blossom will welcome Cantor Pavel Roytman from Chicago along with his “Kol Zimrah, Community Choir of Chicago.” Cantor Roytman will join us for Friday night and Saturday morning services and his choir will be here next Tuesday, June 18th as we present, “Journey of Sacred Sound,” a concert celebrating the diversity and depth of sacred music from four different faith communities. The concert will feature a 120-voice combined choir (including our own Temple Singers) and will take place at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church at 7:30 pm. No registration or tickets are required and there is a suggested $20 donation that one can make at the door.

We are very grateful to Elaine Choi, Music Director of Timothy Eaton and Reverend Jason Byassee, who along with their community, have continued to open their doors in support of the Jewish community and Israel since October 7th and have graciously offered to host this concert. The concert will feature new compositions as well as familiar works, including excerpts from the incredible Ernest Bloch, “Avodat Hakodesh” – “Sacred Service’.

As another Chassidic saying teaches: “there are castles in the upper spheres which only open to song”. There is no doubt that the glorious voices of these wonderful singers will open the heavens to the incredible sound of these faith communities coming together in song and solidarity.

Please click here for concert details: https://holyblossom.org/journey-of-sacred-sound/

In addition to the evening concert at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, the “Kol Zimrah, Community Choir of Chicago” will be performing at Holy Blossom Temple earlier that day, June 18^th, at 11 am, for a special Dorot program and lunch in the Mishkan. It will be a fun “practice run” for our choirs and a meaningful collaboration event for our Wisdom Generation. If you would like to join us for this event, please click the link below to register.

https://holyblossom.org/event/dorot-presents-kol-zimra-jewish-community-choir/

In addition to the evening concert on June 18th at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, the “Kol Zimrah, Community Choir of Chicago, will also be performing at Holy Blossom Temple earlier in the day at 11:00 am for a special Dorot program and Lunch in the Mishkan. If you would like to join us for this event, please click the link below to register.

https://holyblossom.org/event/dorot-presents-kol-zimra-jewish-community-choir/