Finding My Neshama's Voice
In the early '80s, in New Jersey, we "converted" from Conservative to Reform Judaism (a story in itself) and started going to Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick.
Jewish Music
Pray the Music or Pray the Words
by Cantor Kim Harris
Temple Beth-El, Northbrook, Illinois
In our "old" prayerbook, Sha'arei T'fillah - Gates of Prayer, that siddur which we fondly call "Gates of Blue," there is a particular English reading that has always intrigued me:
If our prayer were music
You Were Only Waiting
For a long time, I carried around with me a very depressing mental image for the Beatles song "Blackbird". I would relate it here, but I've been told by enough people that it ruined their enjoyment of the song so I usually just keep it to myself.
Not that my
Jewish Music: An Entry Point for Jewish Identity
The one thing that I could relate to from the beginning was the melodies; they seemed to invite me to join in. Long before I had the courage to learn to read Hebrew or take Introduction to Judaism, I could sing along with the congregation.
Joining Debbie's Mourners: An Online Community
It never occurred to that I would sit in front of my computer that afternoon and cry.
I'm at an age where I've been to many - too many - funerals. I'm not usually much of crier.
