Shalom U’l’hitraot: My Final Column We are in the middle of Pesach/Passover, the Festival of our Liberation. The weekly schedule of Torah readings is interrupted by our Pesach observance. We return to Sh’mot/Exodus to read the chapters telling the Pesach story. This coming Shabbat, the seventh and last day of...
On this Friday, March 28th, we will gather to honor Hazzan David Tilman and Ellen Tilman as they prepare to move closer to family. After 14 magnificent years as Director of Shir KI, Hazzan Tilman is retiring, having brought unparalleled beauty, professionalism, and warmth to our sacred music. Ellen Tilman,...
PURIM – 14, ADAR, 5785 – March 13, 2025 ONE YEAR, FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE GAZA WAR SHABBAT EVENING, MARCH 28 – A MUSICAL CELEBRATION Today is a momentous day for the Jewish people all over the world. Last Shabbat, the Shabbat just before Purim, is called...
The month of December is always filled with musical events, Hanukkah candle lighting, and congregational celebrations. On Shabbat evening, December 6, our superb volunteer adult choir, Shir KI, our professional singers, and choristers from the Old York Road corridor presented an outstanding evening of Israeli songs drawn from different periods...
AM YISRAEL AND ERETZ YISRAEL IN MUSIC: SHABBAT EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 2024 at 7pm This coming Shabbat, we read Vayeira, the fourth Sidrah in Bereshit/Genesis. The beginning Torah portions are packed with formative and dramatic events in the early history of the Jewish people, and this week’s Sidrah describes events...
Dear Members of our beloved Keneseth Israel Family, Last week, I told Rabbi David and Cantor Levy that I shall retire as music director of SHIR KI in May 2025. Our 14 years together have been so wonderful, meaningful, and inspiring for me and, I pray, for you!! Ellen and...
We have finally reached the dramatic end of our fall High Holidays/Sukkot season. We begin the celebration of Sukkot on Wednesday evening, October 16. The Sukkot Holiday commemorates the temporary booths that the Israelites erected as shelters on the bank of the Sea of Reeds/Yam Suf, waiting for the splitting...
Moses is in the middle of his last address to the Israelite nation. He is aware of the conclusion of his life’s work and his imminent death. He tells the people: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your G-d: all the men of Israel; you children,...
Parashat Shoftim: Magistrates and Officials. New High Holy Day Songs. “Hush of Midnight” at KI and AJ Selichot Service: Saturday evening, September 28th The Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land after the completion of their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Moses presents his Third Discourse to...
MOSES PLEADS TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND. THE SECOND DISCOURSE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND SH’MA YISRAEl. TISHA B’AV This week’s portion is incredibly consequential for Moses, for B’nai Yisrael, and for all of us. We are in the middle of Moses’ First Discourse as he reviews the history and laws...
