Elul, the Hebrew month of reflection before the High Holy Days, culminates with S’lichot, when we gather and recite prayers of penitence as a community. The S’lichot liturgy contains some of the finest Jewish religious poetry ever composed, and our moving, inspiring candlelit service urges us to reflect on the year that is ending. It is our custom to honor this holiday with a concert and a service following when we will change our Torah covers from year-round clothing to the white dressings for High Holy Days.

Please join Cantors Susan Bortnick and Suzanne Hamstra for a concert of Persian, Turkish, and Moroccan Jewish music. An adaptation of Cantor Hamstra’s recent recital on her capstone project, this program offers a small window into the vast and rich musical traditions of just a few groups of Sefardi and Mizrachi Jews. Our concert will give you a taste of both the secular and sacred music traditions of these three cultures accompanied by traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern instruments.

With strains of the High Holy Day melodies, our rabbis, and the beautiful voices of Cantors Bortnick and Hamstra to guide us, we will utter our first confession of the season, as well as Sh’ma Koleinu, asking God to hear our voices.

6:15 pm Opening reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres
7:00 pm Concert
8:00 pm Service
Dessert reception follows

This program will take place at Temple inside Kaufmann Sanctuary, and both concert and service will be livestreamed.

This event is free, but we ask that those attending in person please RSVP.

RSVP HERE

This evening is sponsored by the Pollin Music Fund, in loving memory of Abe & Irene.